The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Guttiérrez
The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez was consecrated on July 16, 2016 serving as the 16th bishop of the historic Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, which is the second oldest and fourth largest in the Episcopal Church. After his initial “listening pilgrimage” to all of the Diocese’s 133 parishes, Gutiérrez became focused on emphasizing the sacred presence of Jesus Christ and a call to holiness. In addition, the focus is empowering laity, inspiring creative solutions for church growth, emphasizing the missions of the church, social justice, poverty and ensuring that transparency is part of everything. He also restructured the Diocesan offices to better serve its parishes without increasing the budget.
Before his calling as bishop, Gutiérrez served as Canon to the Ordinary, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief of Staff in the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande. He also had an extensive career in public service, economic development and as president of a strategy and media firm. He served as vice-chairperson of The Social Justice and International Policy Committee for the 79th General Convention; was a board member for numerous organizations including the National Hispanic Foundation; and a chairman of the San Jose (NM) Community Redevelopment Task Force. He currently serves as a board member for The Church Farm School; Episcopal Academy; and as the chairman of the Board of Trustees for Episcopal Community Services.
A native of New Mexico, Gutiérrez comes from a family that settled in New Mexico in the 1500’s. The importance of faith, family, culture, language and community were instilled in him by grandmother Antonia Nunez Armijo. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science and a Master of Arts in Public Administration. He earned a diocesan certificate in Anglican studies through the Trinity School for Ministry, and a Master of Theological Studies degree from St. Norbert College.
The mystery of the Eucharist, scripture, and a relationship with Jesus Christ are spiritual foundations for Gutiérrez. “Throughout my life, I have enjoyed the wondrous experience of ‘chasing Jesus.’At times, I have run behind him with a lazy gait, or the instances where I slowed down, gasping for breath, simply enthralled by his majesty. I am always the happiest when I dash after him like a child entering their first race. My joy is keeping him in my sight; eager to be by his side. As a budding (sometimes clumsy but always eager) apprentice of Jesus, I am most influenced by His words to Peter: ‘Feed my sheep.’ There is no greater calling than serving him and following this instruction with each action I take. I am blessed and grateful to be a bishop, a shepherd and a fellow sojourner. I keep chasing Jesus, and listen for him to whisper, ‘Tag –you’re it!’”
Aside from his faith, Gutiérrez counts as his most important role and greatest responsibility a position he assumed on June 26, 1998 when he became the extremely proud father of his son Jude, a rising sophomore at the University of New Mexico. It is a joy he shares with his wife, best friend, and partner of 26 years, Suzanne Fletcher Gutiérrez. The family shares in this joy with a household of dogs, turtles, pheasants, owls and the other miscellaneous “pets” that wander through their lives. As he often says “Bendita sea la Luz y la Santa Verz Cruz. Buen Camino.
