Supreme Bishop
The Supreme Bishop (Spanish: Obispo Máximo), abbreviated O.M., is the leader or primate of the autocephalous Independent Catholic denomination Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church) or IFI, known informally as the "Aglipayan Church".
Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church | |||||||||||||
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Aglipayan | |||||||||||||
![]() Rhee Timbang, Obispo Máximo XIII in 2019 | |||||||||||||
![]() Coat of arms | |||||||||||||
Incumbent: Rhee Timbang y Millena since May 10, 2017
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Location | |||||||||||||
Country | ![]() | ||||||||||||
Headquarters | Obispado Máximo #1500 Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila | ||||||||||||
Information | |||||||||||||
First holder | Gregorio L. Aglípay | ||||||||||||
Denomination | Philippine Independent Church | ||||||||||||
Established | September 6, 1902 | ||||||||||||
Diocese | General | ||||||||||||
Cathedral | Iglesia Filipina Independiente National Cathedral of the Holy Child | ||||||||||||
Governance | Autocephalous | ||||||||||||
Bishops emeritus | Godofredo J. David Ephraim S. Fajutagana | ||||||||||||
Website | |||||||||||||
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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. He is the thirteenth in a line of succession from Gregorio Aglipay, the first Obispo Máximo.[1]
The supreme bishop's office is at the Obispado Máximo, National Cathedral of the Holy Child, located in Taft Avenue, Manila.
List of supreme bishops
No. | Supreme bishop | Period | Notes |
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1 | Gregorio Aglípay y Labáyan (1860–1940) |
6 September 1902 – 1 September 1940 (37 years, 361 days) |
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2 | Santiago Antonio Fonacier y Suguítan (1885–1977) |
14 October 1940 – 21 January 1946 (5 years, 99 days) |
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3 | Gerardo Bayaca y Medina (1893–1975) |
22 January 1946 – 1 September 1946 (222 days) |
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4 | Isabelo Valentin de los Reyes, Jr. y López (1900–1971) |
1 September 1946 – 10 October 1971 (25 years, 39 days) |
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5 | Macario Ga y Vilches (1913–2002) |
3 November 1971 – 10 May 1981 (9 years, 188 days) |
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6 | Abdias de la Cruz y Rebantád (1931–2019) |
10 May 1981 – 10 May 1987 (6 years, 0 days) |
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7 | Solimán Ganno y Florés (1931–1989) |
10 May 1987 – 26 May 1989 (2 years, 16 days) |
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8 | Tito Pasco y Esquillo (1930–2007) |
22 June 1989 – 10 May 1993 (3 years, 322 days) |
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9 | Alberto Ramento y Baldovino (1936–2006) |
10 May 1993 – 10 May 1999 (6 years, 0 days) |
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10 | Tomás Millamena y Amabran (1947–2014) |
10 May 1999 – 10 May 2005 (6 years, 0 days) |
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11 | Godofredo David y Juico (1956–) |
10 May 2005 – 10 May 2011 (6 years, 0 days) |
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12 | Ephraim Fajutagana y Servañez (1951–) |
10 May 2011 – 10 May 2017 (6 years, 0 days) |
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13 | Rhee Timbang y Millena (1961–) |
10 May 2017 – 10 May 2023 (6 years, 0 days) |
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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 during the General Assembly every six years by the delegates of every diocese, 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.[8]
References
- "Obispo Maximo". Philippine Independent Church. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- 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.
- De Achutegui, Pedro S. "Bishop Isabelo De Los Reyes, Jr.: An Ecumenical Tribute (1971)". Philippine Studies. Ateneo de Manila University. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
- "History - Iglesia Filipina Independiente". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- "IFI, ICFI bring war to court". The Philippine Star. December 1, 2000. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- "Feast of Alberto Ramento (October 3)" (PDF). Katholisches Bistum der Alt-Katholiken in Deutschland. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- https://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/feast-of-alberto-ramento-october-3/
- "Philippine Independent Church". Oikoumene.org. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2011.