Kuramen Toquero was elected April 17 as a bishop in the United Methodist Church in the Philippines. The election came during a special session of the Philippines Central Conference. Two new bishops were elected last December, but no other candidate received enough votes to fill a third vacancy. The Philippine College of Bishops called for the special session to fill the position. United Methodist Church burned to the ground in an early-morning fire on Easter Sunday.
Investigators suspect arson.
Set on a hillside overlooking U.S. 101, it was a familiar landmark to motorists. Representatives of 11 U.S. religious bodies are pressing President George W. Bush to order an end to U.S. military exercises on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. The church s council of bishops, Board of Church and Society, and the 2000 General Conference have urged the navy to end military exercise on Vieques. Among those signing the April letter to Bush were the Rev. Robert Edgar, a United Methodist who heads the staff of the National Council of Churches, and Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, ecumenical officer for the council of bishops. Staff at United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tenn., developed the Web site.