Skip Navigation

Leadership

Clergy

The Rev. Brian C. Taylor, Rector

The Rev. Dr. Brian Taylor
The Rev. Brian C. Taylor, Rector

Biography

Born in 1951, Fr. Brian Taylor was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. His family is Episcopalian, and he cites the liturgy of the church having a profound and early effect upon his spiritual life. Early passions included travel, backpacking, and music. Fr. Brian attended Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont, eventually earning a Masters degree in Classical Guitar Performance and Composition.

In 1981, Fr. Brian graduated from seminary at The Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. There he earned a Masters of Divinity, awarded With Distinction. In 2004, CDSP awarded Fr. Brian an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity, for contributions to the field of spirituality (see Books etc., below).

In an intern year during seminary, Fr. Brian served as Lay Vicar of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in rural Redmond, Oregon. His first two years of ordained ministry were at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco as Assistant for Pastoral and Social Ministries. Since 1983 he has been Rector of St. Michael and All Angels.

Fr. Brian is a graduate of the Shalem Institute’s program for Spiritual Directors, and is a faculty member for Clergy Reflection, Education, and Discernment Opportunity, a program for clergy renewal in the Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. Fr. Brian is co-founder of many organizations, including our parish’s Contemplative Center and the Justice Project, Via Media Rio Grande, and the Religious Affiliation for Inclusion and Non-Discrimination.

Fr. Brian has been married since 1978, and he and his wife have two sons. Fr. Brian does carpentry/woodworking, swimming, and gardening, plays music, and loves to travel and relax outdoors.

Books, articles, journals, and sermons

All of Fr. Brian’s books (except 'Setting the Gospel Free' which is now out of print) are available for purchase in the parish office, or through Amazon.com. Journals and articles from some of his annual pilgrimages and studies are available on this website, as are many of his sermons.

Becoming Human: Core Teachings of Jesus (Cowley Publications, 2005)
24 short chapters that summarize many of Jesus’ central teachings: Don’t worry; Love everybody; Change the world; Become simple; Drop your pride and shame; Wake up; Be religious; Don’t be too religious, and so on. These reflections present Jesus’ vibrant wisdom as a guide to becoming fully human, as God intends for us.
Becoming Christ: Transformation Through Contemplation (Cowley Publications 2002)
The fruit of many years of practicing and teaching contemplative prayer, Becoming Christ helps the reader develop a contemplative practice, remain grounded in traditional disciplines of faith, and move through spiritual transformation that comes over time. See excerpts from this book on this website by going our Articles section.
Setting the Gospel Free: Experiential Faith and Contemplative Practice (Continuum Press, 1996)
This was written with the “marginal Christian” in mind, taking a fresh look at basic Christian concepts and practices from an experiential (rather than dogmatic) and contemplative (rather than pietistic) point of view.
Spirituality for Everyday Living: An Adaptation of the Rule of St. Benedict (Liturgical Press, 1989)
This is a practical resource for those who seek God through an ordinary, in-the-world path. It takes as its model the monastic Rule of St. Benedict with its balance of prayer, conversion of life, commitment, study, work, relationships, and solitude. Recommended readings from the Rule are listed at the end of each chapter.
Fr. Brian's Sabbatical Blog: November 2010 through May 2011
Visit his Blogspot to read a journal Fr. Brian kept during his 2010-2011 sabbatical.

The Rev. Sue Joiner, Assisting Clergy

The Rev. Sue Joiner
The Rev. Sue Joiner, Assisting Clergy

Biography

Born in 1965 in Texas, Sue discovered a passion for spiritual vitality early in her life. While on a retreat in high school, Sue experienced a call to ministry that has not diminished. A great awakening happened as a freshman in college through a Christian Education in the Outdoors interim class. Backpacking, camping, cycling, and canoeing for the first time gave this city kid a new way of understanding the world and her place in it. Since that time, she has found life when she is outdoors hiking, camping, or on early morning walks with her dog, Sophie. Bringing in the mornings on early morning walks or runs is a form of prayer for Sue:

     Full moon is perfect
     Softly setting in pink sky
     Praying in the day

Sue began leading retreats in college and this ministry continues in her work with Called Back to the Well, an ecumenical spiritual renewal program for church leaders. With a short departure from this work after graduating from Candler School of Theology, she has been leading retreats and workshops for more than 20 years. Ordained in 1994 in the United Methodist Church in Oregon-Idaho, Sue discovered a deep love for parish ministry.

Sue is a graduate of the Shalem Clergy Spiritual Life and Leadership Program, the Upper Room Academy for Spiritual Formation, and Duke Divinity Foundations of Christian Leadership Program. Next on her agenda is the Animas Valley Institute's Soulcraft Intensive program. She received standing in the United Church of Christ in 2006.

Albuquerque became home in 2004 with the launch of Called Back to the Well. Sue lives here with her partner Anne Marie and two children, Max and Maya. She continues to seek ways to integrate all of her passions – being outdoors, reading fabulous books and poetry, new adventures (most recently, a hot air balloon ride and skiing for the first time in 15 years!), and good conversations into her life and work.

The Rev. Deacon Judith Jenkins, Assisting Clergy

The Rev. Judith Jenkins
The Rev. Deacon Judith Jenkins, Assisting Clergy

Biography

Born in 1942, in Albuquerque, Judith's journey in the Christian faith began early and by the time she was in 2nd grade she was singing in the choir at the Presbyterian Church. She attended college in Colorado, receiving her undergraduate degree in history and political science at CSU. She obtained her graduate degree at Denver University and Iliff Seminary receiving a masters in theology and religious studies. After college and seminary, Judith served as a Christian Education Director for the downtown Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins. These were wonderful years and she was in charge of all education - kindergarten through adult - and directed the youth activities (junior high and senior high) for three years. After her marriage she moved to Pittsburgh and then to Boise, Idaho where the family grew with three children, Roberta, Phillip, and David. During the years in Boise, Judith headed up the citywide ministry for crisis counseling on a hotline basis and worked with teens in crisis. This was also the time when she went back to school and received her educational teaching degree from Boise State University and then taught US history/government in the Boise public schools.

Moving to Albuquerque in 1981, Judith taught for three years at St. Mary's School and in the summer taught English at Albuquerque Academy. As soon as there was an opening, Judith was hired in 1983 to teach at the Academy. For 26 years, she taught in the history and English, departments - especially enjoying her classes of humanities, ethics and comparative religion. After a successful career in both teaching and being the administrator for Community Service, Judith retired in May 2009.

For all the years that she can remember, Judith knew that God's call was on her life and finally the greatest moment came when she was ordained to the diaconate in 2008. Serving as a deacon is just where she knows she should be. She joined St. Michaels in 1987 and loves being part of this community. loves serving at the altar and taking a role in pastoral care. In the summer of 2009, Judith was accepted at the Mercy Center in Burlingame, California to do an internship for Spiritual Direction. After completing the 172 hour course, she is back at home and ready to do whatever it is that God has for her. In 2009, she was designated the Jubilee Officer for this diocese and is in charge of assisting churches in this diocese to become Jubilee Centers - seeking to involve those who are deeply invested in a social concerns ministry. Proudly, St. Michaels became the first Jubilee Center in this diocese in August of 2009.

In the past, Judith has been an avid downhill skier and swimmer, being on the women's synchronized swim team in college. Backpacking through the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho was one of the great highlights in her life. She plays the piano (very occasionally now) and loves listening to music. Much of her spare time is taken up with two of her six grandchildren who live here in Albuquerque. She says she never ceases to be amazed at what God continues to do in her life daily. Her slogan is Deja que Dios te ame! (Allow God to love you.)

The Rev. Susan Allison-Hatch, Assisting Unpaid Clergy

The Rev. Susan Allison-Hatch
The Rev. Susan Allison-Hatch, Unpaid Assisting Clergy

Biography

Fifteen years ago, Susan Allison-Hatch heard a colleague say, "We've decided to go ahead and build our new House of Worship. And we've decided to do so with love". The following Sunday Susan accompanied her colleague to St. Michael's. A few months later, she joined the New Members Class. On Palm Sunday that year, she was confirmed with the first group of people confirmed in the new House of Worship.

Yet it was in the silence of contemplative prayer (a practice she adopted at St. Michael's) that Susan was able to hear a call to ordained ministry that had been stirring in her since childhood. Three years after she was confirmed, Susan left the community and land she loved to attend seminary and pursue ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church.

After seminary and ordination, Susan served as Associate Rector and Chaplain at an inner-city church and school in Oakland, California. There her passion for ministry with those who fall outside the walls of church was kindled. She led a weekly service for kids and kids at heart; she served as chaplain in the emergency room of an inner city trauma center; and she forged a weekly inter-faith worship service in an Episcopal School for children of all faiths.

Prior to returning to New Mexico, Susan served an ex-urban parish wrestling with the challenge of an aging congregation. She also began ministering to the homeless in San Francisco. In May, 2010, Susan and her husband Tim returned to New Mexico to purchase a house and to resume life in the land they had come to love and call home.

When Susan is not at St. Michael's, you'll find her at St. Martin's Hospitality Center, a day shelter for people experiencing homelessness, or in the pool or on her bike or at her sewing machine making a quilt.

Susan holds dear two vows she has taken—her marriage vow to Tim and her priestly vows. Throughout her journey, Tim has been a stalwart and wise companion. For that she is grateful.

The Rev. Kristin Schultz, Director of Family Ministries

The Rev. Kristin Schultz
The Rev. Kristin Schultz, Director of Family Ministries

Biography

Kristin is a Lutheran Pastor, married to Lee Liming, and mom of Evan, Noah, and Micah. She grew up in Albuquerque, and is thrilled to be living here again after going to school and beginning her ministry in the Midwest. Albuquerque is a great place to raise kids, and St. Michael and All Angels is a great church for families!

Kristin was born in 1969, and her first home was Dzilth-na-o-dith-hle (in the Navajo nation?), where her parents taught school. She moved about six times in her first eight years; in third grade she moved in to the house in the North Valley of Albuquerque where her parents still live. She attended Alvarado Elementary, Taft Middle School, and Albuquerque Academy. She grew up attending St Paul Lutheran Church, the "ski-slope church" at the Big I.

Kristin went north to explore her family's Midwestern and Lutheran roots at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. She majored in math and religion, with a concentration in Stories as Expressions of Faith. Her first job out of college was as Youth and Family Minister at Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Chanhassen, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis.) Within a few years, she started taking classes at Luther Seminary in St Paul.

Disheartened by a perceived disconnect between seminary and social justice, Kristin left school and returned to Albuquerque to work in a domestic violence shelter. But her "Jonah time" didn't last too long, and within a year she was starting Clinical Pastoral Education at a hospital in Milwaukee. After CPE, Kristin worked for a year at St. Camillus HIV/AIDS ministry while attending classes in Chicago; then went off for her internship year in inner city Detroit. She finished her schooling at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and graduated with her Master of Divinity in 1999. During her internship year, Kristin met Lee Liming, and they were married in April of 1999. In December of 1999 she was ordained and began to serve at All Saints Lutheran Church in Palatine, IL.

Kristin has three children: Evan is in fourth grade and Noah is in kindergarten at North Valley Academy; Micah is 3 and in preschool at Mesa View Christian Preschool. She has been an at-home Mom since moving back to Albuquerque – doing a bit of interim and supply preaching, but only on a very part-time basis. It is very exciting to be getting back into professional ministry at St. Michael's, where her family has attended for about a year

Travel is one of Kristin's great loves, and during her school years she was privileged to travel and study in Rome, Israel, Zimbabwe and Kenya. With three kids, her travels now don't range so far, but she has been lucky to take her family camping and vacationing in the southwest and to make fun trips to Madeira Beach, FL, and Niagara Falls. Kristin enjoys reading and has collected beautiful picture book since long before she had children. She also loves biking, walking, camping, watching TV shows from the Syfy channel, and dancing with Micah in the living room.

Governing body

The Vestry consists of the Rector and 12 other people elected by the members to overlapping 3-year terms. Their particular areas of responsibility include finances and fundraising, property and facilities, business and legal matters, relations with All Angels Episcopal Preschool (our own preschool and kindergarten program) hiring the Rector and overseeing relations between Rector and parishioners, and approval of staff hirings, licensed lay leaders and candidates for ordination.

A Rector’s Warden is appointed by the Rector and chairs Vestry meetings. A Vestry Warden is elected by and from among the members of the Vestry. A Treasurer and Clerk (Secretary) are elected by the Vestry from among the parish membership.

All meetings of the Vestry are open to all members of the parish (unless they move into executive session, which is rare).

For more information on how the Vestry handles our finances, see how you can help.

Representatives to the wider church

Delegates are elected by the members of the parish, and together with the clergy and wardens, they represent St. Michael’s in diocesan life, including Deanery (a subset of the diocese) meetings and annual Diocesan Convention. All the diocesan clergy, delegates, and wardens then elect Deputies to represent the diocese to the Episcopal Church at its triennial governing event, the General Convention.

End Document — St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church