Meet Our Bishop

Bishop Ruby-Nell Estrella, the first woman bishop of the United Methodist Church in the Philippines

Her journey in ministry has been nothing short of remarkable. Her service as a local pastor, superintendent on the Cabinet, and her instrumental role in establishing the first United Methodist congregation in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, speaks volumes about her dedication to spreading the message of faith and inclusion across borders. In her annual conference, she broke new ground by becoming the first woman superintendent. Furthermore, she made history as the first female lead pastor of Central UMC, a pioneering in the Manila area. Her expertise in accounting also equipped her for an exceptional six-year tenure as treasurer of the Philippines Central Conferences.

Between 2005 and 2012, Bishop Estrella’s commitment to the church extended to her role on the Connectional Table, where she played a crucial part in the Study Committee on the Worldwide Nature of the Church. Her contribution to the reporting team at the General Conference, where she emphasized the global nature of our denomination, remains one of her proudest moments. Her advocacy has undoubtedly shaped the church’s perspective on inclusivity, making her a beacon of hope and inspiration for all who share in the journey of The United Methodist Church.

Our mission  is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. 

Our History

In 1899, the Methodist Episcopal Church began its mission in the Philippines as an outpost of the Malaysia Annual Conference. In 1905, the work developed into the Philippine Islands Mission Conference and continued as a part of the central conference of Southern Asia with seven annual conferences in India, one in Malaysia, and one in the Philippines. 

Source: https://www.umc.org/en/content/history-of-the-united-methodist-church-in-asia.