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Agtarap Tapped to Lead Conference and Ethnic Church Stewardship

(December 6, 2006, GBOD) -- The General Board of Discipleship has named the Reverend Dr. Bener Baysa Agtarap as director of conference and ethnic church stewardship.

“Stewardship is a crucial need in local churches and annual conferences,” said the Reverend Vance P. Ross, associate general secretary of GBOD. “We anticipate that Dr. Agtarap's gifts and skills will be used widely. We are very pleased to welcome him to our staff.”

“Agtarap has served the church for several years. As a pastor and district superintendent, he has experienced the local and conference church in ways that make him conversant with The United Methodist Church.

“Agtarap has served the church in the Philippines and the United States. His demonstrated and unique commitment to the diverse nature of those who follow Jesus will be a blessing to the entire church,” said Ross.

Agtarap, who joins GBOD on January 1, 2007, is currently pastor at Seymour-Cicero United Methodist Church in Seymour, Wisconsin.

He pastored Knox Memorial United Methodist Church in Manila, Philippines, until 2002.

Agtarap also served as the district superintendent of the Philippines Annual Conference from 1995-2001. He was elevated to the district superintendency from Saint Paul’s UMC, Tondo, Manila, Philippines, where he served as pastor from 1993-1995.

Agtarap contributes widely to numerous community and professional associations by serving on boards, such as Congregational, Parish, and Circuit Development in the Wisconsin Annual Conference; Seymour Food Pantry Service, Inc.; National Association of Filipino-American United Methodists; Natural Church Development Revisioning Program Coach; and member of the Urban Network’s Steering Committee.

Dr. Agtarap holds a doctor of philosophy in development administration from Philippine Christian University; a master of divinity with honors from Union Theological Seminary (Cavite, Philippines); a master in business administration with a major in human behavior and organization; and a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a major in management from the Philippine School of Business Administration.

This article was written by by Jeanette Pinkston, Media Relations Director for the General Board of Discipleship.