When Giona Melo, 19, learned that the police had stopped the pastor of the largest Baptist church on the Philippine island of Mindanao for allegedly murdering her romantic rival, a male beauty pageant contestant, all she could do was laugh.
“Before I was really angry, but now I laugh because it’s just absurd,” said Melo, who grew up in Cagayan de Oro, a city in northern Mindanao, and is now a student at the North Park University of Chicago. “I have peace because I trust God more than the Church. »
Dimver Andales, 51, head pastor of Lapasan Baptist Church in Cagayan de Oro, was accused of masterminding the murder of Adriane Rovic Fornillos, 24, a candidate for Mr. Cagayan de Oro. Police called the case a crime of passion because Andales, a married man, was allegedly romantically involved with Fornillos’ girlfriend. He was arrested along with his associate pastor, who was allegedly complicit in the crime.
As the news broke, another pastor, Jennifer Cobarrubias of Dream Life Church in Quezon City, went viral with a TikTok video in which she and her church members mocked former congregants who had left her church. She quickly faced backlash on social media: “This is why I stopped going (to church),” one read. Tweeter. “Religious people are the ones who pass the most judgment. » Another read: “These types of people use religion to control people’s lives. …Shouldn’t you pray for them instead of making fun of them (on) TikTok?
“It is sad to see Christian leaders not being good representatives of Christ,” said Micah Bacani, a recent graduate of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. This is not the first time the 24-year-old has grappled with the moral failings of a Christian leader. Apologist Ravi Zacharias, who was named posthumously accused with sexual abuse in 2021, also greatly influenced Bacani’s spiritual life. “It’s sad because they are being held to different standards. But I think it’s a comfort to know that their failures don’t diminish the work God can do in their lives.
While the Philippines is the most Christian country in Asia and public confidence in church leaders remains high, ecclesiastical scandals or pastoral pettiness now reach a wider audience via social media, impacting how Generation Z perceives the Church. Ministry leaders working with this demographic are discovering that trust is no longer a given as it was for previous generations. In this context, faithful pastors and church leaders must establish young people’s trust in the church and ministries through personal relationships and by transparently answering their questions.
Responding to Church controversies
Scandals within the Church and Christian-inspired sects are not new in the Philippines. Last year, a court in Palawan ordered Stop by Romeo Nuñez, pastor of Jesus Christ The River of Life Church, following rape accusations filed by a church member. In 2021, a US federal grand jury accused Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom Church of Jesus Christ and self-proclaimed “designated son of God,” for sex trafficking.
In 2005, a former aide to Eli Soriano, founder of the Ang Dating Daan (“The Old Way”) sect, accused the pastor of rape amid feuds between his group and the Iglesia Ni Cristo sect. Soriano moved to Brazil amid rape and defamation cases.
Yet for Gen Z, the difference now lies in how quickly word spreads online.
“Young people spend a lot of time on social media, and these days, issues from religious leaders spread like wildfire,” said Mark Henry Pellejera, pastor of Rod of God Ministry, which trains students in the secondary school in rural Cagayan. “It has a huge effect on the faith of those who are not connected to a community where they can ask questions, be discipled and voice their concerns. »
In his ministry, Pellejera addresses recent scandals in one-on-one conversations with members of his youth group, emphasizing that even religious leaders are prone to falling into sin. However, Pellejera finds that young atheists and skeptics have a harder time opening up to Christianity because these church scandals reinforce their pre-existing skepticism and distrust of religious leaders.
Eva Marie Joy Famador, the national coordinator of Micah Philippinesan organization that raises awareness about integrity in churches across the country, highlights the importance of churches being open about the ugliness within.
“Philippine churches handle scandals silently, because the concept of saving face or shaming is very important to us,” Famador said. She observed that Filipino churches tend to cover up moral failure, or even ignore it outright, because they are concerned about their public image.
“We need to understand what the Bible says about integrity and teach those principles to our congregation so we can develop a system of accountability,” Famador said.
Famador stressed that corruption – which can take the form of sexual abuse, financial abuse, abuse of power, bribery, vote buying or tax evasion – can be fought on the practical plan by establishing transparency and accountability within the Church. At the same time, openness can also protect Church leaders from slander and the faithful from false gossip.
Disconnect between leaders and young people
The 2021 State of the Philippines Youth Survey found that 54% of Gen Z Filipinos reported engaging in religious activities every day. Yet in the same survey, less than a quarter said they were “members of a social group or organization,” and of those, only 37 percent said they had joined a church or religious organization.
Dana Calanog, a 23-year-old medical student at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, noted that one of the reasons for the low turnout could be the disconnect between pastors and their young congregants.
“Leaders can become absorbed in their authority and see themselves as God. So it’s important to me, when they go out of their way, to make me feel heard,” Calanog said. She appreciates how her pastor cares not only about her spiritual life, but also about her personal life and listens to her concerns about school.
“It is important to me to have a church leader who is open, willing to talk, and who respectfully acknowledges where I come from. »
Because the social hierarchy is determined by age In the Philippines, it can be difficult for pastors to address questions from younger church members without feeling like their authority is being challenged.
“Raising concerns should not be taken as a personal attack,” Melo said. She is concerned about how some Christians excessively revere their pastor and believe that whatever the pastor says is the truth of the Gospel. This is why she finds humble pastors more trustworthy.
“I trust church leaders who have been in therapy, who are vulnerable and open with themselves,” Melo said. “I think it shows their capacity for sensitivity to the word of God.”
Gen Z Filipinos are concerned about mental health issues, struggle that 73 percent of them treated. Seeing Church leaders address this topic from the pulpit can empower young people who appreciate authenticity and can pave the way for deeper relationships between generations.
Bacani, the recent graduate, said he trusted his church leaders because they intentionally showed they cared. “My young pastor is discipling me and I trust him because I have seen his wisdom in the way he lives,” Bacani said. “I saw his humility when he admits his mistakes and recognizes his faults.”
“Trust is a relational issue”
To build trust among Generation Z, Famador believes leaders need to put systems in place to resolve problems so the Church is not prone to corruption. It also sets clear expectations and boundaries for worshipers to follow.
“Accountability must be institutionalized in the Church,” Famador said. “If someone has a complaint, they go to a person or a (designated) committee. The pastor’s wife must be present if a woman seeks advice from a pastor. If a church member wishes to donate money to an outreach program, they are advised to give it directly to the treasurer rather than the pastor.
As the former executive director of Christian convergence for good governanceFamador also advocates for government intervention in cases of sexual abuse.
Pellejera encourages his congregation to communicate openly with him. It is important to have a two-way dialogue between church leaders and the congregation to build trust, especially in such a community setting like the Philippines.
“When someone has a problem, they can come to me directly and freely express their concerns, questions and judgments,” Pellejera said. “It may be easier to implement this in a small congregation where everyone feels like family. »
Bacani and other members of Generation Z agree with the need for the Church to be a safe place to ask questions and express doubts with older, more mature believers.
“Trust is a relational issue,” says Bacani. “That’s why it’s important to me to have deep relationships with my church leaders. »
