IFI HOSTS THIRD CONFERENCE ON CATHOLICITY AND GLOBALIZATION

The Iglesia Filipina Independiente has successfully hosted the third and last round of the Conference on Catholicity and Globalization participated in by the Old Catholic Church in Union of Utrecht, The Episcopal Church, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, and the Church of Sweden as observer.

The four-day conference, from 19-22 August 2008, worked towards strengthening the catholic identity of the concerned Churches in full communion in confronting the realities of globalization. Present at this gathering, subsequently meeting at the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila, were the representatives of The Episcopal Church (USA), namely, Bishop Christopher Epting, Rev. Dr. J. Robert Wright, Rev. Cody Unterseher, and Prof. Marsha Dutton; The Old Catholic Church, namely, Rev. Dr. Franz Segbers and Rev. Dr. Peter-Ben Smith; and The Church of Sweden, namely, Rev. Cristofer Lundgren as observer. The Very Rev. Eleuterio J. Revollido and Rev. Wilfredo L. Ruazol represent the IFI.

The Obispo Maximo, The Most Reverend Godofredo J. David, the General Secretary, the Right Reverend Ephraim S. Fajutagana were also present during the conference. Rev. Dwight de la Torre was invited to speak and to give a situationer on the flight of Filipino migrant workers.

The conference has adopted “The Bishop Ramento Statement: A Eucharistic Vision for a Globalized World”, which gives recognition to the martyrdom of Bishop Alberto Ramento and speaks of the advocacy of Churches for a Christian perspective in the background of a global society. The statement likewise draws attention to the experience of globalization in the Philippines.

The third conference brought to a close the three series of meetings held by the partner Churches on the theme of Catholicity and Globalization”. The first one was hosted by the Old Catholic Church in 2006, and the second one held in November 2007 in New York City and hosted by The Episcopal Church. The conference in Manila was formally ended with a Eucharist on the last day of the meeting.