Gutiérrez was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and raised Roman Catholic. Some of his ancestors arrived in New Mexico as conquistadores in the late 1500s. He also takes deep pride in his Mexican ancestry, remembering fondly the love, stories, tradition and food of his great grandparents who immigrated from a small town outside of Guadalajara, Mexico in the early 1900s. He is an alumnus of the University of New Mexico, receiving bachelor's degrees in history and political science in 1987, and a master's degree in public administration in 1992. He also completed a certificate in Anglican studies from Trinity School for Ministry in 2007 and a master of theological studies degree from St. Norbert College in 2011.
Career
Before his ministry, Gutiérrez had a distinguished career in public service. He served as chief of staff to former Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, as director of the Bernillo County Economic Development Department. In 1998, he founded a political strategy andmedia relations firm. Bishop William Carl Frey ordained Gutierrez to the diaconate on June 7, 2008, and Bishop James Mathes ordained him to the priesthood on December 12, 2008. Gutiérrez was the first native born New Mexican ordained a Priest in the Diocese of the Rio Grande. He served at the parish of Saint Michael and All Angels and the Cathedral Church of St. John in Albuquerque from 2008 until 2011, when he became canon to the ordinary, chief operating officer and chief of staff within the diocese. He also oversaw the Navajoland area mission. While Canon to the Ordinary he was instrumental in the construction and creation of the Bosque Retreat Center as well as rebuilding Our Lady in the Valley Episcopal Church in Albuquerque and St. Francis Episcopal in Rio Rancho. In appreciation for his work at Our Lady in the Valley, the congregation named their Parish Hall in his honor. On March 12, 2016, a special diocesan convention elected him to succeed Charles Bennison, who had retired in 2012. Clifton Daniel III had served as provisional bishop since 2013. Gutiérrez led in both orders on each of the four ballots. Gutiérrez was elected on the fourth ballot, receiving 100 votes in the lay order and 133 in the clergy order. On that ballot, 84 lay votes and 130 clergy votes were needed for an election. Gutiérrez was consecrated on July 16, 2016 by Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry; Gutiérrez's former bishop, Michael Vono, delivered the sermon. Gutiérrez vowed to visit each of the 132 congregations in his diocese within six months, and began blogging his pilgrimage of faith. In February, 2020 it was announced that Gutiérrez was elected President of the Compass Rose Society, succeeding C. Andrew Doyle.
Personal life
Gutiérrez married Suzanne Fletcher in 1991 and they have a son, Jude. He was made a member of the Venerable Order of St John in 2018.
