Marriage equality is in the news in New Mexico, the only US state where there is not explicit legislation either to provide or prohibit it. This has given rise to three same - sex couples instituting legal proceedings for marriage licences, a mayor of Santa Fe encouraging county clerks to issue the licences - and the state attorney - general announcing at a press conference yesterday that clerks should not issue licences - but encouraging couples wishing to wed, to launch further legal actions to test the position in court.

The Catholic Church in New Mexico has been quick to assert once again its insistence that marriage can only be between one man, and one woman. Other religious leaders disagree. In early May, 94 religious leaders from a wide range of Christian and other faith traditions signed a public declaration of support for same - sex marriage.

We, the undersigned clergy and religious leaders from across New Mexico, draw upon our moral convictions and our personal faith to support the freedom to marry in our state.

We are leaders of various faith communities, who have lived and ministered closely with thousands of families through all of life’s glory, tragedy, and tedium. Some of these families are headed by same-sex couples. They, like many of us, enjoy the holidays with aunts and cousins, struggle to meet the mortgage, and fret over children who aren’t doing well in school.

These families are our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends and our peers. As people of faith and as New Mexicans, we believe in loving our neighbors, and treating one another as we would like to be treated—with dignity and respect. This means recognizing the love and commitment of lesbian and gay couples through marriage.

Entering into a committed, loving relationship is one of life’s most sacred and holy gifts. Marriage means responsibility and hard work, but it also brings life-changing protections for a family. Those of us who are married often take for granted the fact that we will not be questioned when we go to the hospital to visit our spouse; that no one can step between a mother and her children; that if death comes suddenly and we are unprepared, our spouse or children will not be denied inheritance in those mournful hours. Most heterosexual couples wouldn’t want to be denied these joys and protections that come with marriage, and when they think about it, they wouldn’t want to deny that to anyone else, either.

We recognize that there are a diversity of views in the faith community, and respect the right of religious groups to refuse to officiate or bless marriages for lesbian or gay couples. Indeed, not everyone in our congregations or denominations agrees with this viewpoint. By the same token, we support civil marriage fairness as an issue of religious freedom, for a denial of civil recognition dishonors the religious convictions of those communities and clergy who do officiate, and bless, marriages for same-sex couples.

Our religious principles are grounded in a love and acceptance of all people, and we believe deeply that means embracing marriage between same-sex couples.

New Mexico has a long history of valuing and protecting the humanity and dignity of every person. It is time to extend this tradition to families that include same-sex couples.

ACLU, New Mexico

Since the initial announcement, others may well have added their names - see the full list of signatories here - or to get an idea of the denominational backgrounds, here’s my reworking of the list, ordered by denomination / faith tradition:

Catholic (not Roman)

• Fr. James J. Lehman, Pastor, Holy Family Ecumenical Catholic Church, Las Cruces

• Fr. Mark Sutton, Pastor, Ecumenical Catholic Communion, St. Mary Magdalene

• Rev. Bishop David Doyle, Christ the King Old Catholic Church, Albuquerque

• Fr. Louie Amezaga, Associate Pastor, Holy Family Ecumenical Catholic Church, Las Cruces

 

Episcopal / Anglican

• The Rev. Brian C. Taylor, Rector, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Albuquerque

• Rt. Rev. Rusty Smith, CSB, Bishop of the Evangelical Anglican Church

• Rev. Canon Dr. Thomas Arrowsmith-Lowe, Rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Alamagordo

• The Rev. Rhonda Smith McIntire, Rector, San Gabriel the Archangel Episcopal Church, Corrales

• Rev. Sue Joiner, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Albuquerque

• The Rev. Canon Carole McGowan, Rector, St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church and Canterbury Campus Ministry Chaplain

• Rev. Brian H. O. A. McHugh, Assisting Priest, Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Retired, Silver City

• The Rev. Dr. James Leehan, Episcopal Church, Retired, Santa Fe

• The Rev. Dr. Richard W. Murphy, Episcopal Church, Retired, Santa Fe

 

First Christian / Disciples of Christ

• Rev. Linda Mervine, First Christian Church, Las Cruces

• Rev. Theodore Cooley, Retired, Disciples of Christ

• Dr. Don Childers, Pastor, First Christian Church, Santa Fe

• Rev. Ryan Arnold, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Ruidoso

• Rev. David Wilson Rogers, Pastor, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Carlsbad

• Rev. Mary Harris, Minister, Los Altos Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

 

Lutheran

• Philip L. Wangberg, Pastor, All Saints Lutheran Church, Albuquerque

• The Rev. Geri Cunningham, St. Peter Lutheran Church, Carlsbad

• The Rev. Patricia L. Holman, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Evangelical Luther Chuch in America, Albuquerque

• Anne Morawski, Campus Pastor, Lutheran Campus Ministry at UNM and CNM, Albuquerque

• Rev. Dr. Michael R. Lohmann, Interim Senior Pastor, Peace Lutheran Church, Las Cruces

• Rev. Daléne Fuller Rogers, Interim Associate Pastor, Peace Lutheran Church, Las Cruces

• The Rev. Benjamin Larzelere III, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Retired

• The Rev. William E. Hershey, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Retired, Albuquerque

• The Rev. Howard D. Corry, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Retired, Taos

• The Rev. Kathryn A. Schlechter, MFT, Intentional Interim Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Santa Fe

• The Rev. Patricia Halverson, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Retired, Las Vegas

• The Rev. Rick Green, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Alamogord

Methodist

• Rev. Joe Morris, New Covenant United Methodist, Farmington

• Rev. Bert Scott, D. Min, United Methodist Church, Retired

• Carol Tuck, United Methodist Church, Retired

• Rev. Craig C. Cockrell, Senior Pastor, St. John’s United Methodist Church, Albuquerque

• Bethany K. Carpenter, Zia United Methodist Church, Santa Fe

• Steve Wiard, Pastor, El Pueblito United Methodist Church, Taos

Presbyterian

• Rev. David Cameron, Pastor, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque

• Rev. Kenneth Cuthbertson, PhD, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

• Rev. Seth Finch, Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque

• Rev. Dr. Frank Yates, Pastor, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque

• Rev. Wayne Mell, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Taos

• Rev. Dr. Bobbie G McGarey, New Life Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque

• Rev. Trey Hammond, Pastor, La Mesa Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque

• Rev. Dr. Robert B. Woodruff, Second Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque

• Rev. Harry Eberts III, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe

• Rev. James M Collie, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

• Rev. Paul Debenport, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque, Retired

• Rev. Jan Gough, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Medanales

• Rev. Drew Henry, Pastor, Las Placitas Presbyterian Church, Placitas

• Rev. Paul R. Miller, Sierra Blanca Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Honorably Retired

• Rev. Dr. Barbara Dua, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

• Rev. Dean H. Lewis, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Honorably Retired

• The Rev. W. D. Lackey, ThD. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Honorably Retired

• Rev. Tony Chambless, First Presbyterian Church, Ruidoso

• Rev. Dr. James E. Raghair, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Honorably Retired

• The Rev. Dr. Peter Frazier-Koontz, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Honorably Retired

• Dr. Michael J. Adee, First Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe

• Rev. Lorelei Kay, Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Gallup

United Church

• Rev. Pedro Ramos-Goycolea, Iglesia Congregacional Unida, United Church of Christ, Albuquerque

• Rev. Dr. Ute S. Molitor, Interim Minister, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Albuquerque

• Rev. Sharon S. Littrell, Ph.D., Pastor, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Rio Rancho

• Rev. Brandon Johnson, United Church of Santa Fe

• Rev. Talitha Arnold, United Church of Santa Fe

• Rev. William D. Ingraham, Senior Pastor, Church of the Good Shepherd, United Church of Christ, Albuquerque

• Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer, Southwest Conference Minister, United Church of Christ

• Rev. Betsy Bueschel, United Church of Christ, Retired, Santa Fe

• Rev. Tyler Connoley, Pastor, United Church of Christ, Silver City

Other Christian

• Rev. Judith L. Maynard, Senior Pastor, Metropolitan Community Church of Albuquerque

• Rev. Mark Denton, Pastor, Albuquerque

• Rev. Vangie Chavez, Rising Sun Ministries

• Sr. Michele Gothro n/OFR (Order of Friars Minor - Franciscan).

• Rev. Kylie Renner, Spiritual Leader, Albuquerque Center for Spiritual Living

• Rev. Andrew Groves, Albuquerque Center for Spiritual Living

• Rev. Joe Whitley, Las Cruces

• Rev. Bonnie L. Smith, Organ Mountain Institute for Spiritual Growth, Las Cruces

• Rev. Lee Albertson, Albuquerque

• Rev. Lynette Curley-Roam, MSW, LISW, Visitation House Healing Center; EACA retired

• Rev. Judith Wellington, Albuquerque

• Terry Lund, Las Cruces

• Rev. Sam Ritchey, Wellspring, Las Cruces

• Rev. Kim Fields-Haley, West Mesa Christian Church, Albuquerque

• The Rev, Dr. Wallace Ford, Retired

• Rev. Anita Amstutz, Pastor, Albuquerque Mennonite Church

• Rev Mary Tyler Browne, Retired, Albuquerque

• Rev. Gayle Dillon, Spiritual Leader, Everyday Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Fe

• The Rev. Dr. Martha Blacklock, Episcopal Church, Retired, Silver City

Buddhist

• Roshi Joan Halifax, Ph.D., Founding Abbot, Upaya Zen Center

• Marcia Rose, Founding-Guiding Teacher and minister, The Mountain Hermitage Buddhist Retreat Center, Taos

• Grove Burnett, Dharma Teacher, Santa Fe

• Valerie Roth, Community Dharma Leader, Albuquerque

• Kathryn Turnipseed, Community Dharma Leader, Albuquerque

• Brian Joshin Byrnes, Upaya Zen Center

Jewish

• Rabbi Harry Rosenfeld, Albuquerque

• Rabbi Arthur Flicker, Congregation B’nai Israel, Albuquerque

• Rabbi Deborah J. Brin, Congregation Nahalat Shalom, Albuquerque

• Rabbi Malka Drucker, HaMakom, Santa Fe

• Rabbi Marvin Schwab, Temple Beth Shalom, Union for Reform Judaism

• Rabbi Lawrence P. Karol, Las Cruces

Unitarian Universalist

• Rev. Stephen Phinney, Parish Minister, Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation, Rio Rancho

• Rev. Gail Lindsay Marriner, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe

• Nancy J. Anderson, Minister Emerita, Unitarian Universalist Church, Las Cruces

• Rev. Carole Czujko, Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces

• Rev. Anne Marsh, Unitarian Universalist, Retired, Los Alamos

• The Rev. Elizabeth McMaster, Unitarian Universalist, Retired

• The Rev. Suzanne Redfern-Campbell, Intentional Interim Minister, Unitarian Universalist, Albuquerque

• Rev. John A. Cullinan, Unitarian Universalist, Los Alamos

• Rev. Wade Wheelock, Unitarian Universalist, Retired, Los Alamos