wfn.org | Philippines Centennial

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CONTACT: 	Linda Bloom
(10-71B){181}
		New York (212) 870-3803             March 25, 1998

Celebrations mark 100th anniversary
of Methodists in the Philippines

		by United Methodist News Service

A parade in Manila and a thanksgiving service at Wesleyan University in
Cabanatuan highlighted the United Methodist Church's centennial
celebration in the Philippines.
The March 14-21 events drew Methodists from around the world, and
included a speech by Filipino President Fidel V. Ramos.
The celebration began with a parade of 26 floats, bands and delegations
of various churches and institutions, followed by a service of praise
and thanksgiving at the Quirio Grandstand on Manila Bay. A local
newspaper estimated the crowd at 30,000 people.
President Ramos gave an "inspiring address" at the March 14 event,
according to Richard Schwenk, a United Methodist missionary.
Ramos lauded United Methodists for their contributions to the country
and their leadership in social services, health care and education. He
also praised the church's emphasis on moral integrity in public and
private life, Schwenk said.
The event included a 1,000-voice youth choir, live music, dances, drama,
a historical video presentation and a fireworks display.
The following day, invited guests preached in local churches throughout
Manila and spent the remainder of the week visiting United Methodist
institutions and projects.
On March 21, a thanksgiving service was held on the campus of Wesleyan
University in Cabanatuan, about 120 miles north of Manila. Bishop Dan
Solomon of Baton Rouge, La., was the speaker. Participants included
Methodist delegates from Africa, America, Asia and Europe.
A "barrio fiesta" celebration followed. After lunch, about 100 delegates
participated in an open forum, moderated by Philippines Bishop Emerito
Nacpil, to discuss how to enhance partnerships in the development of a
global church.
The day ended with an exhibition of Filipino folk dances and a student
drama of the history of Methodism in the Philippines.
Although not part of the centennial celebration, Union Theological
Seminary in Dasmarinas, Cavite, about 20 miles south of Manila, had its
90th commencement exercise on March 20.
The 84 graduates came from all regions of the Philippines, as well as
Japan, Korea, Nigeria and Burma. Founded in 1907 by Methodists and
Presbyterians, the seminary trains pastors and church workers for the
United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ in the Philippines and
several other denominations.
Methodist mission work in the Philippines began soon after the United
States bought control of the island nation for $20 million in 1898.
	Bishop James Thoburn sailed to Manila from India in 1899 and
organized a congregation as part of the Malaysia Mission Conference.
What became the Philippine Mission then grew to span seven provinces
north of Manila.
	Organized in 1908, the Philippine Annual Conference divided as
it continued to grow. Today, as a central conference, it has three
episcopal areas -- Manila, Baguio and Davao -- and numerous annual
conferences. Official membership, according to World Methodist Council
statistics, stands at 225,000, but the church serves a larger community
of nearly half a million.
United Methodists relate closely to the United Church of Christ in the
Philippines. That denomination resulted from the 1948 union of five
Protestant communities: Evangelical United Brethren, Presbyterian,
United Brethren, Congregational and Philippine Methodist churches.
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