1924-1986 General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church P.O. Box 127, Madison, NJ 07940 2/14/2002
Cornelio M. Ferrer papers, 1924-1986 0.45 Cubic feet gcah.ms.740 The purpose of this finding aid is to help you understand the nature of this collection and to assist you in the retrieval of material from this collection. The following pages contain a brief biographical history of the person, or persons, who created or collected these papers; followed by a general description of the collection in the scope and content note. If more detailed information is warranted then series descriptions also appear. The container listing appears last and is the listing of material in each box, or container, of this collection. To request material you need to turn to the container listing section. It is essentially a listing of file folders, or artifact items, in the collection. Each folder, or item, has a call number associated with it. Each folder also lists the inclusive dates of the material in the folder. On the material request form list both the call number and the folder, or item, title. Use a different line for each folder, or item, requested. When your request sheet is complete, or full, bring it to the archivist and the material will be retrieved Biographical Note Cornelio Ferrer (1908-1988) Filipino pastor, editor and bishop, was born in Ligayen, Pangasinan, Philippines, on September 16, 1908. He attended Union College of Manila, receiving a B. A. in 1937, while serving student appointments. On February 23, 1935, he was ordained deacon and on November 28, 1937, an elder. Ferrer was a member of the Phillipine Annual Conference. He married Emilia V. Rosario on April 14, 1934. From 1940 to 1946, Ferrer was a district superintendent. Shortly thereafter he was named a Crusade Scholar and attended Drew University, from which he received an M.A. in 1948. After his graduation he returned to the Philippines for a rural pastorate. From 1950 to 1968 he worked for the National Council of Churches in the Philippines while earning a B.D. degree from Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines. For years he was the Filipino correspondent of The Christian Century. During the 1950's, Ferrer served as the business manager of the Philippine Christian Advance. On November 28, 1968, Ferrer was elected to the episcopacy by the Philippines Central Conference and served the Manila Area until 1974, when he retired. He then was a volunteer worker in rural missions. Ferrer died on November 23, 1988. Scope Note Ferrer was a key figure in Philippine Methodism. His professional interests were many and are reflected throughout this collection. Ferrer's correspondence covers a diversity of topics: episcopal matters which include the Filipino episcopal controversy in the early 1970s, responses to articles he had written, national and world events, Central Conference business, ministry, and ecumenism. Those in correspondence with Ferrer include government officials, district superintendents, bishops of The United Methodist Church, officers of the Philippine church, Church World Service workers, the Christian Century magazine, the Philippine Federation of Churches, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, as well as staff members of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church (U.S.). One folder contains bound correspondence. The minutes and reports reflect the work of the Filipino church on all levels. Here are the records from conference lay leaders, United Methodist Men (MACUMM), local clergy, district superintendents, annual conferences, College of Bishops, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and other ecumenical organizations. There are a number of supporting documents within the Administrative subseries that contain church statistics, a list of Filipino Crusade Scholars, resolutions, petitions, Judicial Council decisions, pastoral Page 1
appointments to the local church, and other general administrative type records. Manuscripts and addresses are next. Most of the manuscripts are one to two pages in length. Others are longer. Ferrer was a prolific writer and wrote about rural ministry, church autonomy, church history, memorials, biographies, spiritual care, sociology, autobiographies, and various levels of church administration. The content for the shorter manuscripts tends to reflect unpublished news releases and meditations. Some of the manuscripts were later used as addresses. Those records that are specifically identified as addresses are inclined to be episcopal in nature. The newsletters and bulletins cover not only Methodist work, but pan-denominational and social work within the Philippines as well. Publications and pamphlets contain souvenir books, histories, church administration, sociology, and study books. Programs reflect Ferrer's pastoral duties, which included dedications, school programs, annual conferences, and installations. Another subseries within the collection are the scrapbooks. There are two of them. One is a remembrance book on the life of Gumersindo Garcia, a Filipino physician. The other contains clippings of Ferrer's newspaper articles. The final two subseries in this first series are Personal and Miscellaneous. The former contains a curriculum vitae, biographical sketch, and the Ferrer family genealogy. The latter embraces a clipping, curriculum vitae for Narciso Albarracin, a governmental minster of education, and a thank-you note from a group of visiting Methodists from the United States. The second series contains manuscripts by various authors. The subjects are multi-faceted. Authors include: Restitute C. Basa, Isamu Chiba, Onofre G. Fonceca, Ezekias Gacutan, David T. Lara, Juan Naboong, M. Ellia Peter, and Victor Claveria Vinluan. A sampling of topics contained therein include information on the laity, ecclesiastical leadership, Protestantism in the Philippines, Filipino Methodism, annual conferences, schools, and ecumenical work. Arrangement Material has been arranged in the following manner. SERIES: ADMINISTRATIVE. SERIES: MANUSCRIPTS. Access Restrictions There are no restrictions regarding this collection. Preferred Citation When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Cornelio Ferrer Papers, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH,. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor. Subject Terms Additional Creators - Personal Basa, Restitute C Chiba, Isamu Fonceca, Onofre G Gacutan, Ezekias Lara, David T Nabong, Juan Peter, M. Elia Vinluan, Victor Claveria. Subject Names - Personal Albarracin, Narciso Page 2
Garcia, Gumersindo. Subject Topics Autobiographies Biography Episcopacy Methodists, Filipino Methodists, Philippines Sociology. Subject Geographic Philippines United States. Genre Clippings Genealogical tables Manuscripts Photographs Scrapbooks. Occupations Bishop. Table of Contents Administrative... 4 Manuscripts... 4 Page 3
Container List Administrative Call Number Folder Title Date(s) 1342-4-4:1 Correspondence 1961-1973 1342-4-4:2 Correspondence Bound Volume 1963-1968 1342-4-4:3 Minutes and Reports 1953-1973 1342-4-4:4 Administrative 1950-1976 1342-4-4:5 Manuscripts and Addresses A - M 1964-1974 1342-4-4:6 Manuscripts and Addresses N - W 1964-1974 1342-4-4:7 Newsletters and Bulletins 1956-1974 1342-4-4:8 Publications and Pamphlets 1924-1973 1342-4-4:9 Publications and Pamphlets 1957-1968 1342-4-4:10 Programs 1950-1973 1342-4-4:11 Scrapbooks 1963-1975 1342-4-4:12 Personal 1969-1975 Manuscripts Call Number Folder Title Date(s) 1342-4-4:14 Manuscripts 1960-1968 Page 4