our staff


  • Katie Eichler

    pastor@spumchou.org

    Head Pastor

    Katie Eichler is an ordained Elder in the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and has been serving under appointment as the Pastor of Discipleship at St. Mark’s UMC in the Houston Heights. She has worked in the United Methodist Church for 20 years: at St. Mark’s since 2015 and as the Director of Youth Ministries at John Wesley UMC in Northwest Houston prior to that. Katie joined St. Philip's in 2023 with her husband, Jon, and son, Ben.


  • Ryan Pennington

    Outreach@spumchou.org

    Director of Music Ministries
    Ryan Pennington is an accomplished musician with degrees in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and Organ Performance from UCLA. Since 2016, Ryan has served as the church organist, Director of Outreach Ministries, and now leads church music in worship. Responsible for the Chancel Choir, Philip's Joy Praise Band, Handbell Ensemble, as well as Children's and Youth music. He is happily married to his partner of many years, Tagir, with their pet cat, Trixie, and dog, Cider.


  • Susan Smith

    dayschool@spumchou.org

    Day School Director
    Susan Smith joined the Day School as the new Director and has been a parent and a teacher in the school as well. In addition, she assisted in the day school office. She was the director of her own church’s Children Ministry. Susan is a graduate of The University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Her husband has been the Scout Leader at of the troop at St. Philip’s for a number of years and all three of her children grew up around the church.


  • Deanna White

    office@spumchou.org

    Financial Administrator


  • Ana Medrano


    Custodian