United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Encyclopedia
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (Tagalog
: Ang Nagkaisang Iglesia ni Cristo sa Pilipinas; Ilokano
: Nagkaykaysa nga Iglesia Ni Cristo iti Filipinas) is a Christian denomination
in the Philippines. Established in its present form in Malate
, Manila
, it resulted from the merger of the Evangelical Church of the Philippines, the Philippine Methodist Church, the Disciples of Christ, the United Evangelical Church
and several independent congregations.
The United Church is a mainline Protestant group in the Philippines with around 500,000 members and 1,593 pastors in 2,564 congregations as of 2008. Its main offices are located in Malate, Manila.
The Evangelical Union was then formed on April 26, 1901. The evangelical churches agreed to call themselves “The Evangelical Church” (with the original denomination name in parenthesis below it). From 1898 to 1905 these are the mission churches joining in the agreement:
Manila was opened to all denominations and mission agencies. The Seventh-day Adventist Church
and Protestant Episcopals
did not join because they wanted to go to all parts of the archipelago.
Currently known as The United Methodist Church since 1968 when Evangelical United Brethren merged with The Methodist ChurchCurrently known as The United Methodist Church since 1968 when the Evangelical Church merged with the United Brethren and later merged with The Methodist ChurchCurrently known as the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, Inc.
Since it included United Brethren in Christ in northern Luzon, Presbyterians in southern Luzon and the Visayas and Congregationalists in Mindanao, the UEC was spread throughout the country. Rev. Enrique Sobrepena, a young leader in the United Brethren in Christ, was elected as the Moderator of the General Assembly.
As a result, a group led by Rev. Samuel W. Stagg, pastor of the influential Central Church (now Central United Methodist Church
on T.M. Kalaw), and including five other missionaries and 27 ordained Filipino ministers led by Rev. Cipriano Navarro and Dr. Melquiades Gamboa, a U.P. professor, left the church and declared themselves the General Conference of the Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands (GCMCPI). All but 41 members of Central Church left their newly dedicated gothic cathedral. This group formed the Philippine Methodist Church, with Navarro as bishop. The church financially supported the Staggs and the other missionaries who joined it. Stagg and his former members formed the Cosmopolitan Church, which became the leading congregation of the new denomination. The independent GCMCPI elected Navarro as acting General Superintendent. In 1948 the Philippine Methodist Church was a constituent part of the formation of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
After World War II, the former Presbyterians and the Congregationalists reconstituted the United Evangelical Church. On the other hand, the former United Brethren in Christ, together with the Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ) and the independent congregations remained as the Evangelical Church of the Philippines. Because the Seventh Day Adventists was forced by the war to join the merger, they immediately left the Evangelical Church of the Philippines after the war.
Methodist Church, the Evangelical Church of the Philippines, some congregations of the Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo, the Convention of the Churches of Christ (Disciples of Christ) of Northern Luzon, the Iglesia Evangelica Nacional and some congregations of the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas (IEMELIF) joined together to form the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Enrique Sobrepena of the United Evangelical Church served both as Bishop for Luzon and as Presiding Bishop.
This was the real culmination of the efforts of the Evangelical Union established by missionaries on April 26, 1901 to seek the evangelization of the Philippines through a common effort. In spite of the refusal of the United Methodist, Baptist and other independent evangelical churches, the UCCP was known to be the most visible sign of interdenominational and church unity in the Philippines.
In 1962, the conservative Tagalog Convention of the Churches of Christ (Disciples of Christ) decided to join the union of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. It was proclaimed in an appropriate ceremonies at the General Assembly held in Cebu City.
, in both the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God and that salvation
is by grace through faith, repentance and following after Christ.
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines view the Christian life as one of personal faith and of serious dedication to living according to the highest Christian precepts. Each person is thus to be born again, converted into a new life, and gathered into the church community. For them, the church is essentially the result of conversion and of grace, a gathered community of committed believers. It is not the mother of Christian experience or the source (rather than the effect) of grace, as in the Roman Catholic tradition. The church is, therefore, holy only because the faith and life of its people are holy.
The UCCP traces its roots in the Protestant Reformation
, when Martin Luther, John Calvin and others led the movement to reform the Church according to Scripture. Thus, they believe in the absolute sovereignty of God and that the highest good is God's glory. This is often expressed in the "Five Solas
" of the Protestant Reformation
- God's grace alone as the only way to be reconciled to God, faith alone as the only means of receiving God's grace, Christ alone as the ground of God's saving grace, Scripture alone as the only infallible authority for belief and God's glory alone as the ultimate purpose for the lives of men and women.
The following distinguish the UCCP from other communions:
taking into consideration the various traditions brought in by the uniting churches. The 1948: Article III Historic Faith and Message states, " We do preserve all the heritage of faith brought into the union by each of the constituent churches and hereby declare as our common faith and message: 'Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, our Lord and Saviour.'"
Disciples' understood that baptism is a confessional expression of faith and repentance, rather than a "work" that earns salvation. Thus they insisted that believer's baptism is necessary part of conversion and necessary for its validity. Local churches in the Tagalog and Ilocano regions established by their missionaries practice only baptism by immersion by its adult members.
Every UCCP church is required to administer the sacrament of the Lord's Supper at least once a year. In most local churches, communion is served in the first Sunday of the month. Since the Disciples of Christ custom is to have the Lord's Supper central to every worship service, the sacrament is administered every Lord's Day.
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines has allowed ordination of women
with full rights of clergy based on biblical principle. "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." The UCCP, along with some other Evangelical Churches, holds that when the historical contexts involved are understood, a coherent Biblical argument can be made in favor of women's ordination.
The local congregation has a great deal of freedom in the style and ordering of worship. Worship varies from congregation to congregation. The order may be very traditional and highly liturgical, or it may be very simple and informal.
Music plays a large role in most UCCP worship services and ranges from chant to traditional Protestant hymns, to classical sacred music, to more modern music, depending on the preference of the local church and is offered prayerfully and not for entertainment. Scripture is read and usually preached upon. An offering is usually taken. Services are often focused toward a time of prayer and commitment at the end of the sermon, with people finding spiritual help as they gather for corporate praying.
Worship styles vary widely. Over the last ten years, an increasing number of UCCP churches have utilized contemporary worship services as their worship style. This may involve the use of a projector to display song, drums and electronic piano, chorus lyrics onto a video screen, clapping of hands, tambourine dance and raising of hands.
More traditional UCCP churches use hymnals and may have a song leader or music director who directs congregational singing from the pulpit.
Connection between evangelism and social concern was maintained by the UCCP. In 1952, the UCCP established the UCCP National Federation of
Credit Unions to aid farmers. They also issued a Resolution
Condemning Gambling and Liquor. Bishop Sobrepena approved, a relationship between the UCCP and the Orient Crusades (OC) International - Philippine Crusades. OC entered the Philippines agreeing to work in cooperation with UCCP leaders, to prepare converts for membership in the UCCP, and to avoid controversial doctrinal issues. They focused on mass evangelism and witness to students, and used film showings such as King of Kings to make contacts. Interested seekers availed of Bible correspondence courses. Sobrepena held mass evangelistic campaigns—notably in Laoag City in November 1955, with the OC cooperation.
In 1973 to 1986, local churches allowed American missionaries from the Youth With A Mission
to reorganize Sunday Schools and set up Sunday school programs. This international, interdenominational Christian missionary organization also promoted Christian movies in secular theaters throughout the archipelago. Many Filipinos from this time are in full time Christian service today or are productive Christians. In addition, a number of indigenous churches were established among squatter communities in Metro Manila, in Baguio and villages in the Cordilleras.
Then the Philippine Campus Crusade for Christ
, also an international interdenominational movement came in and started the evangelistic movement in the church that started the increase in church attendance and membership.
Some local churches, joined international fellowship such as the Covenant Global Church. Other churches involved themselves into the Evangelism Explosion, a ministry that trains people how to share their faith in Christ.
Interestingly, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Baguio City is an active member of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) http://www.pceconline.org/about/localchurch.htm. PCEC is the largest network of denominations, churches, mission groups and para-church organizations in the Philippines being involve in evangelism and defending the fundamental evangelical Christian faith.
. Currently, the UCCP has covenant relations with the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and the Iglesia Unida Ekymenikal.
Aside from this, the UCCP is a member and have partnership relation with international religious organizations.
Sister-church relationships are held with the following churches abroad which hold to similar doctrine and practice.
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
: Ang Nagkaisang Iglesia ni Cristo sa Pilipinas; Ilokano
Ilokano language
Ilokano or Ilocano is the third most-spoken language of the Republic of the Philippines....
: Nagkaykaysa nga Iglesia Ni Cristo iti Filipinas) is a Christian denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
in the Philippines. Established in its present form in Malate
Malate
Malate is the ionized form of malic acid. It is an important chemical compound in biochemistry. In the C4 carbon fixation process, malate is a source of CO2 in the Calvin cycle....
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, it resulted from the merger of the Evangelical Church of the Philippines, the Philippine Methodist Church, the Disciples of Christ, the United Evangelical Church
United Evangelical Church
The United Evangelical Church was created in 1891 when some members of the Evangelical Association left to form the new church. Thirty-one years later the two groups reunited in Detroit and renamed themselves "The Evangelical Church." In 1946, the Evangelical Church merged with the...
and several independent congregations.
The United Church is a mainline Protestant group in the Philippines with around 500,000 members and 1,593 pastors in 2,564 congregations as of 2008. Its main offices are located in Malate, Manila.
The Evangelical Church
Presbyterian missionaries in the Philippines in April 1901 invited missionaries of other evangelical churches to a conference to discuss the possibility of working together in the proclamation of the gospel of faith alone as the only way of salvation to Filipino Catholics, Muslims and pagans. Representatives included those from the Methodist Episcopal Church , the United Brethren in Christ (UBC) , the Northern Baptist Church , the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the Free Methodist Church, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the American Bible Society, and the Presbyterian Church.The Evangelical Union was then formed on April 26, 1901. The evangelical churches agreed to call themselves “The Evangelical Church” (with the original denomination name in parenthesis below it). From 1898 to 1905 these are the mission churches joining in the agreement:
- Methodists (1898, most of lowland Luzon and north of Manila)
- Presbyterians (1899, Bicol, Southern Tagalog area and some parts of Central and Western Visayas)
- Baptists (1900, Western Visayas)
- United BrethrenUnited BrethrenUnited Brethren may refer to:*Apostolic United Brethren, a Mormon fundamentalist group headquartered in Bluffdale, Utah*Church of the United Brethren in Christ, an evangelical Christian denomination based in Huntington, Indiana...
(1901, Mountain Province and La Union) - Christian Churches and Churches of Christ/Disciples of Christ (1901, Ilocos, Abra, and Tagalog towns)
- Congregationalists (1902, Mindanao except for the western end)
- Christian and Missionary AllianceChristian and Missionary AllianceThe Christian and Missionary Alliance is an evangelical Protestant denomination within Christianity.Founded by Rev. Albert Benjamin Simpson in 1887, the Christian & Missionary Alliance did not start off as a denomination, but rather began as two distinct parachurch organizations: The Christian...
(1902, Western Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago)
Manila was opened to all denominations and mission agencies. The Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
and Protestant Episcopals
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
did not join because they wanted to go to all parts of the archipelago.
Currently known as The United Methodist Church since 1968 when Evangelical United Brethren merged with The Methodist ChurchCurrently known as The United Methodist Church since 1968 when the Evangelical Church merged with the United Brethren and later merged with The Methodist ChurchCurrently known as the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, Inc.
The United Evangelical Church of the Philippines
The United Evangelical Church of the Philippines was organized in March 1929. It was a union of Presbyterian, United Brethren in Christ, and Congregationalist denominations along with the United Church of Manila. The Methodist and the (Northern) Baptist who were part of the Evangelical Union refused to join the new union. The doctrinal statement of union was the Nanking Agreement which was itself based on that of the Union Theological Seminary in Nanking, China. It had four major points:- that the Old and New Testaments were the inspired Word of God;
- that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, and offered atonement for sin by faith in his vicarious death;
- that the Holy Spirit is both divine and personal; and,
- that the Church has spiritual, but not political authority.
Since it included United Brethren in Christ in northern Luzon, Presbyterians in southern Luzon and the Visayas and Congregationalists in Mindanao, the UEC was spread throughout the country. Rev. Enrique Sobrepena, a young leader in the United Brethren in Christ, was elected as the Moderator of the General Assembly.
The Philippine Methodist Church
After the foundation of the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas (IEMELIF) by Rev. Nicolas V. Zamora, a second major split occurred in the Methodist Church on March 23, 1933. About three years before, Melecio de Armas, a prominent minister had been accused by his colleagues of immorality towards a teenage girl, a church member. At the 1932 Philippine Annual Conference, a committee found the minister guilty and recommended his expulsion from the ministry. But the minister appealed the decision to the Appellant Committee of the General Conference of the Methodist Church of America (GCMCA). This Committee decided that it does not have enough evidence against the minister, so it acquitted him—thereby overturning the decision of the Philippine Conference. This brought to everyone’s attention the subordinate position of the Philippine church. Bishop Herbert Welch, at the 1933 Annual Conference, declared the matter closed, and reinstated the minister.As a result, a group led by Rev. Samuel W. Stagg, pastor of the influential Central Church (now Central United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
on T.M. Kalaw), and including five other missionaries and 27 ordained Filipino ministers led by Rev. Cipriano Navarro and Dr. Melquiades Gamboa, a U.P. professor, left the church and declared themselves the General Conference of the Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands (GCMCPI). All but 41 members of Central Church left their newly dedicated gothic cathedral. This group formed the Philippine Methodist Church, with Navarro as bishop. The church financially supported the Staggs and the other missionaries who joined it. Stagg and his former members formed the Cosmopolitan Church, which became the leading congregation of the new denomination. The independent GCMCPI elected Navarro as acting General Superintendent. In 1948 the Philippine Methodist Church was a constituent part of the formation of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
The Evangelical Church of the Philippines
The Evangelical Church of the Philippines was formed in 1943 under the direction of the Japanese Imperial Forces. It brought together the United Evangelical Church, the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (Disciples of Christ), the Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo, the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista En las Islas Filipinas (IEMELIF) which was founded by Bishop Nicholas Zamora, the Iglesia Evangelica Nacional, the Philippine Methodist Church, the Seventh Day Adventists and other churches. It was the first union of churches under the full leadership of the Filipinos.After World War II, the former Presbyterians and the Congregationalists reconstituted the United Evangelical Church. On the other hand, the former United Brethren in Christ, together with the Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ) and the independent congregations remained as the Evangelical Church of the Philippines. Because the Seventh Day Adventists was forced by the war to join the merger, they immediately left the Evangelical Church of the Philippines after the war.
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines
In May 1948, the United Evangelical Church, the PhilippineMethodist Church, the Evangelical Church of the Philippines, some congregations of the Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo, the Convention of the Churches of Christ (Disciples of Christ) of Northern Luzon, the Iglesia Evangelica Nacional and some congregations of the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas (IEMELIF) joined together to form the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Enrique Sobrepena of the United Evangelical Church served both as Bishop for Luzon and as Presiding Bishop.
This was the real culmination of the efforts of the Evangelical Union established by missionaries on April 26, 1901 to seek the evangelization of the Philippines through a common effort. In spite of the refusal of the United Methodist, Baptist and other independent evangelical churches, the UCCP was known to be the most visible sign of interdenominational and church unity in the Philippines.
In 1962, the conservative Tagalog Convention of the Churches of Christ (Disciples of Christ) decided to join the union of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. It was proclaimed in an appropriate ceremonies at the General Assembly held in Cebu City.
Faith and Practice
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines is trinitarian and believes in the deity, humanity, and atonement of Jesus. It believes that the BibleBible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, in both the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God and that salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
is by grace through faith, repentance and following after Christ.
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines view the Christian life as one of personal faith and of serious dedication to living according to the highest Christian precepts. Each person is thus to be born again, converted into a new life, and gathered into the church community. For them, the church is essentially the result of conversion and of grace, a gathered community of committed believers. It is not the mother of Christian experience or the source (rather than the effect) of grace, as in the Roman Catholic tradition. The church is, therefore, holy only because the faith and life of its people are holy.
The UCCP traces its roots in the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, when Martin Luther, John Calvin and others led the movement to reform the Church according to Scripture. Thus, they believe in the absolute sovereignty of God and that the highest good is God's glory. This is often expressed in the "Five Solas
Five solas
The Five solas are five Latin phrases that emerged during the Protestant Reformation and summarize the Reformers' basic theological beliefs in contradistinction to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church of the day. The Latin word sola means "alone" or "only" in English...
" of the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
- God's grace alone as the only way to be reconciled to God, faith alone as the only means of receiving God's grace, Christ alone as the ground of God's saving grace, Scripture alone as the only infallible authority for belief and God's glory alone as the ultimate purpose for the lives of men and women.
The following distinguish the UCCP from other communions:
- Their concern for freedom of speech and conscience and for freedom from interference by any civil or ecclesiastical authority
- The primacy they seek to gave to Scripture in matters of faith, doctrine, and morals
- The authority they gave to the congregation in church affairs
- Their concern for establishing social justice in political, social and economic life and
- Their active involvement and commitment to interdenominational activity as a protest against denominational exclusiveness.
Sacraments
The church believes in two sacraments only: baptism and The Lord's Supper. The church takes a neutral position on the observance of feet washingFeet washing
Foot washing or washing of feet is a religious rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. The name, and even the spelling, of this practice is not consistently established, being variously known as foot washing, washing the saints' feet, pedilavium, and mandatum.For some...
taking into consideration the various traditions brought in by the uniting churches. The 1948: Article III Historic Faith and Message states, " We do preserve all the heritage of faith brought into the union by each of the constituent churches and hereby declare as our common faith and message: 'Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, our Lord and Saviour.'"
Baptism
The UCCP defines baptism as a sacrament of initiation into the church. They believe that baptism is not a means of salvation but a first step of obedience for the new believer. The church permit believer's baptism, and infant baptism alike. Infant baptism is administered only to infant children of church members as a sign of God's covenant of mercy. In recent times infant baptism has given way to more frequent infant "dedication" ceremonies or alay (in Filipino), thus reserving baptism until after the time when the child makes a conscious decision to follow Christ. The church also recognize and accept the baptism of other Christian churches.Disciples' understood that baptism is a confessional expression of faith and repentance, rather than a "work" that earns salvation. Thus they insisted that believer's baptism is necessary part of conversion and necessary for its validity. Local churches in the Tagalog and Ilocano regions established by their missionaries practice only baptism by immersion by its adult members.
Lord's Supper
The church believes in the symbolic presence of Jesus in the Lord's Supper (Santa Cena o Banal na Hapunan in Filipino). They believe that it was given by Jesus Christ to his church as a way of remembering and proclaiming th sacrifice He made on the cross. It is a sacrament that contains an element of remembering and proclaiming Christ's death while at the same time looking forward to the time when they will enjoy communion with Christ in heaven. It involves solemn and serious self-examination. This includes confession of sin and repentance. Communion for them should not be received in a flippant or careless manner.Every UCCP church is required to administer the sacrament of the Lord's Supper at least once a year. In most local churches, communion is served in the first Sunday of the month. Since the Disciples of Christ custom is to have the Lord's Supper central to every worship service, the sacrament is administered every Lord's Day.
Contemporary Issues
The church believes that every man or woman should be accepted and treated with dignity, grace, and holy love, whatever their sexual orientation (biological sex of person attracted to). However, the church continues to hold the position that the homosexual lifestyle is sinful and is contrary to the Scriptures. The UCCP stands firmly on the belief that the biblical concept of marriage, which they interpret as being between one man and one woman in a committed, lifelong relationship, is the only relationship within which the gift of sexual intimacy is properly expressed.The United Church of Christ in the Philippines has allowed ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
with full rights of clergy based on biblical principle. "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." The UCCP, along with some other Evangelical Churches, holds that when the historical contexts involved are understood, a coherent Biblical argument can be made in favor of women's ordination.
Worship Services
UCCP local churches typically have worship services three times a week: Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening.The local congregation has a great deal of freedom in the style and ordering of worship. Worship varies from congregation to congregation. The order may be very traditional and highly liturgical, or it may be very simple and informal.
Music plays a large role in most UCCP worship services and ranges from chant to traditional Protestant hymns, to classical sacred music, to more modern music, depending on the preference of the local church and is offered prayerfully and not for entertainment. Scripture is read and usually preached upon. An offering is usually taken. Services are often focused toward a time of prayer and commitment at the end of the sermon, with people finding spiritual help as they gather for corporate praying.
Worship styles vary widely. Over the last ten years, an increasing number of UCCP churches have utilized contemporary worship services as their worship style. This may involve the use of a projector to display song, drums and electronic piano, chorus lyrics onto a video screen, clapping of hands, tambourine dance and raising of hands.
More traditional UCCP churches use hymnals and may have a song leader or music director who directs congregational singing from the pulpit.
Mission, Evangelism and Social Concern
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines has, historically, been a leading Protestant denomination in mission work. A vital part of the world mission emphasis of the denomination is building and maintaining relationships with Evangelical, Protestant and other churches around the world.Connection between evangelism and social concern was maintained by the UCCP. In 1952, the UCCP established the UCCP National Federation of
Credit Unions to aid farmers. They also issued a Resolution
Condemning Gambling and Liquor. Bishop Sobrepena approved, a relationship between the UCCP and the Orient Crusades (OC) International - Philippine Crusades. OC entered the Philippines agreeing to work in cooperation with UCCP leaders, to prepare converts for membership in the UCCP, and to avoid controversial doctrinal issues. They focused on mass evangelism and witness to students, and used film showings such as King of Kings to make contacts. Interested seekers availed of Bible correspondence courses. Sobrepena held mass evangelistic campaigns—notably in Laoag City in November 1955, with the OC cooperation.
In 1973 to 1986, local churches allowed American missionaries from the Youth With A Mission
Youth With A Mission
Youth With A Mission is an international, inter-denominational, non-profit Christian missionary organization...
to reorganize Sunday Schools and set up Sunday school programs. This international, interdenominational Christian missionary organization also promoted Christian movies in secular theaters throughout the archipelago. Many Filipinos from this time are in full time Christian service today or are productive Christians. In addition, a number of indigenous churches were established among squatter communities in Metro Manila, in Baguio and villages in the Cordilleras.
Then the Philippine Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
, also an international interdenominational movement came in and started the evangelistic movement in the church that started the increase in church attendance and membership.
Some local churches, joined international fellowship such as the Covenant Global Church. Other churches involved themselves into the Evangelism Explosion, a ministry that trains people how to share their faith in Christ.
Interestingly, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Baguio City is an active member of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) http://www.pceconline.org/about/localchurch.htm. PCEC is the largest network of denominations, churches, mission groups and para-church organizations in the Philippines being involve in evangelism and defending the fundamental evangelical Christian faith.
Seminaries and affiliated institutions
The denomination maintains affiliations with seminaries in the Philippines. These are:- College of Theology of Northern Christian CollegeNorthern Christian CollegeNorthern Christian College is a post-secondary educational institution. Baccalaureate programs are offered in the fields of Liberal Arts, Ministry, Nursing, Teacher Education, Accountancy, and Commerce-Secretarial. The school also offers a Master's degree program in Education...
in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte - College of Theology of Southern Christian College in Midsayap, Cotabato
- Divinity School at Silliman UniversitySilliman UniversitySilliman University is a private research university located in Dumaguete, Philippines. Established in 1901 as Silliman Institute by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, it was the first American private school to be founded in the country. The University is named after Dr...
in Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros - Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Baguio City
- Pag-asa School of Theology of Brokenshire College in Davao City
- Union Theological Seminary in Dasmarinas, Cavite (in partnership with the United Methodist ChurchPhilippines Central Conference (United Methodist Church)The Philippines Central Conference of The United Methodist Church is a collections of Annual Conferences of The United Methodist Church located in the islands of the are organized into central conference, much like Jurisdictional Conferences in the United States...
)
Universities and colleges
- Apayao Community Learning Center in Kabugao, Apayao
- Brokenshire College in Davao City
- College of Maasin in Southern Leyte
- Dansalan College Foundation in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur
- Ifugao Academy in Kiangan, Ifugao
- Jimenez Bethel Academy in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental
- Kalinga Academy in Lubuagan, Kalinga
- National Heroes Institute in Kananga, Leyte
- Northern Christian CollegeNorthern Christian CollegeNorthern Christian College is a post-secondary educational institution. Baccalaureate programs are offered in the fields of Liberal Arts, Ministry, Nursing, Teacher Education, Accountancy, and Commerce-Secretarial. The school also offers a Master's degree program in Education...
in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte - Philippine Christian UniversityPhilippine Christian UniversityThe Philippine Christian University is a private university along Taft Avenue, Manila. It was founded in 1946 through the initiatives of the Laymen of the Evangelical Association of the Philippines. Originally named as Manila Union University, it was renamed as Philippine Christian College...
in Malate, Manila (in partnership with the United Methodist ChurchPhilippines Central Conference (United Methodist Church)The Philippines Central Conference of The United Methodist Church is a collections of Annual Conferences of The United Methodist Church located in the islands of the are organized into central conference, much like Jurisdictional Conferences in the United States...
) - St. Tonis College in Tabuk, Kalinga
- Silliman UniversitySilliman UniversitySilliman University is a private research university located in Dumaguete, Philippines. Established in 1901 as Silliman Institute by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, it was the first American private school to be founded in the country. The University is named after Dr...
in Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros - Southern Christian College in Midsayap, Cotabato
- Union Christian College in San Fernando City, La Union
- United Institute in Legazpi City, Albay
- Pilgrim Christian College, Cagayan de Oro City
Affiliated health care institutions
- Bethany Hospital in San Fernando, La Union
- Bethany Hospital in Tacloban, Leyte
- Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries in Davao City http://www.brokenshire.org/
- Silliman University Medical Center Foundation Inc. in Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros
- Visayas Community Medical Center in Cebu City
Affiliated service institutions
- CONDORA in Damortis, La Union
- Haran House in Davao City
- NLJA Peace Center
- Shalom Center in Malate, Manila
- UCCP CENDET (Center for Education and Development) in Cebu City
Partners in Mission
The UCCP is a member of the National Council of Churches in the PhilippinesNational Council of Churches in the Philippines
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines is a fellowship of ten mainline Protestant and non-Roman Catholic denominations, and ten service-oriented organizations in the Philippines. It represents close to twelve million adherents. Advocacy for environmental protection and against...
. Currently, the UCCP has covenant relations with the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and the Iglesia Unida Ekymenikal.
Aside from this, the UCCP is a member and have partnership relation with international religious organizations.
World and Continental Church Bodies
- World Council of ChurchesWorld Council of ChurchesThe World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
- World Alliance of Reformed ChurchesWorld Alliance of Reformed ChurchesThe World Alliance of Reformed Churches is a fellowship of more than 200 churches with roots in the 16th-century Reformation, and particularly in the theology of John Calvin...
- World Methodist CouncilWorld Methodist CouncilThe World Methodist Council, founded in 1881, is an association of churches in the Methodist tradition which comprises most of the world's Wesleyan denominations.- Extension and organization:...
- Church Mission SocietyChurch Mission SocietyThe Church Mission Society, also known as the Church Missionary Society, is a group of evangelistic societies working with the Anglican Communion and Protestant Christians around the world...
- Christian Conference of AsiaChristian Conference of AsiaThe Christian Conference of Asia is a regional ecumenical organisation representing 17 National Councils and 100 denominations in 21 countries:- Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan,...
Sister-church relationships are held with the following churches abroad which hold to similar doctrine and practice.
North America
- Christian ChurchChristian ChurchThe Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
(Disciples of Christ) - Presbyterian Church (USA)Presbyterian Church (USA)The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
- Reformed Church of America
- United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist ChurchThe United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
- United Church of ChristUnited Church of ChristThe United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
- United Church of CanadaUnited Church of CanadaThe United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
Asia and Australia
- Presbyterian Church of KoreaPresbyterian Church of KoreaThe Presbyterian Church of Korea or PCK is a mainline Protestant denomination based in South Korea and currently has the second largest membership of any Presbyterian denomination in the world...
- Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea
- Presbyterian Church in TaiwanPresbyterian Church in TaiwanThe Presbyterian Church in Taiwan was planted in Taiwan in the 19th century by Dr James Laidlaw Maxwell Snr of the Presbyterian Church of England and Dr George Leslie Mackay of the Presbyterian Church in Canada....
- Uniting Church of Australia
- United Church of Christ in JapanUnited Church of Christ in JapanThe United Church of Christ in Japan is the largest Protestant denomination in Japan. It was a union of thirty three diverse Protestant religious bodies forcibly brought together by the Japanese wartime government on June 24, 1941.The UCCJ is a member of the World Council of Churches .-Events...
Prominent members
- Fidel V. RamosFidel V. RamosFidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...
, former Philippine president (Philippine Methodist) - Jovito SalongaJovito SalongaJovito "Jovy" Reyes Salonga is a Filipino nationalist politician and lawyer, as well as a leading opposition leader during the Marcos regime from 1972, when Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, until 1986, when Marcos was deposed as a result of a bloodless revolution...
, former President of the Senate of the Philippines. (Presbyterian) - Sonny Belmonte, Speaker of the House of Representatives, former Mayor of Quezon City (Philippine Methodist)
- Betty Go-Belmonte, founder of the Philippine Star newspaper (Philippine Methodist)
- Dr. Rufino Macagba Sr., founder of Lorma Medical Center (Evangelical United Brethren)
- Dr. Crispina Lorenzana - Macagba, co-founder of Lorma Medical Center (Evangelical United Brethren)
- Leticia Ramos-Shahani, first female President Pro Tempore in the history of the Philippine Senate
- Narciso Ramos, former secretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippine Methodist)
- Camilo Osías, former President of the Senate of the Philippines. (Evangelical United Brethren)
- Neptali Gonzales, former Philippine senator
- Juan Flavier, former Philippine senator
- Orly MercadoOrly MercadoOrlando Sanchez Mercado , also known as Orly Mercado, is a politician from the Philippines. Mercado was a senator for three terms and the head and anchor the popular radio program Radyo Patrol of ABS-CBN from 1969 to 1971...
, former Philippine senator (now RPN 9 President and general manager) - Amelita Martinez-Ramos, former Philippine first lady (Philippine Methodist)
- Dr. William Padolina, former Secretary of Department of Science and Technology
- Dr. Ricardo Gloria, former Secretary of Department of Education
- Teodoro Rafael Yangco
- Angel C. Alcala, Ramon Magsaysay AwardRamon Magsaysay AwardThe Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered Asia's Nobel...
ee for Public Service and former Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Leonor M. BrionesLeonor BrionesLeonor Magtolis Briones is a professor at the University of the Philippines and a former Presidential Adviser for Social Development with Cabinet Rank at the Office of the President...
, former National Treasurer of the Republic of the Philippines
Prominent former members
- Felix ManaloFelix ManaloFelix Ysagun Manalo , also known as Ka Félix, was the first Executive Minister of the Philippines'-based religious organization Iglesia ni Cristo, and incorporated it with the Philippine Government on July 27, 1914. He is the father of Eraño G...
, pastor and evangelist of the Church of Christ (Disciples). Subsequently left and founded the Iglesia ni Cristo - Apollo C. QuiboloyApollo C. QuiboloyApollo Carreon Quiboloy is the founder and leader of the Philippines-based Restorationist Christian church, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, Inc. He has made claims that he is the "Appointed Son of God".-Early years:...
, son of a UCCP pastor. Left and founded the "The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name", a Philippine based Christian sect. - Cynthia A. VillarCynthia VillarCynthia Aguilar Villar is a Filipino politician who is the member of the House of Representatives for the Lone District of Las Piñas City. She is the sister of Las Piñas mayor Vergel Aguilar and the wife of Senator Manny Villar...
, representative of the Lone District of Las Piñas. Married to Sen. Manny B. Villar, Jr.Manny VillarManuel "Manny" Bamba Villar, Jr. is a Filipino businessman and politician. He is currently a Philippine Senator, president of the Nacionalista Party...
, a Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
See also
- Protestantism in the Philippines
- National Council of Churches in the PhilippinesNational Council of Churches in the PhilippinesThe National Council of Churches in the Philippines is a fellowship of ten mainline Protestant and non-Roman Catholic denominations, and ten service-oriented organizations in the Philippines. It represents close to twelve million adherents. Advocacy for environmental protection and against...