GLOBAL NEWS PHILIPPINES RE-ELECTS ACDAL, ESTRELLA, PAINIT
CONFERENCE NEWS
Celebrating
of MISSION AT THE HEART OF ILLINOIS’ 200 YEARS OF METHODISM
Years
Bishop Ruby-Nell M. Estrella
BY GLADYS P. MANGIDUYOS CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (UM News) – 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. Bishop Rodel M. Acdal Acdal said he had “mixed emotions 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. 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
CENTRAL CONFERENCES TO ELECTING BISHOPS The United Methodist Church has seven central conferences, church regions in the Philippines, Africa and Europe that elect bishops. They will meet as follows: • Philippines Central Conference: Nov. 18-22. Bishops Rodel Acdal, Ruby-Nell Estrella and Israel Painit were re-elected. • West Africa Central Conference: Dec. 5-8. Newly elected bishops were Rev. Ande Ikimun Emmanuel of Nigeria and James Boye-Caulker of Sierra Leone • Germany Central Conference: Feb. 12-16, 2025. One election. • Africa Central Conference: March 13-17, 2025. Four elections. The central conference also will take the final steps to becoming two central conferences — East Africa and Southern Africa. • Central and Southern Europe Central Conference: March 13-16. No elections. • Congo Central Conference: March 29-April 3. Three elections. • Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference: April 2-6, 2025. One election. The Eurasia Episcopal Area, encompassing churches in Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, will complete the journey to become an autonomous Methodist denomination. Unlike their U.S. counterparts who are elected “for life” — meaning they are guaranteed an assignment until they reach mandatory retirement age — central conference bishops are elected for a specific term that varies by central conference.
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.” Bishop Israel Painit 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.”
Methodist Medical Center Methodist Medical Center in Peoria was born from the dream and determination of a young deaconess in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Seeing a need in the community for greater access to healthcare, Minna Riggs worked to raise money and support and with the help of deaconesses Lucy Hall
BY PAUL BLACK No story of Illinois Methodism is complete without the missions to which our forebearers invested that keep reaping dividends today. While these names may not be well known to us, their contribution to our story has been the richer for it. Chaddock In 1853, a co-educational, German and English College began in Quincy when German immigrants located there. The college continued until 1875 in its original location and then moved to the John Wood mansion when it opened in 1876 and was renamed Chaddock College after benefactor Charles Chaddock of Astoria who gave donations to the school so that it could weather financial difficulties. During the early 1880’s, Chaddock College’s areas of instruction included a College of Medicine, an off-campus School of Business and a theological department, Garrett Bible Instruction. While the college closed in June 1899 after trustees became convinced
and Ida Mae Phillips, the Deaconess Home, Hospital and Nursing School opened at 221 NE Glen Oak Avenue in May 1900. The first administrator was the minister of the local Methodist Church. Trustees were Methodist clergy and church members. It was incredibly successful, and in 1917, a new building opened, and the Deaconess Home changed its name to the Methodist Hospital of Central Illinois. The new hospital contained “every known convenience of the modern hospital,” according to The History of Peoria County . In 1953, Methodist completed a major expansion with the dedication of its Glen Oak Wing, which the local paper called a “modern medical wonderland.” The new wing amazed the community with “luxury” features like air conditioning and gleaming tile walls. Methodist thrived over the next several decades, earning a reputation for serving patients with the most advanced medical technologies, like the cineradiograph, or “moving x-ray,” which created short movies of patients performing various actions, such as swallowing. Methodist also acquired the first downstate cobalt unit, providing modern, high-energy radiation therapy. That’s how the hospital functioned for decades: It was owned by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Even in later years after the church decided to hire a professional administrator, the board of trustees had oversight. There were 36 trustees. Half were to be Methodist ministers and half Methodist members. Chairing the board were people like Dr. Ira Galloway, directing minister at First Methodist Church. Others included Merle Yontz and Ellen Derges Foster, both First Church members. With the arrival of the late Jim Knoble as CEO and President, by-laws of the trustee board started to gradually change and soon the Methodist Church’s control and ownership ended. In 1970, Methodist announced a new program to develop family medicine specialists, and in 1971, it signed an agreement with the University of Illinois’ Peoria School of Medicine and other local hospitals to create a new school of medicine, now known as the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. In 2011, Methodist affiliated with what was then called the Iowa Health System. In 2013, it became UnityPoint Health – Methodist. In November of 2013, Methodist and Proctor joined forces, becoming UnityPoint Health – Methodist | Proctor. In 2022, Methodist, Proctor, and Pekin
“that it was impractical to operate it as a college and being embarrassed with a $20,000 debt, determined to turn the institution into a boy’s school” (1899 Illinois Conference Journal, 66). Miss Hicks, a deaconess from Chicago, opened Chaddock Boy’s Home Sept. 1, 1900, with 18 students enrolled. That number ballooned to 125 after Rev. Dr. W.T. Beadles, presiding elder over the Quincy District and president of the Chaddock College Board of Trustees and Miss Eleanor Tobie, established the organizational and financial structure of the boy’s school. In 1954, Chaddock became licensed to do foster
ELEANOR TOBIE
home placements for boys. The program has expanded over the past 70 years and now serves more than 150 children in a six-county radius. The growth required the program to move to the former Rapp Clinic in 2012. A new educational building broke ground on April 28, 1957, which contained classrooms to accommodate up to 50 students. Residential cottages for boys and house parents were built in 1968 and 1970. In 1983, Chaddock expanded to accept girls, at which time, its name was changed to Chaddock, reflecting the broader mission of serving both boys and girls. In 1997, staff began noticing that students which has experienced severe neglect and abuse did not respond to traditional forms of treatment. In 2002, Chaddock launched the Developmental Trauma and Attachment Program. Today, Chaddock is a leader in supporting children and their families struggling with issues related to attachment and developmental trauma. Its Developmental Trauma and Attachment Program® brings hope and healing to children and youth who have experienced severe trauma and struggle with attachment-related difficulties. Sunset Home In 1889, Charles and Augusta Pfeiffer
Emmanuel was elected by the central conference’s 60 total delegates, an equal number of United Methodist clergy and laity from the central conference’s three episcopal areas: Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Soon after the 2024 General Conference, the Côte d’Ivoire Conference, which had been part of the West Africa Central Conference, voted to leave The United Methodist Church and return to being an independent Methodist denomination. In the West Africa Central Conference, like the United States, a bishop is elected for life on his or her first election. Emmanuel was one of the three endorsed candidates of the Nigeria Episcopal Area. He was born into the Christian family of Emmanuel Iki- munbi, and his parents are United Methodists. His father was a lay preacher who started The United Methodist Church (Nukkai) in the family sitting room. “Today this church has grown in membership to be one 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 PHILIPPINES RE-ELECTS BISHOPS CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 WEST AFRICA ELECTS BISHOPS CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
hospitals were transferred by Unity Point Health of West Des Moines, Iowa, to Carle Foundation of Urbana for $75 million. Today, Carle Methodist Medical Center, a 310-bed facility in Peoria, provides universally accessible, high-quality care to improve health in Peoria and surrounding communities throughout central Illinois. The Baby Fold Nancy and Allen Mason were pioneers in Normal moving there just after the Civil War. In May 1902, Nancy Mason – a faithful and generous woman – gave her home to further the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She opened her home to be used by the active and retired Methodist Deaconesses that operated Deaconess Hospital – now Advocate BroMenn Medical Center. The local Deaconess women saw a growing need in the community – care for orphaned and abandoned children. Orphan
West Africa elects Emmanuel, Boye-Caulker as bishops
of Quincy gave the gift of their home at 418 Washington St. to the St. Louis German Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church to open Altenheim (“Old People’s Home”). When the German Methodist Church united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1925 and subsequently with the Methodist Protestant and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in 1939, the Old Peoples’ Home became Methodist Sunset Home in 1940. The west wing was added in 1900, and the east wing was added in 1927. The first infirmary unit was built in 1957, and a therapy gym, linen room, craft room, chapel, beauty parlor and barber shop were added in 1971. They sent a proposal offering to donate their home and its contents to the conference if the membership agreed to continue the residence as a home for the aged. The conference voted to accept the gift and in December of 1889 the home was incorporated.
four years, since the death of Sierra Leone Area Bishop John K. Yambasu in 2020. “The peace that the people of Sierra Leone want, the two of us are going to make sure it happens,” said Boye- Caulker after his election, referring to the Rev. Edwin J.J.
BY EVELINE CHIKWANAH ACCRA, Ghana (UM News) – The Rev. Ande Ikimun Emmanuel and the Rev. James Boye-Chaulker have been elected as bishops in The United Methodist Church’s West Africa Central Conference. Delegates elected Emmanuel, 44, Dec. 7 on the first bal- lot at the central conference’s meeting at Best Western Premier Hotel in Accra. The gathering took place Dec. 5-8. He received 37 votes out of 59 valid ballots cast. He needed 36 votes to be elected. Boye-Caulker, 60, Dec. 7 on the first ballot receiving 43 votes out of 59 valid ballots cast. He needed 36 votes to be elected. He was the second bishop elected at the Dec. 5-8 gathering. Boye-Caulker has been in ministry for 34 years and served as full-time district superintendent of Sierra Le- one’s Western District since 2016. Retired Bishop Warner H. Brown Jr. has been interim bishop of the Sierra Leone Episcopal Area for the past
CHARLES PFEIFFER
Momoh, who also was on the ballot. Bishop Ande Ikimun Emmanuel Emmanuel was the first bishop elected at the meeting, following the resignation of former Nigeria Area Bishop John Wesley Yohanna in July. Emmanuel had served as assistant to the previous bishop until a
falling-out in 2021 over the future of The United Method- ist Church in Nigeria. For several years, Emmanuel has led efforts for the episcopal area to remain part of the denomination. “People of Nigeria, we cannot amend the past, but we can correct the future. I want to say that I take this as a challenge. I promise that I will justify the confidence you have in me,” he said in his post-election address.
AUGUSTA PFEIFFER
Today, life at Sunset Senior Living provides a complete range of living opportunities and services while maintaining the vision the Pfeiffer’s had when they opened their doors...a positive, respectful place for seniors to enjoy meaningful living!
trains dispatched from the east coast brought children to towns all across the U.S. At each stop the children would get off and stand on the platform while
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