Today, United Methodists from all around the Philippines released a “call to unity in holiness and truth” standing with the emerging Global Methodist Church and forcefully rejecting liberal regionalization proposals like the Christmas Covenant. This group of over 100 (and growing!) Filipino United Methodist leaders “pray[s] for an amicable, gracious, and peaceful separation that will release us for new possibilities (Acts 15:36-41)” and expresses strong support for the Global Methodist Church “to continue the original vision of Methodism for this and for future generations.”
They pointedly oppose such regional segregation proposals as “the Christmas Covenant or similar plans, which will enable policies regarding human sexuality and standards of ordination to be decided by region.” This broad range of Filipino United Methodist leaders “cannot simply take part in a denomination that has no uniform stand on questions that are clearly theological in nature” and pledge to “resist moves to keep the unity of the church without holiness in truth.” Liberal activists have been heavily promoting such regionalization plans. The LGBTQ activist Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), which has long worked to undermine traditional sexual morality in the UMC, appears to have been very involved in a webinar held earlier today promoting the Christmas Covenant to Filipinos, with San Francisco-based RMN staffer Izzy Alvaran processing registrations for and apparently hosting the webinar.
While awaiting a General Conference decision on the Protocol proposal to divide our denomination, these Filipino United Methodist leaders “remain faithful members of the United Methodist Church” and “strongly discourage any premature separation.”
The statement was signed by General Conference delegates and other leaders from all three of the United Methodist Church’s episcopal areas in the Philippines, as well as leaders of Filipino-planted United Methodist congregations in two Middle Eastern countries.
The full statement of Filipino United Methodist leaders, followed by a list of original signatories, is below:
CONTINUING THE WESLEYAN VISION:
A CALL TO UNITY IN HOLINESS AND TRUTH
By the surpassing grace of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY (2 Cor. 9:14-15), John Wesley organized the Methodist movement in England to raise a repentant people who would pursue holiness through practices of disciplined obedience (Mat. 3:7; 4:17; 5:48). He saw great potential in people, in who they could become by abiding in Jesus through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13, Gal. 5:16-17). Hence, it was for this reason that the doctrine of entire sanctification defined Methodist identity and practice (1 Thes. 5:23-24; 1 Jn. 4:16-17). Similarly, in America, Bishops Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke captured what is at the heart of Methodism when they proclaimed in 1796: “Our grand object is to raise and preserve a holy and united people. Holiness is our aim, and we pay no regard to numbers, but in proportion as they possess the genuine principles of vital religion.” (1 Pet. 1:3; 14-16)
Methodism in the Philippines in the decades before World War II thrived under the same vision. Filipino Methodist preachers and American missionaries promoted holiness through what they called “culto ng pagbabagong buhay” (life-changing meetings) or “culto Pentecostal” (Pentecostal meetings). It was not uncommon to see people in these gatherings so convicted of sin that they gave up cockfighting and drinking or surrendered their cigarettes and buyo (betel-nut chewing) at the altar. In some instances, couples living together outside of wedlock would get married as a result. For this reason, Methodism experienced phenomenal growth during this period since these transformations testified to its ability to bring change or re-order people’s lives through the power of the Holy Spirit (Mat. 3:8; Eph. 4:11-13; 2 Cor. 5:17).
Just as our Methodist forebears before us, we too yearn to continue the same vision for scriptural holiness for our generation (Jud. 1:3-4). We prayerfully seek God’s direction on how to faithfully retain our Methodist identity in light of recent events in the United Methodist Church, which challenges us for prayerful discernment. In light of the impending division of our denomination or “graceful separation” through the proposed “Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation and Restructuring,” we add our voice to the many conversations occurring within our global connection as we move toward General Conference 2022. Hence, with one voice, we humbly declare the following:
1. We will wholeheartedly support the formation of the Global Methodist Church (GMC) once the General Conference approves the “Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation and Restructuring,” also known as the Feinberg Protocol, which will create a path for a graceful separation in the United Methodist Church. This should not be misconstrued as a call for separation but rather an expression of our God-given right to openly declare our stand while our church is undergoing discernment leading up to the General Conference. The GMC envisions to be “committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority and inspiration of the Scriptures, and the work of the Holy Spirit in conveying God’s truth, grace, renewal, and sanctification to all people who repent and believe” as outlined in the “Atlanta Statement.” This declaration was signed in March 2020 by renewal leaders and eight bishops of the United Methodist Church, including Bishop Pedro Torio of the Baguio Episcopal Area in the Philippines. To view the statement, please see here. For more information about the GMC, please see here.
2. As we await the General Conference’s decision on the Feinberg Protocol, we remain faithful members of the United Methodist Church and continue to steadfastly support its ministries. We also strongly discourage any premature separation, and we call for unity as we wait for the General Conference and continue to minister to our people during the pandemic. We understand that our endorsement for forming a new global Methodist body may be misperceived as a lack of loyalty to the United Methodist Church, a church that has reared us in the Christian faith and which we call our spiritual home since birth. However, this should only be seen as an expression of our participation in the process of discernment our whole global United Methodist connection has been undergoing for the past five years on whether to permit same-sex marriage and the ordination of people in same-sex relationships. We believe that it is our God-given right to participate in the discernment process and that no one should be censured for doing so regardless of which side one belongs to (Rom. 2:15; 9:1). Our call mainly anticipates the approval of the proposed Feinberg Protocol, which will create a path for a graceful separation in the United Methodist Church. The Feinberg Protocol, as it currently stands, enjoys supermajority support among our leaders as well as traditionalist and progressive groups in our denomination. If the General Conference votes to approve it, we only wish to be prepared by guiding individuals and congregations in the Philippines who do not desire to align themselves with a liberal post-separation United Methodist Church.
3. As Filipino United Methodists who hold to the primacy of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16), we are committed to the revival of Methodism in the Philippines (Rev. 2:4-5). We also believe that the push to allow same-sex marriage and the ordination of persons in same-sex relationships in the United Methodist Church is but one of the many symptoms pointing to how far it has drifted away from the spirit of the Wesleyan revival and its vision of holiness of life and heart. It points to the lack of spiritual vitality, accountability and doctrinal integrity in our churches which largely account for the never-ending exodus of Methodists, primarily young people, to other evangelical denominations in the country. Hence, we envision the birth of a new Methodist denomination that will not only bring an end to this exodus but also bring new people to the saving work of Jesus Christ (Mat. 28:18-20). We hope to recapture the Spirit-filled driven passion of early Methodists in the British Isles and North America and that of our Filipino Methodist forebears while adapting to new ways of evangelizing and discipling people towards Christlikeness in the 21st Century. Simply put, we hope and pray for the creation of a new Methodist denomination which is not really new but rather a faithful continuation of the original vision of Methodism to “spread scriptural holiness throughout the land.”
4. We also strongly take exception to the proposals for the creation of a regional conference structure as outlined in the Christmas Covenant or similar plans, which will enable policies regarding human sexuality and standards of ordination to be decided by region. This regional conference structure will result in doctrinal incoherence as each regional conference will be free to interpret what the Bible says about human sexuality differently. However, we firmly believe that God’s truth, as revealed in the Bible, is not relative. It is always true, no matter the region or location. We cannot simply take part in a denomination that has no uniform stand on questions that are clearly theological in nature. We will refuse any attempts to twist long-held Biblical truths about human sexuality, or that will put cultural shifts or societal pressures first over the truth of God’s Word (Rom. 12:1-2). We will also resist moves to keep the unity of the church without holiness in truth. For when Jesus prayed to the Father that his disciples “may be one” (Jn. 17:11), he also prayed, “sanctify them by the truth” (Jn. 17:17).
5. We are not against persons who self-identify as LGBTQ, and we envision a church that will come alongside them as a loving community (Mic. 6:8; Mat. 22:36-40). We believe that Jesus Christ died for all and therefore God’s grace—preventing (2 Tim. 1:9-10), convincing (Jn. 16:8), justifying (Eph. 2:8), and sanctifying (Rom. 8:13)—is available to all. We also strongly condemn any rhetoric or action that degrades self-identified LGBTQ persons or diminishes their worth as human beings initially created in the image of God. Nevertheless, we believe that God’s grace is not cheap grace. We prayerfully expect everyone who has covenanted themselves to our faith community to repent and turn away from sins, profess faith in Jesus, and walk under the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. We affirm God’s design for marriage as between male and female as clearly defined in the Bible and held by Christian tradition (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7, 21-24). We believe that God calls us to holy living and prohibits acts that have devastating effects upon persons, societies, and the world (1 Cor. 3:16-17).
6. Finally, we pray for an amicable, gracious, and peaceful separation that will release us for new possibilities (Acts 15:36-41). The prolonged debate surrounding same-sex marriage and the ordination of persons in same-sex relationships have led well-meaning United Methodists to hurt each other to the detriment of their global witness. This has to stop. There is wisdom in parting ways, and the Feinberg Protocol provides a way for us to do this amicably. We believe that separation will free us from discord and animosity and enable us to live out our full potential as people called Methodists in the Philippines under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We do not harbor any ill will towards family, friends, and colleagues who do not share in our ideals, and we strongly reject any un-Christlike attitudes towards them (Rom. 13:8-10). However, we respectfully disagree with them out of love. If the General Conference approves the Feinberg Protocol, we release them to be free to form a more liberal version of Methodism that they believe God is calling them to be. Likewise, our prayer is that we free ourselves to continue the original vision of Methodism for this and for future generations.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, we dedicate ourselves to promoting the above statements. May we be a “holy and united people” living out faithfully our call as Wesleyan followers of Jesus Christ.
Signed,
CONTINUING THE WESLEYAN VISION:
A CALL TO UNITY IN HOLINESS AND TRUTH
SIGNATORIES
NAME | DESIGNATION | LOCAL CHURCH | OTHER |
Rev. Luther Oconer | Associate Professor of United Methodist Studies | United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio. | Affiliate Faculty, Wesley Divinity School Elder, PAMPAC |
Rev. Jonavern P. Lungub | Admin Pastor | Abu Dhabi UMC, UAE | Elder, PAC |
Atty. Carlos “Kuya Caloy” Cao Jr | Diaconal pastor | Former DOLE Undersecretary & POEA Administrator; “pro bono” legal counsel for OFWs; RPACE Principal Lay Delegate, 2012 General Conference; FEBC 702DZAS Broadcaster | |
Rev. Marcel Andres Tanguilan | Admin Pastor | Knox UMC | Elder, NEPAC |
Rev. Leyda B. Yambot | Spiritual Health Officer | Mary Johnston Hospital | |
Deac. Esther Lovidad | CE Deaconess | The Good Samaritan UMC | |
Rev. Jonathan Leo Belen Loscos | Associate Pastor | Puno UMC | |
Rev. Edric M. Ancheta | Admin Pastor | Grace UMC | PAC (NWMMD) |
Rev. David Sablan Jr | Retired Pastor/DS | St John UMC | Former District Superintendent, Whole province of Cavite; Former Registrar of Board of Ordained Ministry, PAC; Former Chairperson District Committee on Ordained Ministry, SED QCPACE; Director Healing and Wholeness Ministry |
Rev. Jesus B. Villamin | Admin Pastor | Lakeview UMC | |
Rev. Joanne T. Valenzuela | Youth Pastor | South Pampanga District, PAMPAC | |
Rev. Jonathan P. Razon | Admin Pastor | Living Faith UMC, Murong, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya | |
Sonny Matias E. Habacon | Member | Taytay UMC | RPACE – Lay Leader |
Geronimo Jerome Enerva | Admin Pastor | Qatar UMC | |
Leilani S. Pendre | LSM Chairperson | Marikina UMC | RPACE – MD Treasurer |
Vida Mei P. Rivera | NOW Ministries Chairperson, Certified Lay Speaker | (New Life) Arayat UMC | PAMPAC – LSM Chairperson, member ACYM |
Ellery P. Ortiz | Puno UMC | Chairperson PCC- Commission on Archives & History | |
Atty. Gideon C. Salatan | Lay | ||
Rev. Jose L. Padang | Retired | TARPAC |
Rev. Hector F. Guzman | Student at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio | EMPAC | |
Rev. Prudencio I. Peralta | Associate Pastor | Taytay UMC | |
Rev. Angel P. Ponio Jr | Admin Pastor | DFRRM UMC, Ascomo, Guagua | West Pampanga District Finance Chairperson |
Pamela G. Cruz | Taytay UMC | AC Chairperson | |
Pastor Tristan Tiu Jayme | Admin Pastor | Al Ain UMC, UAE | |
Rodolfo L. Pendre | Marikina UMC | RPACE – UMM Vice President | |
Ra Bonnie Sabatin | Council Chairperson | Abu Dhabi UMC, UAE | PAC (NWMMD) |
Maria Florentina E. de Leon (Girlie) | PSPR Chairperson | Taytay UMC | President Taytay UM Christian School Inc. |
Rosendo Gadon Gala Jr | Admin Pastor | Sharjah UMC, UAE | |
Ambrocio P. De Leon | Finance Chairperson | Grace UMC | PAC (NWMMD) |
Olivia Verna A. De Leon | Lay Leader | Grace UMC | Deaconess 1968 Harris graduate, PAC Lay Delegate 2012 Lay Delegate to the PCC. Member, Council of Advisers, Aldersgate International Ministry, Philippines. |
Analiza T. Lising | Outreach Chairperson Council Vice Chairperson | (New Life) Arayat UMC. PAMPAC | Chairperson of AELCI board of school management |
Ramon U. Carlos | BOT Chairperson | Marikina UMC | RPACE – Metro District Lay Leader |
Zona Paz B. Tangcuanco | Assigned Deaconess | (New Life) Arayat UMC | Head Teacher, AELCI |
Rev. Richard F. Ramos II. DMin | Healing and Wellness Ministry | First Methodist Carrollton, Texas | |
Eva M. Ramos | First Methodist Carrollton, Texas | Texas Harris Alumni Assoc. President | |
Marlon R. Munoz | SPPRC Chairperson | Mexico UMC, PAMPAC | |
Nathan R. Esguerra | PSPR Chairperson | Cornerstone UMC | RPACE – MYAF President |
Lilian I. Carreon | Lay Leader | Taytay UMC | RPACE – Lay Delegate |
Rose Marie P. Regalia | Asst Lay Leader, Chairperson Prayer Ministry, Coordinator for LSM, Certified Lay Speaker | Puno UMC | |
Ruth Obra-Labargan | PPR Chairperson | New Corella UMC | East Mindanao PAC CFA member, principal lay delegate to Gen Con. |
Joyce M. Basilio | Nurture chairperson | Mexico UMC, PAMPAC | |
Noel T. Barcelona | Lay Servant | Marikina UMC | |
Ptr. Queenie C. Balingit | Admin Pastor | Sunlin UMC, Macabebe PAMPAC | |
Mary Grace H. Corpuz | Finance Chairperson | Cansinala UMC, PAMPAC |
Engr. Elenor S. Malonzo | Lay Leader | Abu Dhabi UMC (UMCAD) | Vice Chairperson, UAE Coordinating Council |
Rev. Salvador G. Crisostomo | Admin Pastor | Villa Lolita UMC, Taytay, Rizal | |
Celia R. Mendoza | Lay Leader | Cainta UMC | RPACE CFA Co-chairperson, RPACE BOT Treasurer, MD Statistician |
Plenee Grace J. Castillo | Membership Secretary | Marikina UMC | |
Alvin C. Balingit | Council Chairperson | Cansinala UMC, PAMPAC | |
Vianne C. Delda | Lay Leader | The UMC – Wesley | Vice- President of South Pampanga District UMYAF , PAMPAC |
Vibelle C. Delda | Finance Chairperson | The UMC – Wesley | Representative of the Steering Committee of South Pampanga District, PamPAC |
Ismael Camaso III | Council Chairperson | Good Samaritan First UMC | |
Vicky Castorillo | Evangelism Chairperson | Taytay UMC | RPACE |
Andy Castorillo | Taytay UMC | UMM Rizal District Vice President | |
Augusto P. De Leon | Chairperson, Building Committee President, UMM | Grace UMC | |
Rubyrose V. Tubal | Nurture Chairperson Children’s Ministry Head | Pandan Mission Church, Antique | |
Alicia M. Reyes | Administrative Assistant | Taytay UMC | |
Joe Marie O. Dizon | UMYAF President | TUMC – Wesley | South Pampanga District UMYAF Secretary |
Nel E. Habacon | Finance Chairperson | Taytay UMC | RD – RPACE |
Djoanne Nicole Tenorio | Good News UMC, Aklan | ||
Wawie Castillo | Council member | TGSFUMC | |
Junel Castillo | Council member | TGSFUMC | |
Pastor Socratis Galiga Jr | Mission Pastor | The First UMC Dubai, The RAK Mission | |
Pastor Aaron B. Bucud | Mission Pastor | The First UMC Dubai, Fujairah Mission | |
Bhin Perez | New Life UMC, Pasig City | Chairperson, RPACE Council on Young People’s Ministry & RPACE CFA Secretary | |
Rolaida Acosta | Church Council Secretary | Abu Dhabi UMC, UAE | PAC (NWMMD) |
Rev. Milo De Vera | Admin Pastor | Marikina UMC, RPACE | CFA Member BOOM Member DCOM Member |
Ulysis Ambucay Jr. | DEA Licensed Lay Preacher | Western Visayas District Lay Leader Wester Visayas District Philippines Central Conference Principal Delegate |
VPAC-WVD Lay | |||
Pamela Cruz | AC Chairperson Lay Delegate to RPACE | Taytay United Methodist Church | Rizal District RPACE |
Joy Arnelli Tan | Christian Education Chairman | Good News UMC | UMYF Western Visayas District – CNFD Chair |
Jocelyn Diaz – Fielding | England | ||
Renaly Somosierra | Member Grace UMC Dover UMC | ||
Atty. George Matthew Habacon | RPACE Chancellor | Taytay UMC | RD-PACE |
Pastor Dennis Nama | Mission Pastor | Abu Dhabi UMC, Mussafah Mission | |
Rev. Milo De Vera | Admin Pastor | Marikina UMC, RPACE | CFA Member BOOM Member DCOM Member |
Michelle Dudang-Ortiz | CE Deaconess | Puno UMC | QCPACE |
Merle M. Defensor | Witness Chairman | Taytay UMC | Lay Leader UMWSCS Treasurer RD-PACE |
Karmina Lopez | Deaconess | Kamuning First UMC | QC-PACE |
Elizalde Parungao | Financial Secretary Certified Lay Speaker | New Life UMC, Arayat Pampanga | Auditor/Nurture, East Pampanga District UMYAF |
Renato Velasquez | Church Historian and Chair, Committee on Archives and History | Puno UMC | Lay Member to the QC-PACE Member, QC-PACE Committee on Equitable Salaries Member, QC-PACE NWD District Committeeon the Ministry |
Maria Lolita Uy | Lay Speaker | Taytay UMC | RPACE |
Carmelita G. Isip | Church History Committee Chairperson | Shekinah UMC | Principal Lay Delegate East District Committee Member, DCOM Nominations |
Dexter Desear | Lay Leader | TFUMC, Dubai, UAE | Chairperson – Coordinating Council Middle East Probationary District |
Please join us and make a stand! If you wish to add your name to this statement, please go to this form: https://www.cognitoforms.com/FUMT1/ACallForUnityInHolinessAndTruth
Please allow 1-2 days for your submission to be processed and added to our list of signatories.
God bless!
Comment by Luke Landers on March 17, 2021 at 1:40 pm
Very convincing! Thank you, Filipino brothers and sisters.
Comment by William on March 18, 2021 at 7:40 am
It would be good if these faithful and real Methodists could come to America on a missionary trip and educate our traditional Methodist brothers and sisters on what is really going on and the absolute necessity of transferring to the Global Methodist Church in order to carry on true Wesleyan Methodism as founded by John Wesley. Why? Because centrists/liberal Methodists are going to do their dead level best to FOOL as many traditionalists as possible into staying in the post-separation UMC in order to keep collecting their MONEY.