Rev. Matthew Baugh was born in Phoenix, AZ, and after moving a few times his family settled in Albuquerque He graduated from UNM with a BA in history and an English lit minor. He loves history because historians know the best stories. Matthew graduated from Eden Theological Seminary and was ordained in the United Church of Christ. He has served churches in Baton

Rouge, LA; Sedona, AZ; Lockport, IL; Albuquerque, NM, and Manhattan Beach, CA. Las Placitas Presbyterian is the first church outside the UCC he has served, but it has been a painless transition, mostly thanks to the wonderful congregation.

Outside the church, Matthew is a writer with more than 60 published short stories and 4 novels published by small presses. He favors fantasies and sci-fi with the occasional mystery or western. He lives with two cats named Basil and Nigel who he adopted during the pandemic.

Matthew’s basic theological conviction is that loving others and offering them compassion and respect is even more important than correct doctrine. God loves us all, regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexuality, nationality, political party, religion, or any other human consideration. As followers of God, he thinks we should do the same.