Supreme Bishop

The Supreme Bishop (Spanish: Obispo Máximo), abbreviated O.M., is the leader or primate of the Independent Catholic denomination Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church) or IFI, known informally as the "Aglipayan Church".

Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church
Aglipayan
Rhee Timbang, Obispo Máximo XIII in 2019
Coat of arms
Incumbent:
Rhee Timbang y Millena, D.D.
since May 10, 2017
Obispo Máximo ng
Iglesia Filipina Independiente
StyleHis Eminence
AbbreviationO.M.
SeatManila, Philippines
Term length6 years
Non-renewable (since 1981)
SuccessionElection
Location
Country Philippines
HeadquartersObispado Máximo
#1500 Taft Avenue,
Ermita, Manila
Information
First holderGregorio L. Aglípay
DenominationPhilippine Independent Church
EstablishedSeptember 6, 1902 (1902-09-06)
CathedralIglesia Filipina Independiente National Cathedral of the Holy Child
Bishops emeritusGodofredo J. David
Ephraim S. Fajutagana
Website
www.ifi.org.ph

The Supreme Bishop is elected by the General Assembly of the Church and heads the Executive Commission, which is the highest policy-making body in the absence of the General Assembly.

Rhee Timbang was elected Obispo Máximo on May 9, 2017 by unanimous vote of delegates during their 13th Triennial General Assembly and officially proclaimed the next day, after serving as the Bishop of Surigao. The Supreme Bishop's office is at the Obispado Máximo, National Cathedral of the Holy Child, located in Taft Avenue, Manila. He is the thirteenth in a line of succession from Gregorio Aglipay, the first Obispo Máximo.[1]

List of Supreme Bishops
No. Supreme Bishop Period Notes
1 Gregorio Aglípay y Labáyan, D.D.†
(1860–1940)		 6 September 1902 – 1 September 1940
(37 years, 361 days)
  • From Batac, Ilocos Norte.
  • Former Roman Catholic priest
  • Longest-reigning Obispo Máximo, co-founder of the IFI, and candidate for the 1935 presidential elections.
  • Died in office.
  • Remains interred at the Aglipay National Shrine in Ilocos Norte.
2 Santiago Antonio Fonacier y Suguítan†
(1885–1977)		 14 October 1940 – 21 January 1946
(5 years, 99 days)
  • From Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
  • Studied at the Seminario Central de Mabini (predecessor of present-day Aglipay Central Theological Seminary) established in 1902 and was ordained priest in 1903.[2]
  • Served as senator from 1919 to 1925.
  • Seceded from the IFI and formed the Independent Church of Filipino Christians.
3 Gerardo Bayaca y Medina†
(1893–1975)		 22 January 1946 – 1 September 1946
(222 days)
  • From Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
  • Former Roman Catholic priest who joined the IFI in 1933.
  • Served as transitory Obispo Máximo.
4 Isabelo Valentin de los Reyes, Jr. y López, Ph.D., S.Th.D., D.D.†
(1900–1971)		 1 September 1946 – 10 October 1971
(25 years, 39 days)
5 Macario Ga y Vilches, D.D.†
(1913–2002)		 3 November 1971 – 10 May 1981
(9 years, 188 days)
  • From Buenavista, Guimaras.
  • Seceded from the IFI and formed the Iglesia Catolica Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Catholic Church, currently known as the International Conference of Philippine Independent Catholic Churches of Jesus Christ).[4]
  • Later reconciled with the IFI before the end of term of Alberto Ramento, the ninth Supreme Bishop.[5]
6 Abdias de la Cruz y Rebantád, D.D.†
(1931–2019)		 10 May 1981 – 10 May 1987
(6 years, 0 days)
7 Solimán Ganno y Florés†
(1931–1989)		 10 May 1987 – 26 May 1989
(2 years, 16 days)
8 Tito Pasco y Esquillo†
(1930–2007)		 22 June 1989 – 10 May 1993
(3 years, 322 days)
  • From Balasan, Iloilo.
  • Served the remainder of Solimán Ganno's unfinished term via special election.
9 Alberto Ramento y Baldovino, D.D.†
(1936–2006)		 10 May 1993 – 10 May 1999
(6 years, 0 days)
10 Tomás Millamena y Amabran, D.D.†
(1947–2014)		 10 May 1999 – 10 May 2005
(6 years, 0 days)
11 Godofredo David y Juico, D.D.
(1956–)		 10 May 2005 – 10 May 2011
(6 years, 0 days)
12 Ephraim Fajutagana y Servañez, D.D.
(1951–)		 10 May 2011 – 10 May 2017
(6 years, 0 days)
13 Rhee Timbang y Millena, D.D. 10 May 2017 – present
(5 years, 279 days)

Election and term of office

The Supreme Bishop is the primate, spiritual head, and chief executive of the Philippine Independent Church. A Supreme Bishop is elected from the bishops of the Church every six years, and cannot be re-elected as per the Church's 1977 Constitution and Canons.[5] He is responsible for the ecclesiastical government of the Church and is the spiritual head of almost 6 million Aglipayans throughout the Philippines and some dioceses in the United States and Canada.[6]

See also

References
  1. "Obispo Maximo". Philippine Independent Church. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  2. Revollido, Eleuterio J. (August 1, 2002). "The Nationalist and Ecumenical Expressions in the Ministry of the Nine Bishops (1902-2002)". Scribd. Part of the Dissertation of the Very Rev. Eleuterio J. Revollido, S.Th.D. (International Church Leaders Solidarity Summit). Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  3. De Achutegui, Pedro S. "Bishop Isabelo De Los Reyes, Jr.: An Ecumenical Tribute (1971)". Philippine Studies. Ateneo de Manila University. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
  4. "History - Iglesia Filipina Independiente". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  5. "IFI, ICFI bring war to court". The Philippine Star. December 1, 2000. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  6. "Philippine Independent Church". Oikoumene.org. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.