The leadership of the United Methodist Church in the Philippines has elected a prominent human rights activist as the first female bishop.

Ruby-Nell Estrella, was elected through a secret ballot by church delegates on Nov. 26. It was termed a ‘historic moment’ for the Protestant Church.

“A history maker… the long wait is over, the Philippines Central Conference delegates have spoken, garnering 362 votes during the 20th balloting, the Rev. Ruby-Nell Estrella was elected and proclaimed as the first woman Bishop of the United Methodist Church in the Philippines,” the Methodists said in a statement on their webpage.

Kababaihang Karapatan, a women’s rights group said it was a dream come true to have a woman in the Methodist episcopacy mostly dominated by men.

“It is an answered prayer for the woman clergy and other people who desire to have a woman bishop in the Philippines Central Conference. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the reason why we serve is glorified alone,” the woman’s group executive secretary April Apaya told the media.

Apaya said the new bishop has been active in social action that prompted many Methodist groups to support her.

“Many of us were aware of the disparity between the rich and the poor, about graft and corruption and how the least of our brothers and sisters like our indigenous peoples suffer abuse without due process of law,” Apaya added.

In April 2021, Estrella, together with her fellow clergymen and clergywomen, gave sanctuary to over 4,000 farmers and indigenous people after a protest for food relief and protection of their ancestral lands turned violent in Manila.

“I dream of a church that will be faithful in its stewardship of temporal resources, a church that generously supports all levels of structures, the boards, and agencies, to do their respective programs to strengthen the ministries of the church,” Estrella said in her thanksgiving speech.

Estrella also revealed her vision of using the internet in propagating the faith and attracting young vocations to the ministry.

“I dream of congregations that are not only physical signs of God’s presence in the communities but also ready to take technological possibilities in the world wide web for ministries of discipleship, church growth, and mission,” she added.