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The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (
Tagalog Tagalog may refer to: Language * Tagalog language, a language spoken in the Philippines ** Old Tagalog, an archaic form of the language ** Batangas Tagalog, a dialect of the language * Tagalog script, the writing system historically used for Taga ...
: ''Ang Nagkaisang Iglesia ni Cristo sa Pilipinas''; Ilokano: ''Nagkaykaysa nga Iglesia Ni Cristo iti Filipinas'') is a
Christian denomination A Christian denomination is a distinct religious body within Christianity that comprises all church congregations of the same kind, identifiable by traits such as a name, particular history, organization, leadership, theological doctrine, wors ...
in the Philippines. Established in its present form in Malate, Manila, it resulted from the merger of the Evangelical Church of the Philippines, the Philippine Methodist Church, the Disciples of Christ, the
United Evangelical Church The United Evangelical Church is a splinter group from the Evangelical Association History It was formed in 1891 when some members of the Evangelical Association left to form the new church. The schism was caused by the autocratic administration ...
and several independent congregations. The United Church is a mainline Protestant group in the Philippines with around 1,500,000 members and 1,593 pastors in 2,564 congregations as of 2008. Its main office is located at 877 EDSA, West Triangle, Quezon City. Metro Manila.


History


The Evangelical Church

Presbyterian missionaries in the Philippines in April 1901 invited missionaries of other evangelical churches to a conference to discuss the possibility of working together in the proclamation of the gospel of faith alone as the only way of salvation for Filipino Catholics, Muslims and pagans. Representatives included those from the Methodist Episcopal Church, the United Brethren in Christ (UBC), the Northern Baptist Church, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the Free Methodist Church, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the American Bible Society, and the Presbyterian Church. The Evangelical Union was then formed on April 26, 1901. The evangelical churches agreed to call themselves “The Evangelical Church” (with the original denomination name in parenthesis below it). From 1898 to 1905 these are the mission churches joining in the agreement: * Methodists (1898; most of lowland Luzon and north of Manila) * Presbyterians (1899; Bicol, Southern Tagalog area, and some parts of
Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known a ...
and Western Visayas) * Baptists (1900; Western Visayas) * United Brethren (1901;
Mountain Province Mountain Province is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Bontoc. Mountain Province was formerly referred to as ''Mountain'' in some foreign references. The name is usually shor ...
and La Union) *
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ The group of churches known as the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ is a fellowship of congregations within the Restoration Movement (also known as the Stone-Campbell Movement and the Reformation of the 19th Century) that have no forma ...
/ Disciples of Christ (1901;
Ilocos Ilocos Region ( ilo, Rehion/Deppaar ti Ilocos; pag, Sagor na Baybay na Luzon/Rehiyon Uno; tl, Rehiyon ng Ilocos) is an administrative region of the Philippines, designated as Region I, occupying the northwestern section of Luzon and part of ...
, Abra, and
Tagalog Tagalog may refer to: Language * Tagalog language, a language spoken in the Philippines ** Old Tagalog, an archaic form of the language ** Batangas Tagalog, a dialect of the language * Tagalog script, the writing system historically used for Taga ...
towns) *
Congregationalists Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising Congregationalist polity, congregationalist church governance, in which each Wiktionary:congregation, c ...
(1902; Mindanao, except for the western end) *
Christian and Missionary Alliance The Alliance World Fellowship is the international governing body of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (The Alliance, also C&MA and CMA). The Alliance is an evangelical Protestant denomination within the Higher Life movement of Christiani ...
(1902; Western Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago) Manila was opened to all denominations and mission agencies. The Seventh-day Adventist Church and Protestant
Episcopalians Anglicanism is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Euro ...
did not join because they wanted to go to parts of the archipelago allocated to other groups.


The Philippine Methodist Church

After the foundation of the
Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas The Evangelical Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands ( es, Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas) is a Methodist Christian denomination. Founded on 28 February 1909 by Bishop Nicolás Zamora, it is recognised in the Philippine ...
(IEMELIF) by Nicolas V. Zamora, a second major split occurred in the Methodist Church on March 23, 1933. About three years before, Melecio de Armas, a prominent minister had been accused by his colleagues of immorality towards a teenage girl, a church member. At the 1932 Philippine Annual Conference, a committee found the minister guilty and recommended his expulsion from the ministry, but the minister appealed the decision to the Appellant Committee of the General Conference of the Methodist Church of Phlippines (GCMCA). This Committee decided that it does not have enough evidence against the minister, so it acquitted him—thereby overturning the decision of the Philippine Conference. This brought to everyone's attention the subordinate position of the Philippine church. Bishop Herbert Welch, at the 1933 Annual Conference, declared the matter closed, and reinstated the minister. As a result, a group led by Samuel Stagg, pastor of the influential Central Church (now Central United Methodist Church on T.M. Kalaw), and including five other missionaries and 27 ordained Filipino ministers led by Cipriano Navarro and Melquiades Gamboa, a U.P. professor, left the church and declared themselves the General Conference of the Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands (GCMCPI). All but 41 members of Central Church left their newly dedicated gothic cathedral. This group formed the Philippine Methodist Church, with Navarro as bishop. The church financially supported the Staggs and the other missionaries who joined it. Stagg and his former members formed the
Cosmopolitan Church The UCCP Cosmopolitan Church is a Protestant church in Manila, Philippines. History The Cosmopolitan Church's establishment traces back to the 1930s when 60 members of the Central Methodist Church at Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila seceded fr ...
, which became the leading congregation of the new denomination. The independent GCMCPI elected Navarro as acting General Superintendent. In 1948 the Philippine Methodist Church was a constituent part of the formation of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.


The Evangelical Church in the Philippines

The Evangelical Church in the Philippines was formed in 1943 under the direction of the
Japanese Imperial Forces The Imperial Japanese Armed Forces (IJAF) were the combined military forces of the Japanese Empire. Formed during the Meiji Restoration in 1868,"One can date the 'restoration' of imperial rule from the edict of 3 January 1868." p. 334. they ...
. It brought together the United Evangelical Church; the
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ The group of churches known as the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ is a fellowship of congregations within the Restoration Movement (also known as the Stone-Campbell Movement and the Reformation of the 19th Century) that have no forma ...
( Disciples of Christ); the Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo; the
Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas The Evangelical Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands ( es, Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas) is a Methodist Christian denomination. Founded on 28 February 1909 by Bishop Nicolás Zamora, it is recognised in the Philippine ...
(IEMELIF) founded by Bishop Nicholas Zamora; the Iglesia Evangelica Nacional; the Philippine Methodist Church; some Seventh-day Adventists and other churches. It was the first union of churches under full Filipino leadership. After World War II, former Presbyterians and Congregationalists reconstituted the United Evangelical Church. On the other hand, the former United Brethren in Christ, together with the Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ) and the independent congregations remained as the Evangelical Church in the Philippines. Because the Seventh-day Adventists were forced by the war to join the merger, they immediately left the Evangelical Church of the Philippines after the war.


The United Church of Christ in the Philippines

In May 1948, the United Evangelical Church, the Philippine Methodist Church, the Evangelical Church of the Philippines, some congregations of the Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo, the Convention of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. The denomination started with the Restoration Movement during the Second Great Awakening, first existing during the 19th ...
of Northern Luzon, the Iglesia Evangelica Nacional, and some congregations of the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas (IEMELIF) joined together to form the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Enrique Sobrepena of the United Evangelical Church served both as Bishop for Luzon and as Presiding Bishop. This was the real culmination of the efforts of the Evangelical Union established by missionaries on April 26, 1901, to seek the evangelization of the Philippines through a common effort. In spite of the refusal of the United Methodist, Baptist and other independent evangelical churches, the UCCP was known to be the most visible sign of interdenominational and church unity in the Philippines. In 1962, the conservative Tagalog Convention of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. The denomination started with the Restoration Movement during the Second Great Awakening, first existing during the 19th ...
decided to join the union of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. It was proclaimed in an appropriate ceremonies at the General Assembly held in Cebu City. In 1998, Nelinda Primavera–Briones was the first woman elected as bishop of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.


Faith and practice

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines is trinitarian and believes in the deity, humanity, and atonement of Jesus. It believes that the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God and that salvation is by grace through faith, repentance and following after Christ. The United Church of Christ in the Philippines view the Christian life as one of personal faith and of serious dedication to living according to the highest Christian precepts. Each person is thus to be born again, converted into a new life, and gathered into the church community. For them, the church is essentially the result of conversion and of grace, a gathered community of committed believers. It is not the mother of Christian experience or the source (rather than the effect) of grace, as in the Roman Catholic tradition. The church is, therefore, holy only because the faith and life of its people are holy. The UCCP traces its roots in the Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther, John Calvin and others led the movement to reform the Christianity. This is often expressed in the "
Five Solas The five ''solae'' (from Latin, ', lit. "alone"; occasionally Anglicized to five solas) of the Protestant Reformation are a foundational set of Christian theological principles held by theologians and clergy to be central to the doctrines of ...
"—God's grace alone as the only way to be reconciled to God, faith alone as the only means of receiving God's grace, Christ alone as the ground of God's saving grace, Scripture alone as the only infallible authority for belief, and God's glory alone as the ultimate purpose for the lives of men and women. The following distinguish the UCCP from other communions: * Their concern for freedom of speech and conscience and for freedom from interference by any civil or ecclesiastical authority * The primacy they give to Scripture in matters of faith, doctrine, and morals * The authority they give to the congregation in church affairs * Their concern for establishing social justice in political, social and economic life and * Their active involvement and commitment to interdenominational activity as a protest against denominational exclusiveness.


Sacraments

The church believes that there are two sacraments only: baptism and The Lord's Supper. The church takes a neutral position on the observance of feet washing, taking into consideration the various traditions brought in by the uniting churches. The 1948: Article III Historic Faith and Message states, " We do preserve all the heritage of faith brought into the union by each of the constituent churches and hereby declare as our common faith and message: 'Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, our Lord and Saviour.'"


Baptism

The UCCP defines baptism as a sacrament of initiation into the church.The United Church of Christ in the Philippines Cagayan de Oro City - MEMBERSHI

They believe that baptism is not a means of salvation but a first step of obedience for the new believer. The church permits both
believer's baptism Believer's baptism or adult baptism (occasionally called credobaptism, from the Latin word meaning "I believe") is the practice of baptizing those who are able to make a conscious profession of faith, as contrasted to the practice of baptizing ...
and infant baptism. Infant baptism is administered only to infant children of church members as a sign of God's covenant of mercy. In recent times, infant baptism has given way to infant ''Pághahandóg'' (Filipino, “dedication“) ceremonies, thus reserving baptism for the time when the child can make a conscious decision to follow Christ. The church also recognises and accepts baptisms held in other Christian churches. Disciples understood that baptism is a confessional expression of faith and repentance, rather than a "work" that earns salvation. Thus, they insisted that believer's baptism is necessary part of conversion and necessary for its validity. Local churches in the Tagalog and Ilocano regions established by their missionaries practice only
baptism by immersion Immersion baptism (also known as baptism by immersion or baptism by submersion) is a method of baptism that is distinguished from baptism by affusion (pouring) and by aspersion (sprinkling), sometimes without specifying whether the immersion is ...
for adult initiates.


Lord's Supper

The Church believes in the symbolic presence of Jesus in the Lord's Supper (Filipino: ''Santa Cena, Banál na Hapunan'', both meaning “Holy Supper”). They believe that it was given by Jesus ChristUnited Church of Christ in the Philippines Cagayan de Oro City - COMMUNIO

to his church as a way of remembering and proclaiming the sacrifice He made on the cross. It is a sacrament that contains an element of remembering and proclaiming Christ's death while at the same time looking forward to the time when they will enjoy communion with Christ in heaven. It involves solemn and serious self-examination. This includes confession of sin and repentance. Communion for them should not be received in a flippant or careless manner.It is the joyful feast of the Lord, hence, it is a celebration. Each UCCP congregation is required to celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper once a month. In most local churches, communion is served in the first Sunday of the month. The observance of the Rite of the Last Supper of our Lord with His disciples is done every
Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday (also known as Great and Holy Thursday, Holy and Great Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Sheer Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, among other names) is the day during Holy Week that commemorates the Washing of the ...
. Since the Disciples of Christ custom is to have the Lord's Supper central to every worship service, the sacrament is administered every Lord's Day.


Contemporary issues

The Church believes that every man or woman should be accepted and treated with dignity, grace, and holy love, whatever their sexual orientation (biological sex of person attracted to). In 2014, the denomination voted to adopt a policy that "means that LGBTs should not be discriminated but should be unconditionally accepted... ndBishop Marigza confirms the openness to ordain openly gay and lesbian church workers." In 2016, the Iloilo Ekklesia congregation in
Mandurriao Mandurriao () is one of the seven districts of Iloilo City, in the province of Iloilo, on the island of Panay, in the Western Visayas region, in the Philippines. It is the second-largest district by land area as well as the third-most populous di ...
,
Iloilo City Iloilo City, officially the City of Iloilo ( hil, Siyudad/Dakbanwa sang Iloilo; fil, Lungsod ng Iloilo), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines on the island of Panay. It is the capital city of th ...
, held the Church’s first LGBT-themed worship service. The Church has also allowed the ordination of women with full rights of clergy based on biblical principle: "''There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.''" The UCCP, along with some other evangelical Churches, holds that when the historical contexts involved are understood, a coherent Biblical argument can be made in favor of women's ordination.


Worship services

UCCP local churches typically have worship services three times a week: Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening. Each local congregation has a great deal of freedom in the style and ordering of worship, and therefore services vary among different churches. The order may be very traditional and highly liturgical, or it may be very simple and informal. Music plays a large role in most UCCP worship services, and ranges from chant to traditional Protestant hymns, to classical sacred music, to more modern music, depending on the preference of the local church. Scripture is read and usually preached upon, and an offering is usually collected. Services are often focused toward a time of prayer and commitment at the end of the sermon. Over the last ten years, an increasing number of UCCP churches have utilized contemporary worship services as their worship style. This may involve the use of a projector to display song, drums and electronic piano, clapping of hands, tambourine dance and raising of hands. More traditional UCCP churches use hymnals and may have a song leader or music director who directs congregational singing from the pulpit.


Mission, evangelism, and social concern

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines has, historically, been a leading Protestant denomination in mission work. A vital part of the world mission emphasis of the denomination is building and maintaining relationships with Evangelical, Protestant and other churches around the world. Connection between evangelism and social concern was maintained by the UCCP. In 1952, the UCCP established the UCCP National Federation of Credit Unions to aid farmers. They also issued a Resolution Condemning Gambling and Liquor. Sobrepena approved, a relationship between the UCCP and the Orient Crusades (OC) International - Philippine Crusades. OC entered the Philippines agreeing to work in cooperation with UCCP leaders, to prepare converts for membership in the UCCP, and to avoid controversial doctrinal issues. They focused on mass evangelism and witness to students, and used film showings such as ''King of Kings'' to make contacts. Interested seekers availed of Bible correspondence courses. Sobrepena held mass evangelistic campaigns—notably in Laoag in November 1955, with the OC cooperation. In 1973 to 1986, local churches allowed American missionaries from the Youth With A Mission to reorganize Sunday Schools and set up Sunday school programs.A TRIBUTE TO BISHOP MARIGZA ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ORDINATION TO THE MINISTRY, APRIL 11, 1957 TO APRIL 11, 200

/ref> This international, interdenominational Christian missionary organization also promoted Christian movies in secular theaters throughout the archipelago. Many Filipinos from this time are in full-time Christian service today or are productive Christians. In addition, a number of indigenous churches were established among squatter communities in Metro Manila, in Baguio and villages in the Cordilleras. Then the Philippine
Campus Crusade for Christ Cru (until 2011 known as Campus Crusade for Christ—informally "Campus Crusade" or simply "crusade"—or CCC) is an interdenominational Christian parachurch organization. It was founded in 1951 at the University of California, Los Angeles by B ...
, also an international interdenominational movement came in and started the evangelistic movement in the church that started the increase in church attendance and membership. Some local churches, joined international fellowship such as the Covenant Global Church. Other churches involved themselves into the Evangelism Explosion, a ministry that trains people how to share their faith in Christ. The United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Baguio City is an active member of the
Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
(PCEC

PCEC is the largest network of denominations, churches, mission groups and para-church organizations in the Philippines being involve in evangelism and defending the fundamental evangelical Christian faith.


Seminaries and affiliated institutions

The denomination maintains affiliations with seminaries in the Philippines. These are: * College of Theology of
Northern Christian College Northern Christian College is a private Christian higher education institution in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It was founded in 1933. It is associated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ in ...
in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte * College of Theology of Southern Christian College in Midsayap, Cotabato * Divinity School at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros * Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Baguio City * Pag-asa School of Theology of Brokenshire College in Davao City * Union Theological Seminary in Dasmarinas, Cavite (in partnership with the
United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelical ...
)


Universities and colleges

* Apayao Community Learning Center in Kabugao, Apayao * Brokenshire College in Davao City * College of Maasin in Southern Leyte * Dansalan College Foundation in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur * Farmers Institute in Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental * Ifugao Academy in Kiangan, Ifugao * Jimenez Bethel Institute in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental * Kalinga Academy in Lubuagan, Kalinga * National Heroes Institute in Kananga, Leyte *
Northern Christian College Northern Christian College is a private Christian higher education institution in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It was founded in 1933. It is associated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ in ...
in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte *
Philippine Christian University The Philippine Christian University (PCU) is a private, Protestant coeducational basic and higher education institution located in Ermita, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1946 through the initiatives of the laymen of the Evangelical Associ ...
in Malate, Manila (in partnership with the
United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelical ...
) * St. Tonis College in Tabuk, Kalinga * Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros OrientalAffiliated but not owned nor governed by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines * Southern Christian College in Midsayap, Cotabato * Tabuk Institute, Kalinga * Union Christian College in San Fernando City, La Union * United Institute, Inc. in Daraga, Albay * Pilgrim Christian College, Cagayan de Oro City * Hinunangan Bethel Christian School, - Hinunangan, Southern Leyte * Mindanao Institute, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte


Affiliated health care institutions

* Bethany Hospital in San Fernando, La Union * Bethany Hospital in Tacloban, Leyte * Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries in Davao Cit

* Silliman University#Silliman Medical Center (SUMCFI), Silliman University Medical Center Foundation Inc. in Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros * Visayas Community Medical Center in Cebu City


Affiliated service institutions

* CONDORA in Damortis, La Union * Haran House in Davao City * NLJA Peace Center * Shalom Center in Malate, Manila * UCCP CENDET (Center for Education and Development) in Cebu City


Partners in Mission

The UCCP is a member of the
National Council of Churches in the Philippines The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP; tl, Sangguniáng Pambansâ ng mga Simbahan sa Pilipinas) is a fellowship of ten Protestant and non Roman Catholic Churches in the Philippines denominations, and ten service-oriented orga ...
. Currently, the UCCP has covenant relations with the
Iglesia Filipina Independiente , native_name_lang = fil , icon = Logo of the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church).svg , icon_width = 80px , icon_alt = Coat of arms of the Philippine Independent Church , image ...
and the Iglesia Unida Ekyumenikal. Aside from this, the UCCP is a member and have partnership relation with international religious organizations.


World and Continental Church Bodies

*
World Council of Churches The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a worldwide Christian inter-church organization founded in 1948 to work for the cause of ecumenism. Its full members today include the Assyrian Church of the East, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, most jur ...
* World Alliance of Reformed Churches *
World Methodist Council The World Methodist Council (WMC), founded in 1881, is a consultative body and association of churches in the Methodist tradition. It comprises 80 member denominations in 138 countries which together represent an estimated 80 million people; this ...
*
Church Mission Society The Church Mission Society (CMS), formerly known as the Church Missionary Society, is a British mission society working with the Christians around the world. Founded in 1799, CMS has attracted over nine thousand men and women to serve as mission ...
*
Christian Conference of Asia The Christian Conference of Asia is a regional ecumenical organisation representing 15 National Councils and over 100 denominations (churches) in New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, ...
Sister-church relationships are held with the following churches abroad which hold to similar doctrine and practice.


North America

*
Christian Church In ecclesiology, the Christian Church is what different Christian denominations conceive of as being the true body of Christians or the original institution established by Jesus. "Christian Church" has also been used in academia as a synonym for ...
( Disciples of Christ) * Presbyterian Church (USA) *
Reformed Church of America The Reformed Church in America (RCA) is a mainline Reformed Protestant denomination in Canada and the United States. It has about 152,317 members. From its beginning in 1628 until 1819, it was the North American branch of the Dutch Reformed ...
*
United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelical ...
* United Church of Christ * United Church of Canada


Asia and Australia

*
Presbyterian Church of Korea Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) was a Protestant denomination based in South Korea; it is currently separated into many branches. History The first Korean Presbyterian church was founded by Seo Sang-ryun in Hwanghae province in 1884. Sho ...
* Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea *
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT; ; ) is the largest Protestant Christian denomination based in Taiwan. The PCT is a member of the World Council of Churches, and its flag features a "Burning Bush," which signifies the concept of burning y ...
* Uniting Church in Australia *
United Church of Christ in Japan The United Church of Christ in Japan (UCCJ; ja, 日本基督教団 ''Nihon Kirisuto Kyōdan'', or ''Kyōdan'' for short) is the largest Protestant denomination in Japan. It is a union of thirty-three diverse Protestant denominations forcibly mer ...


Europe

* Evangelical Church in Rhineland * United Evangelical Mission * Equmeniakyrkan Sverige (Uniting Church in Sweden)


Prominent members

* Fidel V. Ramos, former Philippine president ''(Philippine Methodist)'' *
Jovito Salonga Jovito "Jovy" Reyes Salonga, KGCR (; June 22, 1920 – March 10, 2016) was a Filipino politician and lawyer, as well as a leading opposition leader during the regime of Ferdinand Marcos from the declaration of martial law in 1972 until the ...
, former President of the Senate of the Philippines. ''(Presbyterian)'' * Sonny Belmonte, Speaker of the House of Representatives, former Mayor of Quezon City ''(Philippine Methodist)'' *
Betty Go-Belmonte Billie Mary "Betty" Chua Go-Belmonte (; December 31, 1933 – January 28, 1994) was a Filipina journalist and newspaper publisher. She established the STAR Group of Publications which publishes the national newspaper, ''The Philippine Star'' and ...
, founder of the
Philippine Star ''The Philippine Star'' (self-styled ''The Philippine STAR'') is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines and the flagship brand of the Philstar Media Group. First published on July 28, 1986, by veteran journalists Betty Go-Belmonte, M ...
newspaper ''(Philippine Methodist)'' * Rufino Macagba Sr., founder of Lorma Medical Center ''(Evangelical United Brethren)'' * Crispina Lorenzana - Macagba, co-founder of Lorma Medical Center ''(Evangelical United Brethren)'' *
Leticia Ramos-Shahani Leticia Valdez Ramos-Shahani (September 30, 1929 – March 20, 2017) was a Filipina senator, diplomat, and writer. She was the younger sister of Fidel V. Ramos, the 12th president of the Philippines. Early life She was born on September 30 ...
, first female President Pro Tempore in the history of the Philippine Senate *
Narciso Ramos Narciso Rueca Ramos (; November 11, 1900 – February 3, 1986) was a Filipino journalist, lawyer, assemblyman and ambassador. He was the father of former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos and Philippine Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani. Early l ...
, former secretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs ''(Philippine Methodist)'' *
Camilo Osías Camilo Olaviano Osías, Sr. (born Camilo Osías y Olaviano; March 23, 1889 – May 20, 1976) was a Filipino politician, twice for a short time President of the Senate of the Philippines. Along with a certain American named Mary A. Lane, Osías ...
, former President of the Senate of the Philippines. ''(Evangelical United Brethren)'' *
Neptali Gonzales Neptali Alvaro Gonzales (June 10, 1923 – September 16, 2001), better known as Neptali Gonzales, Sr., was the President of the Philippine Senate from 1992 to 1993, 1995 to 1996, and 1998. Early life and career Neptali Alvaro Gonzales was b ...
, former Philippine senator *
Juan Flavier Juan Martin Flavier (; June 23, 1935 – October 30, 2014) was a Filipino physician and politician. He served as the Secretary of Health under President Fidel V. Ramos from 1992 to 1995, and was later elected to the Senate, serving from 1995 to ...
, former Philippine senator * Cynthia A. Villar, former representative of the Lone District of
Las Piñas Las Piñas, officially the City of Las Piñas ( fil, Lungsod ng Las Piñas), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2 ...
and now Philippine Senator * Orly Mercado, former Philippine senator and former RPN 9 President and general manager (now hosting "Orly Mercado: All Ready" at Radyo5 92.3 News FM)Bob Tabada
"Libanan’s racket"
. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
*
Amelita Ramos Amelita "Ming" Jara Martinez-Ramos (born December 29, 1926) is a former First Lady of the Philippines. She is the widow of Fidel V. Ramos. Early life Ramos was born Amelita Jara Martinez to Rufino Martinez and Josefa Jara Martinez, both from ...
, former Philippine first lady ''(Philippine Methodist)'' * William Padolina, President of National Academy of Science and Technology, former Secretary of Department of Science and Technology, * Ricardo Gloria, former Secretary of Department of Education, former Secretary of Department of Science and Technology * Benito Vergara, a national scientist * Teodoro Rafael Yangco, father of the
YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams in London, originally ...
of the Philippines * Angel C. Alcala, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Public Service and former Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources *
Perfecto Yasay Jr. Perfecto Rivas Yasay Jr. (January 27, 1947June 12, 2020) was a Philippine government official who served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines under the Duterte administration in an ''ad interim'' basis from June 30, 2016, until ...
, former Secretary of
Foreign Affairs ''Foreign Affairs'' is an American magazine of international relations and U.S. foreign policy published by the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy a ...
and former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission * Leonor M. Briones, Secretary of Education and former National Treasurer of the Republic of the Philippines


Prominent former members

*
Felix Manalo Felix Manalo Ysagun (born Félix Ysagun y Manalo; May 10, 1886 – April 12, 1963), also known as Ka Felix, was the founder and the first Executive Minister of Iglesia ni Cristo. Followers see Manalo as a prophet and the last messenger of G ...
, pastor and evangelist of the Disciples of Christ. Subsequently, left and became the first Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ).


See also

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Protestantism in the Philippines Protestant denominations arrived in the Philippines in 1898, after the United States took control of the Philippines from Spain, first with United States Army chaplains and then within months civilian missionaries. Protestants makes up nea ...
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National Council of Churches in the Philippines The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP; tl, Sangguniáng Pambansâ ng mga Simbahan sa Pilipinas) is a fellowship of ten Protestant and non Roman Catholic Churches in the Philippines denominations, and ten service-oriented orga ...


Notes


References


External links


Official Website of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines
{{DEFAULTSORT:United Church Of Christ In The Philippines Christian denominations in the Philippines United and uniting churches Members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches Members of the World Council of Churches Reformed denominations in the Philippines Presbyterian denominations established in the 20th century Methodist denominations established in the 20th century Congregationalist denominations Christian organizations established in 1948 Evangelical denominations in Asia 1948 establishments in the Philippines