I received this email from Pastor Don Kimbro of Albuquerque, New Mexico today:
FOR VALENCIA COUNTY PASTORS
I want to let you know about a bill that is being prepared for the 2016 legislative session that would protect Christians in the exercise of their beliefs regarding marriage. There will be a press conference at Legacy Church at 2 pm on Thursday, Nov. 12, and they would like to see a good turnout. — Doug Brown
Please share with your pastor colleagues that they, their staffs and members of their churches are invited to a press conference on Thursday, November 12th, at 2:00 pm, at Legacy Church in Albuquerque. The press conference will announce work on two bills sponsored by NM Representative David Gallegos (R, Dist-61, Lea County) that we hope to have requested by Governor Martinez to be on the agenda of the next legislative session in Jan 2016.
The first bill amends both the current NM Human Rights Act and the NM Religious Freedom Restoration Act to better enable people of faith to practice their religions in their private lives, in public, their businesses and in their places of employment. This bill has been drafted and has been sent to the governor’s legal and policy staffs for review.
The second bill would amend NM’s definition of marriage to un-blur traditional (one man-one woman) with same sex marriages. Bold font is the current statute and red is the recommended addition. Drafting of this bill is still being worked.
40-1-1. [Marriage is civil contract requiring consent of parties.]
Marriage is contemplated by the law as a civil contract, for which the consent of the contracting parties, capable in law of contracting, is essential.
Same-sex marriage is contemplated by the law as a subset of marriage, and is between two people of the same sex or same gender identity.
Traditional marriage is contemplated by the law as a subset of marriage, and is between a man and a woman.
I have been working with Rep Gallegos on this bill for several weeks and, yesterday, Legacy Church of Albuquerque agreed to hosting the press conference on November 12th. This e-mail is to alert you and other pastors so you and they can arrange calendars as appropriate. Rep Gallegos and Legacy will be sending out announcements and invitations to the event but this is to ensure that you are aware and invited in case recent issues may result in unintentional gaps in our invitations.
Please do not hesitate to call me if you have questions.
Respectfully,
Tom Mead
Sandia Park, NM
