The 2020 Session of the New Mexico Annual Conference was held virtually on Saturday, Oct. 17. Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe, Resident Bishop of the New Mexico and Northwest Texas Conferences, presided. Voting members joined via ZOOM webinar, while others watched the proceedings on Facebook Live.
The opening worship began with a video portraying various Scripture references to the concept of “One,” which was the conference theme. Bishop Bledsoe had commissioned a piece by Karen Marrolli to be performed at Annual Conference 2020 entitled “Song of Unity.” Bishop Bledsoe preached at opening worship using our theme Scripture verse, 1 Corinthians 12: 12-14, as a basis. Clergy and clergy spouses who had passed this past year were honored in a memorial video.
Roselie Johnston was elected Annual Conference Secretary.
Cari Neill was elected Chancellor. Taffy Bagley was elected Associate Chancellor.
Griselda Sandoval was elected Treasurer/Statistician.
The 2021 Annual Conference Budget and Spending Plan were approved by the Conference.
Resolutions
• Resolution for Commitment to Creation Care: The amended resolution did not pass.
• Resolutions Relating to Rental/Housing Allowances for Active, Retired or Disabled Clergypersons of the New Mexico Conference: Passed.
• Resolution to Commitment to Immigration Ministries: Passed.
• Resolution to Affirm the 2020 Delegation for serving at the Postponed General Conference 2020 and the Postponed South Central Jurisdictional Conference 2020: Passed.
• Resolution for the Location of the 2022 New Mexico Annual Conference: Passed.
General Conference Lay Delegate: Sid Strebeck
General Conference Clergy Delegate: The Rev. Randall Partin
Jurisdictional Conference Lay Delegate: Susan Brumbaugh
Jurisdictional Conference Clergy Delegate: The Rev. Pam Rowley
Alternates: The Rev. Todd Salzwedel, The Rev. Eddie Rivera, The Dan Salzwedel, Heath Husted
The Laity Address was given by Conference Lay Leader Sid Strebeck, who expressed enthusiasm for the amazing work being done by the laity, despite the pandemic. More than 100 laity had attended the Laity Session via ZOOM, which was held the evening prior to Annual Conference.
The closing video featured clergy and laity from around the conference speaking verses from 1 Corinthians 12: 4-14 in the languages that are most prevalent in our conference: English, Spanish, Korean and Navajo.
The ordination of Karin Carlson to Deacon and commissioning of Kathy Delarosa Salazar to Provisional Deacon was approved during the Executive Session held on Friday, Oct. 16. The Ordination & Commissioning Service was postponed due to public health concerns.
Statistics
Number of people retired: 10.
Membership stands at 25,456, down 2,247 from the previous year.
Worship attendance stands at 9,809, down 850.
Church school attendance stands at 4,380, down 272.
Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2019: 414, down 56 from 2018.
Adults and young adults in small groups for 2019: 6,483, down 181 from 2018.
Worshippers engaged in mission for 2019: 7,706, up 601 from 2018.
— Submitted by Alli Newsom, Communications Director of the New Mexico Annual Conference.
The opening worship began with a video portraying various Scripture references to the concept of “One,” which was the conference theme. Bishop Bledsoe had commissioned a piece by Karen Marrolli to be performed at Annual Conference 2020 entitled “Song of Unity.” Bishop Bledsoe preached at opening worship using our theme Scripture verse, 1 Corinthians 12: 12-14, as a basis. Clergy and clergy spouses who had passed this past year were honored in a memorial video.
Roselie Johnston was elected Annual Conference Secretary.
Cari Neill was elected Chancellor. Taffy Bagley was elected Associate Chancellor.
Griselda Sandoval was elected Treasurer/Statistician.
The 2021 Annual Conference Budget and Spending Plan were approved by the Conference.
Resolutions
• Resolution for Commitment to Creation Care: The amended resolution did not pass.
• Resolutions Relating to Rental/Housing Allowances for Active, Retired or Disabled Clergypersons of the New Mexico Conference: Passed.
• Resolution to Commitment to Immigration Ministries: Passed.
• Resolution to Affirm the 2020 Delegation for serving at the Postponed General Conference 2020 and the Postponed South Central Jurisdictional Conference 2020: Passed.
• Resolution for the Location of the 2022 New Mexico Annual Conference: Passed.
General Conference Lay Delegate: Sid Strebeck
General Conference Clergy Delegate: The Rev. Randall Partin
Jurisdictional Conference Lay Delegate: Susan Brumbaugh
Jurisdictional Conference Clergy Delegate: The Rev. Pam Rowley
Alternates: The Rev. Todd Salzwedel, The Rev. Eddie Rivera, The Dan Salzwedel, Heath Husted
The Laity Address was given by Conference Lay Leader Sid Strebeck, who expressed enthusiasm for the amazing work being done by the laity, despite the pandemic. More than 100 laity had attended the Laity Session via ZOOM, which was held the evening prior to Annual Conference.
The closing video featured clergy and laity from around the conference speaking verses from 1 Corinthians 12: 4-14 in the languages that are most prevalent in our conference: English, Spanish, Korean and Navajo.
The ordination of Karin Carlson to Deacon and commissioning of Kathy Delarosa Salazar to Provisional Deacon was approved during the Executive Session held on Friday, Oct. 16. The Ordination & Commissioning Service was postponed due to public health concerns.
Statistics
Number of people retired: 10.
Membership stands at 25,456, down 2,247 from the previous year.
Worship attendance stands at 9,809, down 850.
Church school attendance stands at 4,380, down 272.
Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2019: 414, down 56 from 2018.
Adults and young adults in small groups for 2019: 6,483, down 181 from 2018.
Worshippers engaged in mission for 2019: 7,706, up 601 from 2018.
— Submitted by Alli Newsom, Communications Director of the New Mexico Annual Conference.
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