Here you belong on Bilglade Road
South Hills Christian Church sits on Bilglade Road in the southern part of Fort Worth, Texas, where its brick buildings and shaded grounds have long served the neighborhoods that share the South Hills name. The church describes itself as a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation "seeking to live out the Gospel call of Jesus Christ, a message of radical love and acceptance." Its tagline, posted across the front of its site, is simple and direct: "Here you belong."
Behind that welcome is a clear set of commitments. South Hills states that "God's love extends to all" and that dignity and diversity must coexist in the life of a faithful congregation. It explicitly welcomes LGBTQIA+ persons, affirms a non-binary view of gender, and commits to defending the rights of transgender neighbors. The church practices open communion, values thoughtful questioning, and takes part in the regional and ecumenical life of the wider Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Sunday worship in person and online
Worship gathers every Sunday at 10:30 AM Central at 3200 Bilglade Road. The service is also livestreamed at the same hour, so neighbors across town and across the country can worship alongside the people in the room. Past services are archived on the church's YouTube channel and remain available to watch at any time.
The order of the morning is the kind of warm, participatory pattern long associated with Disciples worship. The congregation sings, prays, listens to scripture and sermon, and shares communion together. Communion is open to everyone - "You do not need to be a member of South Hills or any church to participate." Worship "welcomes questions, celebrates diversity, and invites every person to participate fully in the life of the community."
Families are welcome in the sanctuary. Nursery care is available for the youngest guests, tended by a long-serving attendant who has been creating a safe and welcoming environment for children of the congregation for thirty years. Before the service, learning opportunities for all ages give people a place to discuss topics that help them "discern, dissect, and grow deeper in our spiritual life together." Each Sunday brings a freshly prepared worship guide and anthem text.
A music ministry that sings, rings, and strums
Music holds a central place in the life of South Hills. The Chancel Choir meets on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM to prepare a variety of anthems for worship three Sundays a month. The choir shares an anthem during the 10:30 AM service, and a different Sunday each month features guest musician Paul Demer, a singer-songwriter whose work leads the congregation in song.
Rob Laney has served as Music Director since 2000, shaping a program that draws on a wide range of styles. The church also hosts a committed guitar group that contributes to worship at special times throughout the year, especially on Christmas Eve, and welcomes handbell ringers, instrumentalists of any background, and anyone who loves to sing. "As our table accepts all who claim Christ, our music reflects our Holy relationship between God and each another," the church writes, "so we welcome all who are willing to ring a handbell, have ever played an instrument, or love to sing."
Room in the Inn: opening the doors to Fort Worth
For several weeks each year, South Hills opens its building to neighbors without housing through Room in the Inn, a collaborative ministry of more than fifteen congregations in Fort Worth. The program brings a small group of guests to the church for an overnight stay that includes a warm meal, a safe place to rest, breakfast the next morning, and transportation. South Hills hosts during both the hottest and coldest months of the year, in partnership with the wider network.
The church frames the work simply: "We open our church buildings to provide welcoming, hospitable spaces for persons without a home during the hottest and coldest months of the year; and respond to the very human need for inclusion in community." Volunteers help with meals, hospitality, and the practical work of hosting, and the ministry is one of the most visible ways the congregation loves its neighbors beyond its walls.
Community life through the week
The rhythm of the church extends well past Sunday morning. On Tuesday afternoons at 1:00 PM, the Mat Makers gather in person to share handwork and fellowship. Thursday mornings at 10:30 bring a free yoga class open to anyone in the wider community, regardless of church membership. Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM are reserved for choir rehearsal. Throughout the year, the congregation gathers for an ice cream social and game night, an all-church lunch out at a local restaurant, and other casual events that put friendship at the center.
Disciples Women's Ministry meets regularly for shared meals, learning, service, and spiritual growth. Recent gatherings have included a lunch out together at a local restaurant, with conversation and laughter alongside the food. Service opportunities of all kinds, from an hour to a whole day, run through the life of the church, both inside the building and out in the Fort Worth community.
The ministers and staff
Rev. Dottie Cook serves as Senior Minister. She believes the church is at its best when it embodies radical love, authentic hospitality, and justice in action, and she is passionate about creating worship that is meaningful, creative, and rooted in community. Before answering the call to ordained ministry, she taught orchestra and worked in community-based social services, and she remains active in local interfaith and justice initiatives.
Rob Laney, Music Director since 2000, leads worship through a wide range of musical styles, directing the Chancel Choir and Guitar Group while encouraging musicians of all ages and backgrounds to share their gifts. He also teaches music at Weatherford College and remains active in the North Texas choral community.
Nathaniel Cook oversees communications and digital engagement, working through design, photography, video, and social media to tell the story of South Hills. A professional cellist and communications leader for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest, he is also the producer of the Why We Sing video series featuring interviews and hymns from current choir members. Mike Branch serves as Office and Property Coordinator, keeping the building running and the grounds in good repair. Maria Barrios has cared for the youngest children of the congregation as Nursery Attendant for thirty years.
An open and affirming community
South Hills states its commitments plainly. As part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), it practices open communion and values thoughtful faith. It pledges to remain "open to the Spirit of God drawing us to increasingly larger understandings of the range of God's all-inclusive love." Hospitality is to be embodied not only in what the church does but through its facilities. The congregation welcomes LGBTQIA+ persons, affirms a non-binary view of gender, defends the rights of transgender individuals, and commits to support those who have been harmed by others because of how God created them. "All means all of God's children."
The church's stated vision is to become "more loving, just, and whole together," and to grow in appreciation for the myriad cultures and languages that constitute God's family. Worship, learning, service, and community life are all shaped by that aim.
Visiting South Hills
First-time guests find a building at 3200 Bilglade Road in Fort Worth, Texas 76133, with Sunday worship at 10:30 AM Central. Parking is available on the grounds, and the church is reachable by phone at 817-926-5281 during office hours (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM). The mailing address is P.O. Box 3701 Altamesa Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76133. Email reaches the office at office@shccfw.org, with separate addresses for music and media ministry as well.
Those exploring faith for the first time, returning after many years, or looking for a church that reflects God's expansive love are explicitly welcomed. Worship is offered in person and livestreamed each Sunday. Nursery care is available during worship. A weekly email newsletter carries news, worship information, and opportunities to participate. Giving can be made through an online portal, and the church keeps a live, password-protected directory for members who wish to stay connected with one another.