Supreme Bishop
Head of the Philippine Independent Church
title: "Supreme Bishop" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["philippine-independent-church", "episcopacy", "ecclesiastical-titles"] description: "Head of the Philippine Independent Church" topic_path: "society/religion" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Bishop" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Head of the Philippine Independent Church ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox diocese"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| jurisdiction | Supreme Bishop |
| name | the Philippine Independent Church |
| local | Obispo Máximo |
| image | His Eminence, OM Joel Ocop Porlares.jpg |
| caption | Joel Porlares, Obispo Máximo XIV |
| coat | Coat of Arms of the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church).png |
| coat_size | 150px |
| coat_caption | Philippine Independent Church |
| (Coat of arms) | |
| border | Aglipayan |
| incumbent | Joel Ocop Porlares |
| incumbent_note | since June 29, 2023 |
| module | {{Infobox official post |
| child | yes |
| native_name | *Obispo Máximo ng |
| Iglesia Filipina Independiente* | |
| style | His Eminence |
| abbreviation | O.M. |
| seat | Manila, Philippines |
| termlength | 6 years |
| Non-renewable for a consecutive term (since 1981) | |
| succession | Election |
| country | Philippines |
| headquarters | [[File:IFI Obispado Maximo (Central Office).png |
| #1500 Taft Avenue, | |
| Ermita, Manila | |
| residence | IFI Centennial House |
| Metrocor-B Homes, | |
| Talon Singko, Las Piñas City 1747 | |
| established | |
| cathedral | Iglesia Filipina Independiente National Cathedral of the Holy Child |
| first_incumbent | Gregorio L. Aglípay |
| denomination | Philippine Independent Church |
| diocese | General |
| governance | Autocephalous |
| emeritus_bishops | Godofredo J. David |
| Ephraim S. Fajutagana | |
| Rhee M. Timbang | |
| website | |
| :: |
| jurisdiction = Supreme Bishop | name = the Philippine Independent Church | local = Obispo Máximo | image = His Eminence, OM Joel Ocop Porlares.jpg | caption = Joel Porlares, Obispo Máximo XIV | coat = Coat of Arms of the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church).png | coat_size = 150px | coat_caption = Philippine Independent Church (Coat of arms) | border = Aglipayan | incumbent = Joel Ocop Porlares | incumbent_note = since June 29, 2023 |module={{Infobox official post | child = yes | post = | native_name = Obispo Máximo ng Iglesia Filipina Independiente | style = His Eminence | abbreviation = O.M. | seat = Manila, Philippines | termlength = 6 years Non-renewable for a consecutive term (since 1981) | succession = Election | country = Philippines | headquarters = [[File:IFI Obispado Maximo (Central Office).png|IFI Central Office logo|frameless|upright=0.1|link=File:IFI Obispado Maximo (Central Office).png|alt=]] Obispado Máximo #1500 Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila | residence = IFI Centennial House Metrocor-B Homes, Talon Singko, Las Piñas City 1747 | established = | cathedral = Iglesia Filipina Independiente National Cathedral of the Holy Child | first_incumbent = Gregorio L. Aglípay | denomination = Philippine Independent Church | diocese = General | governance = Autocephalous | emeritus_bishops = Godofredo J. David Ephraim S. Fajutagana Rhee M. Timbang | website = The Supreme Bishop (), abbreviated O.M., is the leader or primate of the autocephalous nationalist Independent Catholic denomination Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church) or IFI, known informally as the "Aglipayan Church". The Supreme Bishop is the spiritual head, chief pastor, and the chief executive officer of the church. He is also first among equals (primus inter pares) among the church's bishops.
The Supreme Bishop is elected by the General Assembly of the church and heads the Executive Commission, the highest policy-making body in the absence of the General Assembly.
Joel Porlares was elected Obispo Máximo on May 9, 2023, by a majority vote of delegates during their 15th General Assembly and was officially proclaimed the evening of the same day after previously serving as General Secretary, the second-highest post in the church. He is the fourteenth in a line of succession from Gregorio Aglipay, the first Obispo Máximo.
The Supreme Bishop's office is at the Obispado Máximo (English: Central Office) within the National Cathedral of the Holy Child compound, located along Taft Avenue, Manila.
List of supreme bishops
::data[format=table]
| No. | Supreme bishop | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [[File:Gregorio Aglipay (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Gregorio Aglípay y Labáyan |
| (1860–1940) | 6 September 1902 – 1 September 1940 | ||
| () | |||
| 2 | [[File:OM-Santiago-Fonacier-IFI.jpg | 90px]] | Santiago Antonio Fonacier y Suguítan |
| (1885–1977) | 14 October 1940 – 21 January 1946 | ||
| () | |||
| 3 | [[File:OM-Gerardo-Bayaca-IFI.jpg | 90px]] | Gerardo Bayaca y Medina |
| (1893–1975) | 22 January 1946 – 1 September 1946 | ||
| () | |||
| 4 | [[File:OM-Isabelo-de-los-Reyes-Jr-IFI.jpg | 90px]] | Isabelo Valentin de los Reyes y Lopez |
| (1900–1971) | 1 September 1946 – 10 October 1971 | ||
| () | |||
| 5 | [[File:OM-Macario-V-Ga-IFI.jpg | 90px]] | Macario Vilches Ga |
| (1913–2002) | 3 November 1971 – 10 May 1981 | ||
| () | |||
| 6 | [[File:OM-Abdias-de-la-Cruz-IFI.jpg | 90px]] | Abdias Rebantad de la Cruz |
| (1931–2019) | 10 May 1981 – 10 May 1987 | ||
| () | |||
| 7 | [[File:OM-Soliman-Ganno-IFI.jpg | 90px]] | Soliman Flores Ganno |
| (1931–1989) | 10 May 1987 – 26 May 1989 | ||
| () | |||
| 8 | [[File:OM-Tito-Pasco-IFI.jpg | 90px]] | Tito Esquillo Pasco |
| (1930–2007) | 22 June 1989 – 10 May 1993 | ||
| () | |||
| 9 | [[File:Venerable Martyr Alberto B. Ramento - Obispo Maximo IX.png | 90px]] | Alberto Baldovino Ramento |
| (1936–2006) | 10 May 1993 – 10 May 1999 | ||
| () | |||
| 10 | [[File:OM-Tom-Millamena-IFI.jpg | 90px]] | Tomas Amabran Millamena |
| (1947–2014) | 10 May 1999 – 10 May 2005 | ||
| () | |||
| 11 | [[File:OM-Godofredo-J-David-IFI.jpg | 90px]] | Godofredo Juico David |
| (1956–) | 10 May 2005 – 11 June 2011 | ||
| () | |||
| 12 | [[File:The Most Rev. Ephraim Fajutagana- Obispo Maximo XII.jpg | 90px]] | |
| Ephraim Servañez Fajutagana | |||
| (1951–) | 11 June 2011 – 25 June 2017 | ||
| () | |||
| 13 | [[File:OM Rhee Timbang 2019.jpg | 90px]] | |
| Rhee Millena Timbang | |||
| (1959–) | 25 June 2017 – 29 June 2023 | ||
| () | |||
| 14 | [[File:Obispo Maximo Joel Porlares.jpg | 90px]] | |
| Joel Ocop Porlares | |||
| (1961–) | 29 June 2023 – present | ||
| () | |||
| :: |
Election and term of office
The supreme bishop is the primate, spiritual head, and chief executive of the Philippine Independent Church.
A supreme bishop is elected from the bishops of the church during the General Assembly every six years, by the delegates of every diocese, strictly via majority vote and cannot be re-elected for a consecutive term as per the church's 1977 constitution and canons which was first implemented in 1981. By tradition, the General Assembly usually elects the General Secretary (the second highest post in the church) as the next supreme bishop, but is not necessary. In the event of death or permanent disability of the sitting supreme bishop, the senior bishop-member of the Executive Commission, based on the date of consecration or seniority in age, shall automatically act as Officer-in-Charge of the church. The Executive Commission shall then elect an interim supreme bishop from its bishop-members, two weeks from such death or permanent disability. Ultimately, the Executive Commission shall convene the General Assembly for a special election of a regular supreme bishop within thirty days from the death or permanent disability. After finishing the remainder of the predecessor's term, the successor supreme bishop could seek an election on his own right.
The supreme bishop is responsible for the ecclesiastical government of the church and is the spiritual head of almost 7 million Aglipayans throughout the Philippines and some dioceses in the United States and Canada.
References
References
- "Obispo Maximo".
- Revollido, Eleuterio J.. (August 1, 2002). "The Nationalist and Ecumenical Expressions in the Ministry of the Nine Bishops (1902-2002)". Part of the Dissertation of the Very Rev. Eleuterio J. Revollido, S.Th.D. (International Church Leaders Solidarity Summit).
- De Achutegui, Pedro S.. (31 December 1971). "Bishop Isabelo De Los Reyes, Jr.: An Ecumenical Tribute (1971)". [[Ateneo de Manila University]].
- "History - Iglesia Filipina Independiente".
- (December 1, 2000). "IFI, ICFI bring war to court". [[The Philippine Star]].
- "Feast of Alberto Ramento (October 3)". Katholisches Bistum der Alt-Katholiken in Deutschland.
- "ECUMENISM In community: Philippine Independent Church – Alberto Ramento". [[Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany.
- "OUR FAITH – Frequently asked questions: Do Old Catholics venerate Mary or other saints?". [[Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany.
- (21 September 2011). "Feast of Alberto Ramento (October 3)".
- "IFI Constitution and Canons". Iglesia Filipina Independiente.
- "Philippine Independent Church". Oikoumene.org.
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