Filipino United Methodists Elect First Woman among 3 New Bishops

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Filipino United Methodists elected three new bishops – including the region's first female bishop – during the Philippines Central Conference gathering Nov. 24-26 in Cabanatuan City.

The Rev. Rodel M. Acdal, 54, president of John Wesley College and current administrative assistant of the Baguio Episcopal Area, was the first bishop elected on the sixth ballot on Nov. 25. He was followed by the elections of the Rev. Ruby-Nell M. Estrella, 57, treasurer of the Philippines Central Conference, on the 20th ballot and the Rev. Israel M. Painit, 46, the country director of mission in Southeast Asia, on the 23rd ballot.

Bishop Rodel M. Acdal

“The church cannot afford to be divided,” Rev. Acdal said before the elections. He admitted seeing huge hurdles in facing the threats of division within The United Methodist Church but emphasized that he would do everything he could to sustain unity in the Philippines’ annual conferences. 

“The impending separation is huge to deal with, but I will spend more efforts to sustain unity.  Whatever happens in the General Conference, I will persist to sustain unity in all annual conferences. Our context is different from (U.S. jurisdictions),” he said.

Raised in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, Bishop Acdal was born to United Methodist parents. He finished his Master of Divinity from Wesley Divinity School at Wesleyan University-Philippines and earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management from Cagayan State University in Tuguegarao City.

He first served as a local pastor at San Andres United Methodist Church in Sanchez Mira in 1993. He also served as district superintendent in South Cagayan-Kalinga Apayao District in the Northern Philippines Conference for seven years. Currently, he is president of John Wesley College, property development adviser to the bishop and administrative assistant in the Baguio Episcopal Area. He also has served as chairman of the division of ordained ministry and as a trustee or board member at Union Theological Seminary, Philippine Christian University, Mary Johnston Hospital, Thoburn Memorial Academy and Northern Philippines Academy.

Through tears, Bishop Acdal conveyed his hopes for the future.

“This winning moment means new leadership with new breath of fresh air, renewed hope and fervor, new ways of standing on my ground, new ways of light for unity amid the storms of impending separation,” he said.

Bishop Ruby-Nell M. Estrella 

Conference delegates and guests were all agog in celebrating the election of the first female bishop in the conference’s history.

Bishop Estrella told UM News that many people have been predicting that she would be the first woman elected a United Methodist bishop in the Philippines.

“So many people have told me that I would be the first woman bishop in the Philippines, since I was just a local pastor — even when I have not proven anything yet. I just laughed and never took it seriously,” she said.

Bishop Estrella said that she has supported and campaigned for women candidates since she became a delegate to the Philippines Central Conference. 

“Now that this long-awaited dream has been fulfilled in my election, it feels so surreal. I am truly humbled and thankful to God for this historic election,” she said.

Bishop Estrella said that God would help the church navigate through the challenges it faces. 

“Instead of worrying, I am praying that the future of The United Methodist Church in the Philippines and around the world will be filled with exciting possibilities as we fulfill the mission of Christ in this broken world,” she said.

“I hope I will be able to do more for the women and youth of our church now that I'm a bishop. They have been passionately serving God and the church with all that they have, but oftentimes, these were not fully recognized by the church,” she said.

Bishop Estrella was baptized and nurtured at Tangos United Methodist Church in Navotas City. She is the second of four daughters of the late Elmer Eugenio and late Leonarda Manucom Estrella.  

She graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy degree at Polytechnic University of the Philippines and passed the licensure examinations for Certified Public Accountants in 1986. She worked as junior auditor in a group of companies in Makati, but the dream job failed to bring her joy, she said. She left the role and volunteered as church secretary at Tangos United Methodist Church until she heeded God’s call to the ordained ministry in 1987.  

In 1994, she graduated with a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary. She was admitted on probation and ordained deacon in 1993 at St. Peter United Methodist Church and as a full member and ordained elder in 1995 at St. Paul United Methodist Church. 

Bishop Estrella said that the people called United Methodists will always be “stronger together as we remain in Christ and live out Christ's redeeming and transforming love wherever we are. 

“We will trust the Holy Spirit to empower us to become instruments of peace, hope and justice in this broken world. God is with us every step of the way,” she said.

Bishop Israel M. Painit

In his remarks after receiving the episcopal pin from Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton, Bishop Painit relayed how God had called and prepared him by saving his life from drowning as a baby.

“One day in Esperanza in Agusan del Sur, our raft slid down the river, with my mother, my grandmother and my brother," he said. "The first search to rescue the adults, they didn't know there was a baby. It was amazing that I was felt by somebody’s feet under the water. I was 11 months old then; everybody thought I was dead, but after a few minutes, I burst out (of the) water.”

Bishop Painit said that he had not been baptized at the time. When baptism happened, his aunt had named him Israel, saying, “Israel would someday lead and unify people.”

He finished his basic education in Tungao in Butuan City. He finished AB Theology from Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges Inc. in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, and attended Ateneo de Davao University to study law for two years. He holds a Master of Divinity from Wesley Divinity School from Wesleyan University-Philippines and a master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southeastern Mindanao.

Currently, Bishop Painit serves as the country director of mission in Southeast Asia under the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

He started his journey as a student pastor in 1993 at Kabacan Central United Methodist Church and Tungao Mission. Then he continued to become an administrative pastor in several local churches in Kabacan, North Cotabato, Davao del Norte and Davao City, and as district superintendent in the Southeast District in East Mindanao Philippines.

He then served as center director at Davao United Methodist Mission Center before he became the country director of mission in Southeast Asia.

Bishop Painit told UM News that he loves community organizing.

“Empowering people and building their capacities is what I have so loved doing,” he said.

Bishop Painit also credited the denomination's General Board of Global Ministries for granting him the opportunity to be equipped and become a roundtable facilitator. He said doing so has enabled him and empowered him with facilitation and negotiation skills.

“Everybody has a space at the table of grace,” Bishop Painit said.

“To grant each one a space, everyone must be listened to, especially the small voices which are not really heard.”

The assignments of bishops in the Philippines Central Conference were announced during the consecration service on Nov. 26. Bishop Acdal will lead the Baguio Episcopal Area. Bishop Estrella will lead the Manila Episcopal Area. Bishop Painit will serve the Davao Episcopal Area.

Gladys P. Mangiduyos is a communicator in the Philippines. This article was compiled from three reports she filed from the Philippines Central Conference meeting for UM News.