Religious leaders decry move to reinstate death penalty in New Mexico

From New Mexico-

Religious leaders in New Mexico are slamming the governor and House Republicans for voting to reinstate the death penalty during an all-night special session, leaving little opportunity for a debate.

While the efforts were made futile after the Senate refused to consider the bill, the condemnation is indicative of the conflict the issue is sure to draw when the Legislation reconvenes in January, The Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

(snip)

The Rev. Michael L. Vono, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, said Martinez and Rep. Monica Youngblood, R-Albuquerque, who co-sponsored the bill, “lack moral and ethical leadership and should be ashamed of themselves. . One can only hope and pray that the upcoming elections will provide us with more responsible leaders in this state.”

More here-

http://www.pressherald.com/2016/10/07/religious-leaders-decry-move-to-reinstate-death-penalty-in-new-mexico/

Scandal adds to Episcopal woes as defections rise

From The Rio Grande-

Membership in the Episcopal Church continues to slide amidst wrangling over gay bishops, women bishops, and purse-string scandals, the most recent debacle erupting in the high desert sands of New Mexico.

In Albuquerque the Cathedral Church of St. John was seen headed toward eventual bankruptcy as its members deserted to other less-ornate, smaller Episcopal churches. Then the cathedral accountant sounded an alarm. In effect, he accused the church leadership of complacency in the sloppy way the cathedral was run. Immediately the area’s bishop rushed to quash the bad mouthing with an apparent cover-up.

Membership had spiraled down, a decline proportionately similar to the national loss in recent decades. A 2010 national headcount revealed 1,951,907 defectors from what had been 3.6 million members, church records show. Membership in 2011 held at 2,006,343, down 2.48 percent, according to the National Council of Churches.

According to disciplinary records of both faiths, bishops for both the Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches in the United States do have a record of covering up scandals, at least temporarily. Of reported cases, Catholic bishops tend to hide sexual abuse. Episcopal bishops tend to offer a mixed bag, according to published cases.

This most recent attempt to hide wrong doing has come with the muted ferocity of a mountain thunderstorm in the peaceful valley of the Rio Grande, where the largest wildfires in New Mexico history have roared practically unabated for months.

More here-

http://www.examiner.com/article/scandal-adds-to-episcopal-woes-as-defections-rise

Judge dismisses priest's defamation suit

From New Mexico-

The New Mexico Supreme Court has made the grounds more restrictive for defamation cases by ruling against an Episcopal priest who sued four parishioners for accusing him of pedophilia.

State District Court Judge Nan Nash dismissed the Rev. Walter F. Smith III's lawsuit, ruling he had not demonstrated an injury to his reputation.

The state Court of Appeals in 2010 overturned Nash's ruling, finding that "humiliation and mental anguish is sufficient to establish actual injury for liability purposes in a defamation action."

But on Monday, the state Supreme Court unanimously reversed the appellate court, effectively upholding Nash's decision.

"Evidence of humiliation and mental anguish, without evidence of actual injury to reputation, is insufficient to establish a cause of action for defamation," said the opinion written by Justice Patricio Serna.

Smith, a former priest at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Rio Rancho, sued St. Francis vestry members Will Durden and William DeVries and their spouses, Denise Durden and Marion DeVries, over a packet of information they prepared for the Standing Committee of the Diocese of the Rio Grande.

More here-

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Judge-dismisses-priest-s-defamation-suit

Episcopal diocese plans $1.5M renovation for retreat center

From New Mexico-

A $1.5 million renovation of a retreat center launches Dec. 16 on Albuquerque’s Westside.

The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande purchased the Conference and Spiritual Life Center at 6400 Coors NW in January for $1.7 million and is investing $1.5 million to expand and upgrade it. It will have state-of-the-art conference capabilities, a 45-room retreat house and will house the offices of the diocese.

Officials with the diocese estimate the project will infuse more than $5 million into the local economy with the renovation and reconstruction. It is planning to hire local contractors, architects and workers for the project.

Bishop Michael Vono said the plan is to position the facility as a national center for spirituality.
“We have different denominations, nonprofits and the private sector inquiring as to the availability of the center,” he said in a news release.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2011/12/09/episcopal-diocese-plans-15m.html

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church executes successful toy drive for Palomas children

From New Mexico-

An avalanche threatened Monday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.

But it had nothing to do with the snowfall that blanketed Las Cruces throughout most of the day.

It stemmed, rather, from the piles of toys, clothes, household goods, school supplies, toiletries and Christmas-paper wrapped shoeboxes that filled the office of Deacon Barbara Fry.

The space has been difficult to maneuver around in recent days, thanks to the collection of donations awaiting shipment to Palomas, Mexico. The gifts will wind up in the hands of needy women and children - all victims in some way of drug war violence.

"It's just boomeranged. It's exploded," Fry said. "It's amazing what people have come up with."
This is the second year the church has collected items to give to Palomas residents. A year ago, the effort piggybacked onto one headed up by a Truth or Consequences church. The St. Andrew's church involvement was much smaller last year, resulting in about 35 shoeboxes full of gifts, according to Fry.

More here-

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_19477850

New pastor finds home at still-healing parish

From New Mexico-

The Rev. Laura Sheridan-Campbell of Carlsbad believes she has found a match in the Holy Cross Episcopal Church.
Sheridan-Campbell has been an ordained priest for 16 years, and recently earned her doctorate from Church Divinity School of The Pacific in Berkeley. She previously served at churches in Iowa, her home state, and Texas. This is her first assignment since she went back to school full-time. She had her first service as the vicar of Holy Cross on July 4.

She said she found the employment listing in the Episcopal Church's online database and described the job description as "amazing."

"The more I learned about Holy Cross, the more I believed that my gifts would be well-matched with their needs and hopes," she said. "I am very interested in the rebuilding effort of churches that have suffered division and loss."

The elevation of an openly gay, divorced priest in 2003 to a position as bishop led many Episcopalian congregations across the country to change their affiliation from the local Episcopal bishop to other bishops in the global Anglican Communion. (The Episcopal Church is the name of the branch of the Anglican Communion in the United States, although a rival organization created by breakaway Episcopal congregations is also seeking recognition.)
Among those congregations breaking away locally were most of the members of Holy Cross. The former vicar, the Rev. Michael Nee, left to help form an Anglican congregation, Good Shepherd, under the authority of a Bolivian bishop.

More here-

http://www.nctimes.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/article_aa2370e8-f55b-5d22-b756-e6431c894f34.html

Mexico adopts the Anglican Communion Covenant

From ACNS-

Mexico has become the first Communion Province to adopt the Anglican Communion Covenant following its VI General Synod in Mexico City on 11 and 12 June.

Secretary General Kenneth Kearon said he was delighted at the decision and labelled The Anglican Church of Mexico's decision as a "significant step" in the life of the Communion.

The Anglican Communion Covenant, a document that outlines the common life and values of the Communion, was described by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams as "Something that helps us know where we stand together and also helps us to intensify our fellowship and our trust." It includes a section that proposes how to address significant disagreements within the Anglican Communion.

The idea of a Covenant was first raised in 2004 and member churches are currently reviewing the latest and final version. "We are delighted to hear that Mexico has agreed to adopt the Covenant," said Canon Kearon. "Provinces were asked to take their time to seriously consider this document, and we are glad to hear from recent synods that they are doing just that."

More here-

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2010/6/30/ACNS4711

Father Woody celebrates 40 years as a priest

From Albuquerque-

For more than four decades now, Father Merrill Woodrow "Woody" Peabody has been touching peoples' lives and lifting their spirits.

Earlier this month, 30 members of Socorro's Epiphany Episcopal Church gathered to pay tribute to the man who has led their congregation for the past eight years.

For the better part of the past several weeks, the church's faithful were busy making arrangements for the surprise celebration. On Saturday, Sept. 12, the preparations paid off as a very surprised vicar walked through the door and found himself the guest of honor.

But rather than simply sitting down and enjoying the homage, Father Woody began circling the room to make sure everyone was well and enjoying themselves.

For the majority of parishioners, it's these little acts of selflessness that sets Woody apart and makes their church such a special place.

Although the priesthood was not necessarily part of young Woody's future plans, he was introduced to the Episcopal church at a very, very young age.

"My grandmother always wanted me to be a priest," he mused. "In fact, I like to say that I've been going to Episcopal Church since nine months before I was born."

Well before Father Woody answered the church's call, he plied his trade as a school teacher and a newspaperman. It didn't take long, however, for Woody to trade in his ruler and pica pole for priestly robes and the pulpit.

By the late 1960s, Peabody had enrolled in the Episcopal seminary at Berkeley. It was shortly thereafter that Woody was "called" to the church — literally.

"There wasn't a big moment — that defining moment or incident that propelled me to join the church," he said. "It was literally a phone call from my priest, who knew I was about to graduate, and he asked if I would consider becoming a priest."

That was all the prompting he needed.

More here-

http://www.dchieftain.com/dc/index.php/news/264-father-woody-celebrates-40-years-as-a-priest.html

Good Stuff in TEC: New Mexico

St. Martin’s seeks people to experience homelessness

St. Martin’s Hospitality Center is using an interesting method to raise funds in these tough economic times, and to put donors in touch with its mission.

The center is seeking 12 people who want to experience what homelessness is like for themselves by offering a “Street Retreat.” It’s a practice that has been widespread among some nonprofits since the early 1990s, said Tracy Alexis, development director of St. Martin’s, which is one of the largest providers of services for the homeless in New Mexico. It was founded by volunteers from local Episcopal churches.

The “Street Retreat” experience lasts for three days and two nights, Jan. 28-30. Participants eat in soup kitchens and sleep outdoors, although the group will stay together for safety, Alexis said. The idea is not to take up shelter beds that are already scarce in the city, she added.

St. Martin’s asks each participant to gather 12 sponsors. Each sponsor pledges to support the participant for the three days with a $100 per-day-commitment.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2009/01/19/daily11.html

You can see all of the Good Stuff posts by clicking on Good Stuff in the labels below.

Good Stuff in TEC: New Mexico

Tough times mean extra work at soup kitchen

John Cdebaca, who's homeless, said he has been eating meals at the kitchen for the past two years. He said he's noticed more people using the service in recent weeks, especially low-income residents who aren't necessarily homeless.

Cdebaca said the service is valuable and he'd manage to cope if it were ever curtailed, though others would suffer more.

"For a lot of people — it's their only prepared meal," he said. "Now that nights are getting colder, if you don't have something in you, you'll freeze."

El Caldito Soup Kitchen was founded under a different name in 1984 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. With the help of the help of the local Catholic and Jewish communities, the operation expanded over the years from just two days a week to six days a week. The kitchen gained a home on the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope campus in 1998. It serves an estimated 70,00 meals each year, according to its Web site.

Anderson said the organization can always use donations, especially of money.
Daniel and Mary Farren, Las Cruces retirees, were among a group of residents that helped found El Caldito and have served until recently as volunteers. The two have plenty of stories about the clients who have enjoyed meals at the kitchen, including one about a man who used to take several bags of food home with him each day. Daniel Farren said another soup kitchen volunteer offered the man a ride to his apartment one day, and in the course of dropping him off, learned that his "to-go" bags were distributed to different neighbors who needed the food.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_11002622

You can see all of the good stuff posts by clicking on Good Stuff in the labels below.