The UTS ALUMNI Newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 12, May 2005 Issue

THE UTS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Volume 2, Number 12
May 2005
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NAFAUM SHOWERS U.T.S. GRADUATES WITH BOOKS OF WORSHIP
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The officers and members of the National Association of Filipino-American United Methodists (NAFAUM) based in the United States of America were gracious with their blessings shared with the 2005 graduates. Each residential graduating student received a copy of the 2004 Book of Worship of The United Methodist Church. It was so kind of them to send the books, courtesy of Bishop Solito K. Toquero who delivered the books to the office of the academic dean a day before graduation day. During the 2005 Commencement Exercises on April 1 held at the Grace Open Chapel the graduates were handed their respective copies together with their diplomas and academic hoods.
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The association reportedly held their 9th Biennial Convocation last July 23-26, 2003 at the Community United Methodist Church, Roselle Park, New Jersey. Convocation theme was “Rejoice in the Spirit. Engaging the Unfinished Dream.” The convocation logo was “conceived and sketched” by Rolando Ramos (then in the Philippines) and was “retouched” by Arnon Clemente, son of Rev. Herminio Clemente (alumnus and former faculty member of UTS). The host resident bishop was Bishop Alfred Johnson of the New Jersey Area. The host district superintendent was The Rev. Dr. Lloyd Preston Terrel of the Gateway North District, Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. The Rev. Hemesias P. Ares, an alumnus of UTS played host pastor. The NAFAUM president was the Rev. Estanislao J. Cueto based at Geneva Avenue, San Francisco California. Estan graduated With Highest Honors in the Bachelor of Divinity program from UTS, Philippines. He had taught at UTS before he and his family moved to America. “Speakers and Presenters” included the following: Kim Vidal, Elizabeth Tapia, Leny Mendoza Strobel, Aurora Soriano Cudal, Liberato C. Bautista, Benoni Silva-Netto, Jun and Roela Rivera, and Flor Alcantara-Medel. Scheduled workshops and presentations were the following: “The Global and the Local: Church and Society in a Globalizing World,” “Change, Age, Retirement, Sexuality, Spirituality,” Moon Under Her Feet: Women and the Apocalypse,” “Immigration Ministry: Assisting the Community of Faith,” and “Mabuhay, Philippines: A Multi-Media Presentation.” A capsule history of NAFAUM was written by Dr. Vivencio L. Vinluan, a retired member of the California-Pacific Annual Conference. Dr. Vinluan is also an alumnus of UTS.
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NAFAUM Board Members: Class A–2001: Armando Arellano, Felicisimo Cao, Estanislao Cueto, Ofelia Macapugay, Neil Platon, Merlyn Salapong; Class B–2003: Nelson Castorillo, Tony Doles, Jonathan Melegrito, Erica Jill Ocampo, Rolando Ramos, Liwliwa Robledo; Class C–2005: Kenneth Bauzon, Aquilino Javier, Jr., Allan Ocampo, Abel Nebalasca, Liza Gay Santiago, Leo Tipay, Jr.; Ex-officio members: Vivencio L. Vinluan, Laddie Galang, and Jurisdictional Caucus presidents. NAFAUM Officers, 2001-2003: Estanislao Cueto, president; Aquilino Javier, Jr., vice president; Nelson Castorillo, secretary; Erica Jill Ocampo, assistant secretary, Ofelia Macapugay, treasurer.
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To our “Kababayans” in the USA, maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyo! Wherever you are we know you are carrying the Flame and the Cross. At the back of our minds we hope you remember our seminary, faculty and students of the UTS, your fellow workers from Aparri to Zulu in your prayers. We remember you all with fond memories. It was not long ago when you were around at UTS. Shalom.
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Straight from the Heart. . .
By Rev. Anacleto G. Guerrero
UTSAA Coordinator/ Editor
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I don’t want to sound emotional as I write this last piece of this regular column for the UTS Alumni Newsletter. I want to remember and cherish twenty-four months of coordinating, willingly and silently at all times, the affairs of the UTS alumni. Put-ting events into print, preparing manuscripts, editing the materials, and spreading the sheets into its final form came naturally with backbreaking end-of-the-month self-imposed deadlines. Twenty-four regular issues of the newsletter were sent to most of the living alumni—via e-mail and surface mails---particularly those who have attained “high position, power and authority in our churches.” It was fun; it was challenging; it was a good venue for expressing what were seen, experienced and whatever came to mind. The feelings of accomplishment and fulfillment generates into the system --- both memorable and painful.
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T. S. Eliot, a British-American poet and critic said, "The end is where we start from." How true. Inevitably I am ending my term as full-time faculty of the seminary--classroom teaching, coordinating the alumni affairs, as registrar and other necessary work. I count all of these as blessings and grace from the Lord. It was also a very rare opportunity to handle Sunday worship services and serve as administrative pastor for a year at the PCU-UTS University Church (June 2003-May 2004). It was an added responsibility but it brought out unmeasured and unqualified exposure to an academic community. You can be sure it was different from the ordinary local church atmostphere. A published book of sermons, “Reflections” was one of the fruits.
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On June 1 another setting is waiting for my immediate concerns, not the usual home-to-school and office walk, home-to-different church(es) trips, researching and surfing for classroom struggles, reading reaction and term papers, correcting drafts of projects and thesis proposals, sitting as reader and panel member during students’ oral defense (in the seminary and in the university), attending regular and special faculty and committee meetings, struggling with students during consultations and community concern, listening to family and academic problems of married couples and single persons, sharing and fellowshiping during planning and spiritual retreats, etc., etc., ad infinitum. This time, I will be back to the usual ministerial and pastoral work, in the local congregation, in the district conference, in the annual conference, and probably in the national level. Whatever the Lord has in store for me and my family, I pray that I can declare with Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Amen. [For those who would like to contact me: revagg@aya.yale.edu and/or revagg@hotmail.com.]
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UTS FACULTY PLANNING RETREAT
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Notice of a Faculty Planning Retreat was circulated May 19 by Rev. Dr. Homer Wesley O. Refuerzo, UTS Academic Dean to be held on May 26-27, 2005 at the Asian Missionary Institute in Silang, Cavite. Revisiting the “Critical Asian Principle” mentioned by the ATESEA will be part of the activities. A review of policies and formulation of recommendations for the coming school year will be done. Final schedule of courses, classes, professors, time and rooms will be known a couple of days before the start of the trimestral term. Some seminary profess-sors could not attend this due to their summer commitments abroad or to some places in the Philippines. May is conference time for some annual conferences or jurisdictional areas.
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VCS AT PCCL-UC
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Sessions for the Vacation Church School at PCCL University Church were held at the Salakot Chapel. It was intended primarily for children of student-pastors who are either on summer exposures or attending their respective annual conferences. This annual pro-gram of the church on campus gives pastors’ kids one rare opportunity to be closer to each other.
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SUMMER CAMPERS AT U.T.S.
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Two youth summer camps were held at the UTS grounds this summer break; one from the Philippine Assemblies of God, Inc., and another from Good Samaritan United Methodist Church in Quezon City.
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M.S.A.
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The Ministers’ Spouses Association (M.S.A.) of the Union Theological Semi-nary who are mostly living at Barangay McLennan (McLennan Cottages) tendered a fellowship gathering on Friday the 13th (May) as an expression of love and gratitude to two families who are leaving the seminary in June. They are the spouses of student-pastors who are finishing their theological studies at UTS. It was held at the Women’s Dormitory lounge at 7:30 o’clock in the evening. Mrs. Nellie F. Apilado and Rev. & Mrs. Anacleto G. Guerrero were there to enjoy the company of the members of the M.S.A. It was actually a despedida for the Apilados and the Guerreros. The “honorees” expressed their most sincere appreciation to the happy group.
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PCCL UNIVERSITY CHURCH NEEDS NEW SET OF CHURCH WORKERS
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PCCL University Church through the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee chaired by Rev. George Buenaventura and the Church Council chair, Mrs. Malou Penaflor, announced the need for church workers to serve at the Salakot Chapel for the conference year---June 2005 to May 2006. The officers of the church mentioned the need for one administrative pastor, one youth pastor to serve as Christian Education Director, and one pianist to serve as Choir Director.
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For the last conference year (June 2004-May 2005) two Master of Divinity middlers (Allen Munda, UCCP, and Ronnie Inis, UMC) served as pastors-in-charge. They mount the pulpit alternately during the month, except when there are special occasions or invited preachers. The CE Director was Ms. Evangeline Prado (UMC), Master of Divinity middler.
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Deadline of submission of application is May 29, 2005, last Sunday of the Conference Year. It was not stated, however, that applicants are limited to seminary students.
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REV. SUMINISTRADO NEW UTS REGISTRAR
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The Rev. Noel Suministrado from Lucena City (Quezon), a UCCP pastor, was appointed to be the UTS Registrar starting June 2005. He will replace Rev. Guerrero who retires (at age 65 years in August) from his seminary responsibilities on May 31, 2005. Pastor Noel brings with him a wealth of pastoral work and a year of part-time teaching at the seminary. Rev. Guerrero, on the other hand, returns to active pastoral work in Quezon City. His conference appointment is Fairview Park United Methodist Church and will serve as the administrative pastor of the congregation.
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