Bishop Juan re-elected, assigned to Davao area

Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan, currently leading the Manila Episcopal Area, was re-elected as a United Methodist bishop by delegates at the Philippines Central Conference.

Juan, 55, was elected on the 16^th ballot at the quadrennial meeting in Angeles City, receiving 323 of 458 votes cast on Dec. 3.

Juan was the third of the incumbent bishops re-elected. Bishop Pedro M. Torio Jr. was re-elected on the sixth ballot and Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco was re-elected on the 12^th ballot.

"God is faithful. He indeed has a wonderful plan. I know God taught me a lot that he is a God of right timing," Juan said after his election. "The Lord has spoken to me. I learned patience from this election."

Juan said the election had been a humbling experience for him.

After Juan’s election, the Committee on Episcopacy announced the assignments for the newly re-elected bishops for the next four years. The delegates confirmed those assignments.

Juan will lead the Davao Episcopal Area, while Francisco will move to the Manila Area. Torio will continue to serve the Baguio Area, which he has led since he was first elected bishop in 2012.

Juan was first elected to the episcopacy in 2008 and then re-elected in 2012. Bishops in the Philippines face re-election every four years.

He had planned to become a lawyer, but as a teenager he almost died of influenza and when he recovered, he offered his life to God in response to a vision that he should become a shepherd of God’s flock and a fisher of men.

Juan is president of the College of Bishops of the denomination’s central conferences, made up of 19 episcopal areas in seven central conferences in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. He represented the Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops at the 2012 General Conference of the Malaysia Methodist Church in Kuala Lumpur.

Juan is vice chair of the clergy of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. He is also a member of the boards of trustees of Wesleyan University-Philippines, Philippines Christian University, Union Theological Seminary, Kapatiran Kaunlaran Foundation Inc., Harris Memorial College and Mary Johnston Hospital.

Earlier in his ministry, he served for 10 years as chaplain (with a rank of major) in the Philippines Armed Forces. He also organized the Philippine Emmaus Walk.

Juan earned a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta.

Juan and his wife, Dr. Lurleen Lapuz Juan, have two children.

Mangiduyos is a correspondent for United Methodist News Service.

News media contact: Vicki Brown, news editor, newsdesk@umcom.org or 615-742-5470.