2018 New Mexico Annual Conference

The New Mexico Annual Conference met in Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 13–15, 2018, at the Albuquerque Marriott, with Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe presiding and Bishop Robert Schnase serving as special guest speaker.  Our theme this year was "Refine" and reflects the sixth of our six Vision 2020 areas of focus: "Refine & Assess Conference Structures."

Before the official start of the annual conference sessions, we offered 12 workshops, including: communicating in crisis, ministry in small churches, preparing for disaster, coaching, Benedictine spirituality and more.

The Rev. Randall W. Partin, conference provost, presented the New Mexico State of the Conference Address, referencing our 2018 Annual Conference scriptural touchstone: 1 Samuel 17: 38–40.  Facing Goliath, David casts off the armor and the weapons placed on him in favor of five smooth stones. 

"David does not need to be reminded. David understands full well that the giant is out in the field … the greatest part about David's wisdom in this story, in this moment of assessing and, is he knows himself.  He knows what fits.  He knows what suits him well and fundamentally, David has the courage, the confidence, not just to know those things but to say that out loud, refuse and cast off requirements and the expectations of his KING … People of the NM Conference, what is the giant that waits for us?"

Partin shared with us that when the conference surveyed members of churches that have been through the refined Healthy Church Initiative, 89 percent of respondents said they sensed a shift in momentum — that HCI made a difference in their churches. Partin shared that our conference is more financially stable than in recent memory, and the 2019 budget has us paying 100 percent of our General & Jurisdictional Apportionments, up from 54 percent. Coincidentally, 54 percent of our congregations are stable or growing in worship.

Bishop Robert Schnase taught several sessions based on his books: "5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations," "Just Say Yes" and "Seven Levers."  He provided some insight into his updated "5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations," which is focused on missional vs. attractional assumptions.

In his discussion of "Just Say Yes" and the faulty assumption that ideas come from those who have served a church long enough to "earn the right" to suggest them, he used an image of concentric circles where the pastor and leadership were at the center and new people and those who do not attend regularly were at the margins.  He said, "So the role of leadership in the church is to continually draw the attention of the congregation toward those margins. That's where we fulfill our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world …"

In his discussion on "Seven Levers," Bishop Schnase described the conference as a "unique and incredible tool derived by the earliest Methodist roots as an instrument for multiplying ministries and going places to reach people that no one else can reach."

Bishop Schnase also gave us an inside look at the work of the Commission on a Way Forward, explaining why the Council of Bishops chose to present the One Church Model to the 2019 called session of the General Conference. He led us in a reconciliation exercise, asking us to say to one another, "If I have ever said or done anything that has hurt or harmed you in any way, please forgive me."

The Laity Session introduced the lay delegate candidates and provided three speakers who discussed the roles and processes important to the functioning of the local church, evangelism, and "what to do" with new people in the church. 

The Rev. Jane Vaughn, departing to serve as senior pastor in the Oklahoma Conference, encouraged us to "make the main thing, the main thing again."

We honored our Living Archives, Carol Kaemper, laity, and the Rev. Doug Wofford, clergy.

We mourned the passing of seven faithful servants who have died this past year and honored the six clergy who are retiring,

The United Methodist Women reminded us of the Creation Care resolution we passed last year on decreasing the use of Styrofoam.  We passed a resolution to reduce the use of single-use plastics.

Our 2019 General Conference delegates shared how the Listening Sessions around the Conference were conducted with grace and respect as we shared our fears, values, implications and hopes moving toward the Special General Conference.

First United Methodist churches of Crane, Carlsbad and Aztec received the One Matters Award from Discipleship Ministries for their revitalization of ministry, increase in baptisms and professions of faith.  The following churches received the Cinco Estrellas Award from the Conference Board of Global Ministries: Zia, University-Las Cruces, St. Paul's-Las Cruces, Maxwell, Cimarron, Christ-ABQ, Aztec, Valley View, and Santa Cruz.

We heard about McCurdy Ministries historic work in the Espanola Valley, where one in three people live under the federal poverty line (not counting the hidden immigrant population). We voted our support for the $1.7 million Creating Hope, Empowering Lives capital campaign.

United Methodist Night was celebrated at the Albuquerque Isotopes Ballpark.  More than 200 participants were visible in their Conference shirts to commemorate the occasion. 

While singing "This Little Light of Mine," our youth brought us a poignant message about how judgment and negativity extinguishes the "candles" of those whose light needs to shine for God. 

In keeping with the conference theme of refining, a retiring district superintendent, the Rev. James Large, shared a message about what to do with our "dross".  As a way to bring action to his words, we dropped flash paper with a word exemplifying our "dross" into flame. 

We elected the following 2020 delegates:

General and Jurisdictional Conference: Randall Partin (clergy) and Sid Strebeck (laity)
Jurisdictional Conference: Susan Brumbaugh (laity) and Pam Rowley (clergy)
Alternates - Todd Salzwedel (clergy), Eduardo Rivera (clergy), Dan Salzwedel (laity), and Heath Husted (laity)

We passed a resolution to work toward the end of human trafficking.

One of the most anticipated moments during each annual conference is the introduction and blessing of our newest CLM's. We commissioned 15 CLM's, bringing the total number of CLM's to 75.

We raised nearly $8,000 to be shared between UMCOR and our Conference disaster relief efforts.  Our mission activity was building 500 UMCOR hygiene kits from the supplies donated. 

Bishop Bledsoe requested that the NM and NWTX Conferences hold a joint/concurrent Annual Conference in 2020 to be held in Lubbock, as a sign of kindred spirits and of our unity.  Nearly 40 percent of our clergy have served in NWTX and the past two joint Conferences have been held within the bounds of the NM Conference (Glorieta).  The resolution passed.

We ordained Koreen Guillermo, Raquel Mull & Ellen Swain.  We commissioned missionary Rev. Lourdes Calderon and recognized the transfer of orders of the Rev. Scott Meador. 

All these resolutions passed:

Resolution Regarding the McCurdy Ministries Community Center Creating Hope, Empowering Lives 1.7 million dollar Capital Campaign
Resolution to Revise the Reimbursement Policy for Travel and Expenses Related to Conference Business
Resolution for the Location of the 2020 New Mexico Annual Conference – Joint/Concurrent Conference with Northwest Texas to be held in Lubbock.
Resolution on Ending Human Trafficking
Resolution for Commitment to Creation Care - reduce use of single-use plastics
Resolution to Declare the Lydia Patterson Institute a United Methodist Historic Site
Resolutions Relating to Rental/Housing Allowances for Active, Retired or Disabled Clergy persons of the New Mexico Conference

Bishop Bledsoe requested that his wife, Leslie come up to pray us out on behalf of all clergy spouses.  She did it in a sweet, powerful, funny way.

Our sincere thanks to all those who work behind the scenes:  Annual Conference Planning Team, workshop speakers and helpers, all the volunteers, the ABQ Marriott Staff, and our hard-working Conference Staff.

Next year's Annual Conference will be June 12–14, 2019, at the Crowne Plaze Hotel in Albuquerque.

Statistics:

Membership stands at 28,942, a decrease of 2,252 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 10,806, down 928. Church school attendance stands at 4,484, an increase of 432. Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2017 were 411, down 37 from 2016. Adults and young adults in small groups for 2017 were 6,999, down 840 from 2016.  Worshippers engaged in mission for 2017 was 6,646, an increase of 107 from 2016.

Submitted by Alli Newsom, NMAC communications director