Our partners in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines recently held their General Assembly – their national level meeting that takes place every four years. Meeting at Silliman University Church, in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, the assembly elected its new officers for the next quadrennium at their meeting at the Silliman University Church.
Helen Grace Paris was elected chairperson. A businesswoman and a native of Cagayan de Oro City, she had served as the vice chairperson of the 9th Quadrennial General Assembly, and as the vice chairperson of the Central Mindanao Area Church Council.
The Rev. Reuel Norman Marigza, a professor of the Silliman University Divinity School, was elected to serve as General Secretary. Marigza earned his Master of Divinity from the Asian Theological Seminary and his Master of Theology from the Silliman University Divinity School.
Also elected were seven Jurisdictional Area Bishops: Bishop Dulce-Pia Rose and Reverends Melzar Labuntog, Arturo Asi, Modesto Villasanta, Roel Mendoza, Jaime Moriles and Elorde Sambat. Other officers elected were Karl Chan, treasurer and Jose Alfon, auditor.
We give thanks for Bishop Eliezer Pascua, who previously served General Secretary. We appreciate his faith and witness. We are grateful for the partnership we have shared. We pray that God will continue to bless Bishop Pascua in wherever the Holy Spirit leads him.
We pray that God will bless Rev. Marigza and Ms. Paris and the other newly elected leaders as they begin their new ministries. May God who has gifted them and called them, continue to guide them as they serve. We look forward to new partnerships and opportunities for shared service.