CEBU CITY, Philippines — Delegates from missions, conferences, educational, and medical institutions under the East Central Philippine Union Conference gathered Tuesday at its headquarters at 112 Gorordo Ave., Kamputhaw, Cebu City, for the “Legal, Education, Church Manual, Working Policy, and Adventist Identity Review.”
This four-day gathering, which opens Tuesday and runs through Feb. 13, centers on the theme “Order, Unity, and Adventist Identity.” It aims to foster order and unity by aligning leadership through standardized policy, legal literacy, and a commitment to denominational principles and constitutional rights.
The review for the entire event covers four primary areas: legal education, the church manual, working policy, and Adventist identity. The goal is to ensure local units remain in sync with global church standards while operating within the Philippine legal framework.
Atty. Evin Villaruben, associate treasurer and legal services director of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, and one of the guest speakers, discussed organizational policies with a focus on labor rights, workers’ benefits, and privileges.
Villaruben emphasized the importance of administrative consistency and urged workers to master the organization’s guidelines—not merely for compliance, but to effectively avail the legal protections afforded to Seventh-day Adventists in the workplace.
Atty. Christian Abenir, ECPUC legal services and human resources, Planned Giving and Trust Services/Public Affairs, and Religious Liberty director, delved into the Bill of Rights and Human Rights. The session focused on how constitutional protections apply to both individual church members and the denomination as a corporate entity.
However, he reminded each one of their role as a Christian, following the example of Christ. He said, “In debates or legal battles, it is possible to win the argument but lose the person. True victory is drawing people to the fold through the ‘message of the cross.”
He also stressed what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6: 5-6, to the church in Corinth who were taking each other in secular courts to settle their private disputes instead of resolving them in the church community, “I say this to your shame, Is it so, that there is no wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?
On the other hand, Shekinah Sibala, SSD risk management services director, discussed the importance of risk management and insurance, and the need to be well-versed with the insurance grants and policies the church can claim or benefit from.
She added that to keep the mission running smoothly, church leaders need to spot potential problems before they become full-blown crises. This means doing more than just “having” insurance; leaders should actually understand their policies and available grants so they can get the most out of their coverage. By being proactive and prepared, the church protects its money and people, ensuring that a single accident doesn’t stop its important work.
Day one ended with strong engagement from participants, who expressed keen interest in further exploring the event’s core themes.