Anti-gambling pastor retires

By Maurice Malanes

BAGUIO CITY – The senior pastor of a mainline Protestant church -- who was known for his advocacies against casinos, lotto and other legal and illegal gambling as well as drug abuse – has retired.

“I praise God for in the almost 100-year history of this local church, the Good Lord has allowed me to be one of His servants for almost eight fruitful years,” said the Rev. Dr. Simplicio Dang-awan Jr in a message before his congregation last June 5.

Dang-awan had been the senior pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Baguio from July 1, 2002 until last May 31. The UCCP-Baguio celebrates its centenary in February next year.

During his leadership, Dang-awan did not only introduce changes in administration, physical development of the church, worship and evangelism and in discipleship and mission.

In the spirit of ecumenical cooperation, Dang-awan collaborated with other leaders of other churches and civic groups in opposing the proposal to legalize small-town lottery in the city, proposed casino in Camp John Hay, the purchase of cars for each of the city councilors in 2007, and the operation of a lotto outlet near the UCCP.

Through public forums, television talk shows, and prayer rallies, Dang-awan joined leaders of the Baguio Multi-Sectoral Group in helping ensure the moral and spiritual integrity of Baguio as a “character city.”

Together with other churches, the UCCP-Baguio under Dang-awan helped participate in helping ensure “clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful” (CHAMP) elections last May.

Replacing Dang-awan as UCCP-Baguio senior pastor is Bishop Marino Inong. Inong vowed to help sustain what his predecessor had begun so the church, “with God’s spirit, can help play its role as the salt of the earth and light of the world” in Baguio and its environs.