Our Historical Heritage
Protestantism in the Philippines traces its beginnings to the missionary movement established at the turn of the century. The Philippines became a new frontier for mission when mission boards of various Protestant denominations in the United States of America sent missionaries to the Philippines. After the signing of a Comity Agreement, which established specific geographical divisions, the mission boards pursued their evangelization and expansion programs through religious and secular education and evangelistic campaigns.
At the outset, the UCCP was the product of the union initiated and organized by the United Evangelical Church, the Evangelical Church of the Philippine, and the Evangelical Union.
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines was organized through the conveying efforts from five churches with different traditions and heritages: the Presbyterian Church, the Congregational Church, the United Brethren Church, the Philippine Methodist Church and the Church of Christ (Discples).
In May 1948, delegates coming from the Evangelical Church of the Philippines except the Tagalog Convention of the Church of Christ (Disciples), the Philippine Methodist Church and United Evangelical Church signed a declaration of union proclaiming the new church now known as the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP Bible:1985:4). This union structurally provided the UCCP mandates by the General Assembly.
The General Assembly, which is the highest policy-making body adopted the book of government, book of common worship, calls for Constitutional Convention and proclaimed the approval of the UCCP Constitution and By-Laws in 1960.
Meanwhile, a new organizational setup for the General Secretary was approved providing for the transformation of the commissions to divisions for the implementation of church ministries and programs.
The Second Constitutional Convention was held at Ellinwood-Malate Church to revise and amend the UCCP Constitution in 1972. From this, the General Assembly abolished the national divisions and placed the operational structure into programs in the office of the jurisdictions. After it was ratified during the conference annual sessions, the Cebu City General Assembly proclaimed the effectively of UCCP Constitution & By-Laws providing for the holding of a Quadrennial General Assembly. Among the highlights decisions made were:
* Declaring of a moratorium in receiving foreign missionaries;
* Self-reliance stand of the United Church;
* Approval a Statement of Concern on deteriorating Socio-Economic and political situation in the country resulting from the declaration of Martial Law; and
* Launching of Insurance and Retirement Program.
In 1993, a new Constitution was approved asserting the significant of preamble-prayer, the role of women and youth, the importance of human being and the integrity of creation, peaceful settlement of conflict, re-alignment of Conferences-based on geographical proximity, the position and qualifications of the bishop of the Church, and the creation of the commission on church union and unity. This Constitution provides for the government of the Church to define the Church structure, and to understand the rich heritage of faith, which came from our ‘founding parents.’ (Aoanan:1998:130)
In 50th year of UCCP, the Church affirms its roots and clarifies its vision in order to ensure the dream of our forebears. After self-examination, the Church consequently came up with a draft of its vision, mission, goals and program thrust and stresses and translates these into operational plans, organizes its life-work, changes management process, and defines the roles of the various ministries of the Church from organizational function towards being independent bodies.
