July 19 – 21, 2025
Albuquerque, NM
Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut, presiding
The New Mexico Annual Conference gathered at St. John’s UMC in Albuquerque to do the work of the annual conference and to reconnect and worship with the Conference community of faith. This was the first annual conference with Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut serving as our episcopal leader.
Thursday, July 19
The theme of this annual conference was “Lean In/Live Out.” The annual conference also focused on telling our stories. Bishop Carlo leaned into both of those ideas in his sermon during Opening Worship.
“We immediately jump to ‘Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God.’ We immediately jump to action words. We gloss over, ‘What does the Lord require?’We gloss over, ‘What must I do, Teacher?’… Our texts today suggest that we cannot live out if we don’t lean in. …. Leaning in is a powerful commitment to your own story and to the stories of others. It transforms solitary struggles into shared triumphs and allows the interplay of individual voices to forge paths towards new understanding and collective strength.“
After Opening Business, we heard the CFA and Trustees reports. Each provided information on how the Conference might move forward with responsible stewardship of the funds entrusted to it and foster the financial health of local churches.
Rev. David Valera, DCM for the Pacific Northwest Conference provided our Keynote Address on the topic of telling our stories. He began with sharing his own story and then provided information about how the church might better share its story with people inside the church and in the community.
“…And if you ask me now the question, ‘Well yeah, that’s a great testimony what does that have to do with storytelling?’, Let me tell you this. I want to speak not only as a pastor but as a Filipino immigrant and storyteller that through my film and photography especially in the life of the church I have learned stories heal. Stories connect. Stories transform…. Because the church in its brokenness and its weakness sometimes forgets the household of God has never meant to be exclusive yet too often that is our default and I’m not asking us to fix it today but I want us to learn how to lean into the stories that stretch you lean into the truths that make you uncomfortable. Lean into the voices that you have long heard or have not heard because they were silenced. Lean in with your ears, your heart, and your courage. Lean in knowing that you too are becoming whole.“
After a communal dinner, several brave people shared their stories during an open-mic storytelling event.
Friday, July 20
The second day began with Clergy & Laity Sessions. The Laity Session included several guests and dignitaries who shared their stories – how they came to faith or why they’re engaged in the work that they’re doing. The session concluded with Wesley students handing out flowers.
A majority of the morning session was dedicated to voting on Constitutional Amendments. The Conference Delegation briefly reviewed the amendments. Contrary to the Conference’s usual tradition of passing legislation with little to no conversation, Conference members debated the amendments thoroughly.
Long-time staff member, Linda Lucas was recognized and honored on the occasion of her retirement.
A new Celebration of Ministry Service allowed us to commission nine CLM’s. We acknowledged the hard work of our Licensed Local Pastors. We lifted up Provisional Deacon, Michele Walton as well the two Ordinands, Rev Jon Kuncel & David Wilcox. Retiree, Rev Greg Kennedy passed the mantle on to Rev Jon Kuncel.
During the Retiree Luncheon, we recognized the ministry of: Rev Lourdes Calderon, Rev Greg Kennedy, Rev George Miller, Rev Janet Norden and Pastor Russ Hall.
The Conference Ministry Team presented their report on the new Conference Missional Priorities by sharing stories about each. The Missional Priorities:
- Cultivating Justice and Diversity: A call to amplify different voices as we work toward justice and equity in our communities.
- Enhancing Border Relationships: A call to build bridges and address shared human needs across the southern border and any borders that divide us.
- Investing in Leadership Development: A call to recruit, equip support and nurture lay and clergy leaders as we pursue God’s direction for our local churches.
- Collaboration for Connection in Community: A call to improve communication, share resources and develop additional partnerships throughout the Conference.
After each priority, members engaged in sharing stories around their tables using the missional priority as a prompt.
Bishop “Dee” Williamston, who serves the Louisiana Conference was our Guest Ordination Preacher. She gave a rousing sermon which included mentions of the Music Artist, Jelly Roll and a communal elephant activity.
“Jelly Roll is willing to share his testimony, his witness to thousands of people. How about us? Are we willing to share our witness and our testimony? The woman at the well did. He is willing in his concert to compel people to faith. He ain’t afraid of his story and neither should we be afraid to offer Christ or our story to others. Y’all we have to set our sights on compelling people to come to Jesus by leaning into who we are as United Methodists and living it out and offering it – that is living water in our churches so that they will be full… Michelle, Jon, David…all of us in here have work to do. We have to lean in and live out this gospel message and to pull this elephant in.“
Michele Walton was commissioned as Provisional Deacon. Reverends Jon Kuncel and David Wilcox were ordained during a very moving service.
Saturday, July 21
Our morning began with our Memorial Service where we celebrated the lives of those departed pastors and pastor spouses who we lost this past year. We also celebrated the ministry of three churches following their faithful completion.
Conference Lay Leader, Kathy Jewell offered the Laity Address. She created the altar and table decorations which used God’s Garden as its theme. She wove that idea into the Laity Session and finally exhorted our Conference to be reminded of God’s Garden of Grace in her Laity Address.
United Women in Faith members, Tanya Barlow and Dodie Hawkins presented a Green Team Resolution and a Call to Action regarding gun violence.
Lydia Patterson Institute President, Dr. Carla Cardoza gave an update on the issue involving LPI students not having access to VISA renewal interviews. Rev Ross Whiteaker made the Conference aware that a Conference letter campaign was in process and explained how to be involved.
Our Living Archives this year were: Cheryll Felder, Laity and Rev Steve McElroy, Clergy. The celebration of Rev McElroy was particularly poignant. It wasn’t certain that Steve could make the trip from El Paso to ABQ due to serious illness, but he did. Steve last served as El Paso DS. We were grateful that we could share how much his ministry has meant to the Conference.
During Closing Worship, Bishop Carlo, ABQ DS, Rev Ross Whiteaker and El Paso DS, Rev Dr Pamela Rowley read each appointment. It was a deviation from our traditional Fixing of Appointments process, but the body seemed to prefer it.
An offering was taken up for McCurdy Ministries. More than $5,000 was collected.
We will convene our 2026 Annual Conference in the El Paso District. It will be a celebration of our 150th Anniversary.
United Methodist News Service Requested Information
Membership stands at 14,438 up (or down) _(635) from the previous year.
Worship attendance stands at 4,576, up (or down) (174).
Church school attendance stands at 1,910, up (or down) 72.
Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2024 131, up (or down) (47) from 2023.
Adults and young adults in small groups for 2024 2,758, up (or down) (255) from 2023.
Worshippers engaged in mission for 2024 2,485, up (or down) (34) from 2023.
Respectfully submitted by Alli Newsom, Conference Communications Director