Bishop Christian Alsted and Filipino deaconess Norma P. Dollaga both received the World Methodist Council’s highest honor for courageous ministry in very different contexts.
Sponsored by the Davao Episcopal Area, the two-day event allowed clergy and laity attending the Mindanao Philippines Annual Conference to receive doctor’s consultations, diagnostic testing and other health care during the meeting. The outreach also extended to members of local churches and the community.
Filipino delegates say a regional system is a way to keep traditionalists and progressives connected, and relieves central conferences from having to decide on primarily U.S. concerns.
