In Memory of Francisco Bongoan Bilog

In Memory of Pastor Francisco B. Bilog: Faithful Servant, Devoted Teacher, and Shepherd of Souls

Sharing at the Study Committee on the World Wide Nature of the Church

Rev Francisco Bilog

Manila, Philippines

First of all, I would like to thank this committee for coming to the Philippines to hear what we consider as meaningful and effective nature of The United Methodist church in the context of the geographical and cultural characteristics of the area or region  where there is a Methodist presence.

Let me than share the following thoughts:

  1. There should be a General Conference which should be one of the things which hold us together as United Methodist. This General Conference should  deal on issues and matters of worldwide implication. 
  1. The Jurisdictional/Central Conferences would have more authority/power to adapt the Book of Discipline for them to be effective in their region. I was informed that the Methodist churches in Latin America did not ask for autonomous relationship. They just requested that they be given more freedom to adapt the Methodist Discipline to their regional needs, but at that time such freedom or authority was not possible. This I believe is one of the answer to the autonomy movement in the Philippines.
  1. General Board and Agencies of the church should be disperse or located in the many regions of the world. If not possible then regional offices be establish, an example of which is what UMCOR is doing now.
  1. Culturally, the “Term Bishop” or electing bishop every four years is considered by many Methodist in the Philippines as not good. Secular election herein the Philippines divides and many times resorts to violence. The secular of culture of election invades the way we elect a bishop every four years. In this context many views that the bishops are pressured by these cultural practices in their decisions, knowing fully well that in the next few years his office will be for re-election again. By the way, why is the difference of the term of bishops on the Jurisdictional and Central conference? There should only be one kind of bishops in The United Methodist Church, if indeed we are a worldwide church.
  1. A worldwide Nature of the Church should be more seen in the mission of the church. Every local United Methodist church should have the sense of a worldwide mission by praying and giving financially to mission as a way these churches to be able to “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost part of the world.” In this sense the sending also of missionaries and mission field of the church should transcends races and regions. Gone should be the days when missionaries are white, mission fields are only in the third world. With the decreasing of membership the UMC in North America, could it be that UMC missionaries from the southern hemisphere can share/bring the fervor of their faith to the North America?
  1.  One of the things that we should consider in adapting the UMC discipline to the needs of the region is on the area of Ordination. Ordination should be done for “Word, Sacrament and Mission.” Membership in the annual Conference an ordination should be a separate thing. For us in the poorer countries ordination should not denied to pastors who have dedicated their life to the mission and ministry of the church, just because they cannot fulfill the educational requirements for annual conference membership. When they are denied ordination they feel only as second class pastors though they are the ones in front line of mission. Once in the life of the Methodist Church, we practice what was once called as “local elder”, those who have found faithful in the work were ordained though they cannot be eligible for conference membership.
  1. Another thing I would like to bring to your attention is the concept that the office of the district superintendent is an extension of the general Superintendency or the office of the Bishop. The Bishops are supported by the General Church, while the District Superintendents  are paid by the annual conference. Why could not the general church financially support the District Superintendents if they are an extension of the office of the Bishop. In the Philippines many district superintendent have local church appointments to sup[port themselves and still do the Superintendency work. Such situation limits their effectiveness in their work as district superintendent and also as local pasor.

Rev. Francisco B. Bilog

East Mindanao Philippines annual Conference Davao Episcopal Area    

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