BUKIDNON AREA CONFERENCE
of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Ecclesiastical Updates
July to November 2008

CROSS WITH NO HANDLE

When Jesus said pick up the cross and follow me in Matthew 16:24, he never said that it is a cross of convenience, a cross full of decorative jewelry and exotic artwork. It is a cross that is rugged, known to be as criminal symbol, and foremost it is a cross without handle. Yes, the life-work that we have is never a work of convenience or a work of pleasure and gain. It is a work where life is at stake, family is being left, and self is denied so that others may be known.

The journey is quite rugged and crooked one but it is a journey where we travel not on our own but with Jesus himself who experience our pain and truly understand our life situation. We are never alone, we have each other and we have our faith in Christ that continues to move and define our being as we journey toward Shalom.

OUR CONTEXT

Bukidnon is a fast growing agricultural industry in the Philippines. Aside from Del Monte Company, many international companies are spreading like fungi one of which is the Dole International which widens their banana, pineapple and high value crop vegetable plantation in order to cater the international market. These companies will rent the farm land and convert it to humongous industrialized cropping. This conversion leads not only to displace farm workers but also pulled down the basic food farming. Palm oil and ethanol gas are also spreading like wide fire. In fact it became part of other municipalities in their municipal planning to venture in this business.

Aside from that, Bukidnon is now opening itself to the mining industry that shattered around the municipalities of Impasug-og, Sumilao, Cabanglasan, and San Fernando. Since gold is the prime product, many investors which include the governor of the province and other municipal mayors are flocking and making everything to facilitate the approval of mining. The permit is already approved without consultation from the communities. Tag along with mining is the clearing maneuver which involved the military to infiltrate the community. Thus, led to the militarization of the communities where its area is potential for mining. Dao, Kibungkog and Palacpacan are areas that experienced this maneuvering.

With this development come sacrificial lambs to be killed. Families were divided in terms of land disputes, tribal communities were terrorized with both internal and external threats, young people tend to migrate in order areas in order to survive, children were force to work for the survival of the family, and churches are overwhelm with such problems that led them to a catatonic stage.

OUR LIFE WORK

The Bukidnon Area Conference is conscious of the realities around. Being aware of God’s people sentiment and struggles is being creative in one’s approach in bringing the gospel of Christ Jesus to God’s people. The gospel that brings hopes that there is still a chance to make things done; there is still hope to make change.

Anchored to the UCCP Quadrennial Thrusts, BAC was able to facilitate these following life works;
A. Shared understanding of the faith of the Church.
• Basic Church Membership Course. 10 Churches were able to avail on the basic UCCP Ecclesiastical Course.
• Church Officers Training. 4 Local Councils were able to avail in this program.
• UCCP Management System Promotion
• Conference Organizational Consultation
• Community Ministries. Send 6 delegates to the NWMJ Community Ministries Consultation.
• CPE Convention. Send delegate to the 2nd CPE Convention.
B. Strengthened internal human resources particularly the church workers and the enablers that would ensure responsible and effective church leadership for generations to come.
• Lay Formation Program (3 Levels)
• Continuing Theological Education (Purpose Driven Church, EQUIP-Leadership Seminar, Child Trafficking Orientation, FEET-Focusing Evangelism Effectively Today)
• Church Workers Consultation and Meetings (NWMJ-UCWO, NWMJ MSA Quarterly Meetings)
• Human Resource Development
• Ministerial Development (Apprenticeship and Ministerial formation Program)
C. Deepening of the Church's understanding of the state, needs and sentiments of members and of local churches and through an information-based analysis of needs and planning process.
• Ecclesiastical Consultation. Conduct a visitation to all churches of BAC and made a consultation of the ecclesiastical situation.
D. Vibrant and contextualized worship life of congregations, stronger fellowship and warm caring system in our faith communities.
• Liturgical Music Seminar
• Liturgical Renewal
• Ecclesiastical Visitation
• Circuits Fellowship ( 7circuits)
• Community Integration (Public Worship, Religious Education in Public & Private Schools
E. Steadfast prophetic witness of the Church in the communities amidst the wounds afflicting the society.
• Bangsanmoro Juridical Entity-MOAD Consultation. Conducted consultation of the BJE-MOA AD
• Dialogue Consultation Concerning Militarization in Dao, Palacpacan and Kibungkog (Gov. Zubiri, Lt. Dulawan and the Tribal Leaders)
• Dialogue Consultation on the Issue of Minor Recruitment for anti-Insurgency
• Dialogue on the issue of Mining
• Sheltered gave assistance to the 3 families who were victims of militarization (Ewanda, Toto & Areon Family)
• Rice Distribution to the affected area of Militarization (Dao & Kibungkog)
• UCCP Community Ministries. Consultation, Capability Building and Livelihood Program
F. Stronger inter-faith, ecumenical and international relationship and meaningful expression of partnership.
• UCCP BAC Lingap Pangkabataan partnership Projects..
1. Capability Building. Training the leaders to train grass-root community leaders
2. Shelter for the Victims. Provide a place to shelter the victims of CT and able to give basic services to them.
3. Family Life. Provide education for parents concerning parental care and basic life-skill program.
4. Advocacy. Education through multi-media promotion, ecumenical involvement, and inter-sectoral and inter-agency involvement
5. Rescue. Monitor, establish linkages, and coordinate rescue operation for the victims.
6. Legal Assistance Program. Link agencies and organizations that offer legal assistance and services to the victims.
7. Tribal Leaders Development Program. Organize and empower tribal leaders to become co-partners of working against CT.
8. Alternative Learning System Program. Provide access on education for potential victims and victims of CT.
9. Management Meeting (Planning, Implementing, Monitoring and Evaluation). Conduct monthly meeting that will monitor and evaluate the implementation of the program.
10. Life-skills Development. Provide venue of self-awareness and personal development growth.
11. Livelihood Projects. Develop skills to uplift one’s economic condition
12. Educational Drive. The activity engages in equipping and nurturing the leaders and members of the communities. Collective involvement is the aim of this activity
• UCCP BAC –PROK
1. Scholarship Program. There are 30 High School Students, 14 elementary students and 2 college students.
2. Life Farming Project. Trained 8 Lay Workers to enhance their skill in sustainable farming.
3. Livelihood Project. Corn Farming and Livestock Dispersal
• UCCP BAC Holmdel Community UCC-
1. Salary Support for UCCP Kibungkog and Nabangunan
2. Reiki Program
3. Livestock Dispersal
4. Farm Assistance Program
5. Prayer Group
6. Worship and Liturgical Celebration
7. Tribal Community Support (Militarization)
• UCCP BAC –IRC
1. Youth Retreat
2. Children’s Camp
3. Project Jubilee
4. Women’s Program
• UCCP BAC- NSO-BUASO
1. Seminar and Workshop
2. Fellowship
• UCCP BAC Alagad Mindanao
1. Seminar Workshop for AID/HIV Service Provider
2. Monitoring
G. Faithful and fruitful practice of the stewardship of our God-given resources and improved capacity of the Church to support its mission and ministries
• Stewardship Educational Campaign. 90% of the Church Workers attended the consultation and committed to rise their giving.
• BAC Development Project
• Project Proposal Making
OUR REALIZATION

“For I know the pans I have for you, declares the Lord... plans to give you hope and a future… You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:11, 13

We truly believe that God’s plan for God’s people in Bukidnon has hope and has a future. Though opposite to its reality today, but we need to work harder and expand our works but letting others know and partake also the work.

In our sharing with the concern with the Kibunkog’s case, many prayed and were able to know the situation here in the Philippines. Sharon from Canada able to share that back then, she was just concerned of herself and do not know what happen around her. But when Debbie Shield shared the problem, she was awaken and able to prayer for the communities who were victims of militarization.

Our work is multi-level, we have to give our ministerial presence to God’s people right there and now and also able to let others know about the situation, our journey. For living in the household of God, our journey is everybody’s journey.

Rev. Mike Oram from UK also shared to me, that the work of ours is not only confounded with the oppressed but also to the oppressors. Our greatest challenge is to make the oppressor be the servant of all and this could be happened through God’s love- this is what we call loving our enemy.


OUR LIFE

Truly, the important thing is not to think much how we can implement the projects and how much we are align with quadrennial thrusts but of how much we love as Christ himself commanded us to do and doing that which best stirs us to love.

May we join together in our journey towards shalom. Padayon sa pag-asdang for we know we are with Jesus whom we can all trust.

Trust Me

Trust Me when dark doubts assaults you,
Trust Me when your strength is small, Trust Me when to simple trust Me
Seems the hardest thing of all

Trust Me, I am ever faithful; Trust Me for My will is best,
Trust Me, for My Heart of Mercy is the only place to rest.

Trust Me, then, through doubts and sunshine; All your cares upon Me cast,
Till the storm of life is over and your trusting days are past.