Philippines Reelects Acdal, Estrella, Painit

by

By Gladys P. MangiduyosNov. 22, 2024 | CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (UM News)

Key points:

  • The Philippines Central Conference reelected Bishops Rodel Acdal, Ruby-Nell Estrella and Israel Painit at a Nov. 18-22 gathering.
  • The bishops will continue serving in the episcopal areas where they were initially assigned upon being elected in 2022.
  • The bishops called for the church to focus on peace and reconciliation as it moves out of a period marked by disaffiliations and division.

Bishops Rodel M. Acdal, Ruby-Nell M. Estrella and Israel M. Painit have been reelected as the top leaders of The United Methodist Church’s Philippines Central Conference.

Delegates elected Acdal, 56, and Estrella, 59, on Nov. 21, and Painit, 48, on Nov. 22 at the central conference’s meeting at Wesleyan University-Philippines in Cabanatuan City on the 5th, 8th and 24th ballots respectively.

All three bishops were reassigned to the episcopal areas where they had been serving since initially being elected in 2022. Acdal is returning to the Baguio Episcopal Area, Estrella to the Manila Episcopal Area, and Painit to the Davao Episcopal Area. Their assignments were announced during a Nov. 22 consecration service.

The bishops were elected by an equal number of United Methodist clergy and lay delegates from the country’s three episcopal areas. Bishops in the Philippines typically serve four-year terms before they face reelection or retirement. 

Acdal said he had “mixed emotions for my reelection due to the severity of the issues on disaffiliation while preparing for the central conference.” The denomination is emerging from a period marked by disaffiliations, in which some congregations and geographic regions left The United Methodist Church due to disagreements about scriptural authority and the inclusion of LGBTQ people.

But Acdal expressed gratitude: “God has granted the fresh mandate despite everything.”

Acdal told UM News that he envisions a united, dynamic, caring and welcoming church responsive to the call of the times.

“I shall continue (to) endeavor to fully maximize the privileges, responsibilities and accountabilities of the episcopal office,” he said.

Raised in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, Acdal was born to United Methodist parents. He finished his Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Divinity School at Wesleyan University-Philippines and earned his doctorate 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 superintendent of the South Cagayan-Kalinga Apayao District in the Northern Philippines Conference for seven years. He was president of John Wesley College, property development adviser to the bishop and administrative assistant in the Baguio Episcopal Area. He also 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.

Estrella was baptized and nurtured at Tangos United Methodist Church in Navotas City.  

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 said she heeded God’s call to the ordained ministry in 1987.  

In 1994, she graduated with a Master of Divinity degree 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. 

Estrella is the first woman to serve as a United Methodist bishop in the Philippines. She said that her reelection is an affirmation of women’s leadership in the highest level of our church.  

“With this reelection, I will be able to continue our programs and advocacies that would address the needs of the church.”  

Some of the biggest issues she encountered made her more ready to embark on another episcopal journey, she said.

“The Manila Episcopal Area was the epicenter of disaffiliation and secession, which I believe are the biggest issues I encountered the past two years of my first term,” she said.  

“I thank God for the strength and wisdom that kept me steadfast even in the midst of the most trying times,” she said. “I believe more challenges are coming, but I have proven that God is faithful and will be with me every step of the way.”

Estrella shared her main dream for the church. “I pray that The United Methodist Church will become the church that God called us to be, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” She said she also prayed that “in every community where there is a United Methodist church, people experience the love and compassion of Christ, especially those who are suffering and marginalized.”

Painit 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 degree from Wesley Divinity School at Wesleyan University-Philippines and a master’s in public administration from the University of Southeastern Mindanao. He served 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. He continued to become an administrative pastor in several local churches in Kabacan, North Cotabato, Davao del Norte and Davao City, and was superintendent of the Southeast District in East Mindanao Philippines.

In The United Methodist Church, bishops are ordained elders who are called to “lead and oversee the spiritual and temporal affairs of The United Methodist Church.” Bishops, in consultation with district superintendents, are responsible for appointing clergy. They also preside at annual conferences, jurisdictional conferences and General Conference, the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly.

The reelected bishops are coming aboard as the denomination deals with the continuing fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising congregational disaffiliations amid a denominational splintering. 

In a UM News interview, Painit spoke hopefully about the future. “I am excited, the future is really rich for us,” he said.

“This is a sweet victory because this is all for the church, especially (now) that we are on the critical times of transitioning to another structure,” he said. “This victory is a gift to us.” 

The three bishops will be united in supporting the ratification of regionalization, Painit said, referring to a proposal passed by the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly to change the church’s structure. The plan requires amending the denomination's constitution. Regionalization will be heading to annual conference voters around the globe next year.   

Noting that his Davao Area “is literally covering 64% of the entire Philippines,” he said, “it is really important that I have to plan and make adjustments.” Painit said that in the past two years, he has “learned a lot,” and he promised to do better and rectify errors.

He will continue “advocating especially for the rights of women and children, and the Lumads in my area.” The Lumads are an indigenous people who have been marginalized and often persecuted in the Philippines.

One of his dreams for the church is for it to become stable, sustainable and self-governing, so that the whole Philippines is able to support its programs and leadership. Referring to the topic of possible autonomy from the denomination in the future, Painit said, “If the sentiment of the church is becoming autonomous, we will work for it through the process, until it becomes capable of becoming an autonomous church.”

All three bishops emphasized the importance of moving the church forward.

“Let us give peace and reconciliation a chance,” Acdal said. “Our church cannot afford further divisions.”

Estrella said God is doing new things in the denomination and the Philippines. “Let us put behind us our debates and disagreements and move forward to lead the church to the best expression of The United Methodist Church that would become (an) instrument of hope, peace and justice in this broken world.”

Gladys P. Mangiduyos is a UM News correspondent based in the Philippines.