What Values and Welcome Statement Does St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church Share?

Updated

St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church in Albuquerque, NM describes itself as a socially diverse, theologically progressive community of faith, and it organizes that identity around three shared values: Welcome, Spiritual Grounding, and Action. If you are trying to decide whether this is a community where you would feel included, the clearest signal is its stated stance that all are welcome "whoever you are, wherever you find yourself on the journey of faith," paired with a longtime public commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and an affirming posture toward people who have not been welcomed in other church spaces.

The Three Shared Values

The church states its values directly, and each one carries a practical meaning for visitors and members.

Welcome

The welcome statement is not limited to a general invitation. St. Michael's says all are welcome and adds that it "especially seek[s] to include people who have not been welcomed in all church spaces." That phrasing matters: it names the people who have often been excluded elsewhere and places them at the center of the invitation rather than at the edge.

Spiritual Grounding

The church describes itself as intentional in spiritual practice and says it works to create opportunities for all to explore the spiritual life and the Christian tradition. In practice, this value shows up in structured worship and contemplative practice — the community is known for contemplative retreats and contemplative practice, and its worship schedule includes regular Sunday services at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:15 a.m., plus weekday offerings such as Wednesday Compline.

Action

The church frames action as a consequence of faith: "Our faith draws us to reach out in service and advocacy, standing up for the rights of our neighbors and working to address human need." This value is tied to concrete ministries rather than a general sentiment — immigration ministries, a food pantry, a preschool, and other outreach ministries.

How the Values Connect to Real Ministries

The three values are not separate slogans; they reinforce each other.

Value Stated meaning Example of how it appears
Welcome All are welcome; special effort to include those not welcomed in all church spaces Affirming stance; longtime champion of LGBTQ+ rights
Spiritual Grounding Intentional spiritual practice open to all Contemplative retreats and practice; Sunday and weekday worship
Action Service and advocacy for neighbors' rights and human need Immigration ministries, food pantry, preschool, other outreach

If you are weighing whether to visit, this table is the short version: the welcome is stated as broad and explicit, the spiritual life is described as structured and open to exploration, and the service work is named and ongoing rather than aspirational.

What This Means If You Are Deciding Whether to Visit

  • If inclusion is your main question: the church identifies as affirming and as a longtime champion of LGBTQ+ rights, and it explicitly seeks out people who have felt unwelcome in other church spaces. That is a stated commitment, not an inference.
  • If you want a contemplative or reflective spiritual home: the emphasis on intentional practice, contemplative retreats, and regular worship gives you entry points beyond a single Sunday service.
  • If you want faith tied to service: the immigration ministries, food pantry, and preschool are the concrete expressions of the Action value, so there are ways to participate beyond attending worship.
  • If you want to see it before committing: the church lists online worship links and downloadable bulletins, and its upcoming events include gatherings such as St. Francis Day on October 4 at 11:15 a.m. (with a pet blessing at 12 noon) and a Rio Grande Borderlands Ministry Visit on October 17–18.

The church is located at 601 Montaño Road Northwest, Albuquerque, NM. Its self-description is the most reliable guide to its values: socially diverse, theologically progressive, and organized around welcome, action, and spiritual grounding.