Professor of Worship and Resistance Liturgics
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Ferdi teaches liturgy, history of Christianity, and indigenous peoples’ theologies. He did his studies at the University of Leeds (PhD, 2006), the University of Edinburgh (MTh, 1998), Silliman University (MDiv, 1991), and Union Christian College (BA, 1987).
Some of Ferdi’s works on liturgy, resistance liturgics, and indigenous theology have been published by Regnum, Wiley-Blackwell, ISPCK, Wipf and Stock among others. His research interests include resistance liturgics, indigenization and contemporization of congregational worship, indigenous people’s theologies, popular Christianity, new religious movements, and history of Christianity in the Philippines.
An ordained minister the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Ferdi pastored churches in North Luzon Amburayan Conference of the UCCP and the Edinburgh Presbytery of the Church of Scotland. He is currently a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the UCCP.
Eric P. Baldonado
Instructor of Historical Theology and Denominational Polity
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Eric has been a local church pastor since 1999. He became an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in 2004. Since then, he has served in multiple capacities as a leader of the Church. He lectures and preaches in local churches, wider judicatories of the church, different religious and ecumenical communities and institutions.
He earned his degree in Bachelor of Theology (2001) and Master of Divinity (2004) at Union Theological Seminary, Philippines both summa cum laude with four academic awards. He also obtained a degree in Master in Transformational Leadership, Major in Global Leadership (2013) from Asian School of Development and Cross-Cultural Studies. Last 2020, he graduated with the degree in Master of Theology from UTS, Philippines.
He is the current Conference Minister of the Upland Cavite Conference of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. He is also presently serving as the co-convenor of RISE UP for Life and for Rights Southern Tagalog; spokesperson of the Samahan ng mga Mamamayan Para sa Banal na Boto Tungo sa Pagbabago (SAMBOTO); and convenor of the Cavite Ecumenical Movement.
For several years now, he has also taught Denominational History and Theology, Church Polity, Church Administration, Church Management and Stewardship, and other church history and practical ministry courses at UTS, Philippines. Currently, he leads UTS’s Admissions and Recruitment Team.
He is presently pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy studies at the Faculty of Religion and Theology of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. His field of interest and area of study is Reformation History and Reformed Theology.
Eleazar S. Fernandez
Professor of Theology and Religious Studies
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Ely received his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, Master of Theology (ThM) from Princeton Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Union Theological Seminary, and Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Philippine Christian University. He also had the privilege of teaching in other educational institutions in the U.S. (United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, Drew University in New Jersey, Metropolitan State University in Minnesota, and Pacific School of Religion in California) and abroad, such as Myanmar (Lisu Theological Seminary) and Cameroon (Universite Protestante D’Africque Centrale, Faculte De Theologie Protestante De Yaounde).
Dr. Fernandez is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. He has a
dual standing with United Church of Christ USA.
He is an author of several books and articles. Among his writings are Teaching for a Multifaith
World (editor, Pickwick, 2017), Teaching for a Culturally Diverse and Racially Just World (Editor,
Cascades, 2013), New Overtures: Asian-North American Theology in the 21st Century (editor,
Sopher Press, 2012), Burning Center, Porous Borders: The Church in a Globalized World (Wipf
and Stock, 2011), Reimagining the Human: Theological Anthropology in Response to Systemic
Evil (Chalice Press, 2004)), Realizing the America of our Hearts: Theological Voices of Asian
Americans (co-editor, Chalice Press, 2003), Hacia Una Teología De La Lucha, Translated by Jesús
Valiente Malla (Estella, Spain: Editorial Verbo Divino, 2002), A Dream Unfinished: Theological
Reflections on America from the Margins (co-editor, Orbis Books, 2000), and Toward a
Theology of Struggle (Orbis Books, 1994).
His areas of teaching and research interest are:
Constructive Theology, Christian Political Ethics, Theological Anthropology, Global Christianities,
Theologies of Religion and Interfaith Engagement, Globalization and Mission, Migration and
Theology, Theologies from the Global South, Theological Method and Hermeneutics, Holistic
Spirituality, and Global Immersion Trips.
Connie Semy P. Mella
Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible
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Connie is an Ordained Elder of The United Methodist Church. She has five degrees in theology: a Bachelor in Religious Education from UTS, 1996 (Cum Laude); a Master of Divinity, also from UTS, 2000 (Summa Cum Laude); an M.A. in Cross Cultural Contextual Theology from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 2004; a Master of Theology from the South East Asia Graduate School of Theology, 2005 (residence in St. Andrew’s Theological Seminary); and a Doctor of Theology from the ATESEA Theological Union, 2017.
She has articles in different publications: “A Spirituality of Caring in an Uncaring World” (NCCP Resource Book, 2013); “Who are you? What is Expected of You?” CTC Bulletin, CCA 2005); “Migrants and Their Quest for Wholeness (2004 issue of Pers-pec-tive:gbgm-umc.org/umw/…perspective 3), and a contributor in “Nevertheless She Leads: Postcolonial Women’s Leadership For the Church (GBHEM, 2020). Her articles published in the Union Theological Seminary Journal include: “The Tree by the Streams of Water: A Paradigm for Ministry”, “Adam and Eve/ Malakas and Maganda: The Hebrew and the Filipino Creation Stories and Their Inherent Meanings in our Quest for Partnership, Equality, Mutuality, and Wholeness”, “Our Calling, Our Challenge: Luke 4: 18-19”, “What Troubles you Hagar? Do Not Be Afraid: A Narrative-Literary Reading of Genesis 16 and 21”, and “Thus Says the Lord”.
Aside from teaching, Rev. Dr. Mella has served as chaplain, as pastor, as counselor, and as official UMC representative in various boards and commissions of the denomination. She is currently serving as the Academic Dean at UTS and the Executive Director of GBHEM LEaDhub Philippines and Southeast Asia.
Sianne Gabor-Mendoza
Instructor of Hebrew Bible
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Sianne completed her Master of Theology (2019) at Silliman University Divinity School with her thesis: “A Hermeneutical Examination of Leviticus 20:13 and Isaiah 56:3-5: Relevance to LGBTQI Community.” At 17, she started her ministerial journey and took her Bachelor of Theology Liturgy and Music, cum laude (2006) from the same institution. She was assigned as Administrative Minister in various local churches of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Agusan District Conference. She was ordained to the ministry in April 16,2011. Before coming to Union, Sianne served in UCCP Bangonay, UCCP Colorado, UCCP Jabonga, UCCP Butuan City, UCCP Cabadbaran City and UCCP Tungao.
Antonio P. Pacudan
Professor of Homiletics and New Testament
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Antonio P. Pacudan earned his Bachelor of Arts (A.B. – Cum Laude) degree at Northeastern College, Santiago City, Isabela in 1983; his Master of Divinity (M.Div. with Honors and Preaching Award) degree at Union Theological Seminary in 1987; his Master of Theology (M.Th.) at the Southeast Asia Graduate School of Theology (SEAGST) in 1998; and his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Religious Studies at Philippine Christian University, Manila, (2012).
He is an ordained minister of The United Methodist Church. He has twenty years of pastoral experience where he served congregations in the provinces of Ifugao, Quirino, and Isabela, prior to his appointment as faculty of Union Theological Seminary in 1998. He also served as secretary of his conference from 1989-1995; Chaplain of Eveland Christian College in San Mateo, Isabela from 1988-1991. He is a member of the Northeast Luzon Philippines Annual Conference (NELPAC).
He is presently the Director of UTS’s Theological Education by Extension (TEE) Program. He also teaches Homiletics, Biblico-Theological Reflection (BTR), and Electives in New Testament studies (Parables of Jesus, Johannine Writings, and Pauline Epistles). In the doctoral program, he teaches Biblical Hermeneutics for Ministry in Asian Setting. He is the adviser of the Interim Student Government (SY 2020-2021).
He is a member of Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), Philippine Christian Educators Association, Philippine Theological Society, and Religious Educators Association of the Philippines (REAP).
He has written a Study Guide for the TEE students entitled, “Jesus in the Gospels: An Introduction to the Life, Works and Teachings of Jesus” (1999). His articles published in the Union Seminary Bulletins and Journals are: “The Greatest Among You Must Be Your Servant” (2002), “Martha’s Discipleship: Feminist Interpretation Based on Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza’s Hermeneutical Model” (2006); “Christology in the Book of Revelation” (2007); “A Comparative Study of Karl Barth and Paul Tillich’s Perspectives on Inter-Faith Dialogue” (2015) and “Biblical Preaching in the Context of Philippine Society” (2019).
Instructor of New Testament Studies
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Bb. Kakay Pamaran serves as the Executive Assistant to the President and the Director for Communications at Union. She teaches courses in New Testament Studies and Educational Psychology and is Convenor of the Seminary’s Center for Gender and Sexuality.
She serves as Lecturer and Resource Speaker for the National Council of Churches in the Philippines in its Summer Internship Program, its HIV AIDS Education Program, and its Gender Justice Seminars. She also serves as Resource Person for various programs of the Council for World Mission (CWM), the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC). She is part of the Curriculum Writing Team of the CWM’s Theological Education for an Economy of Life (TEEL) offering.
She has a BS Psychology degree from Silliman University, a Master of Divinity, and a Master of Theology in New Testament Criticism and Historical Jesus Research from Union Theological Seminary, Philippines.
Kakay was a former Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church Quezon City and is a member and former co-Chair of the Board of the South Africa-based organization, GIN-SSOGIE (Global Interfaith Network for people of all Sexualities, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identity and Expressions).
Deborrah Ramos Reyes
Associate Professor of Music and Liturgy
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Deborrah Ramos Reyes teaches music and liturgy, directs, the Union Theological Seminary Choir and convenes the Center for the Arts, Liturgy and Music. She completed her studies at Philippine Christian University (Ed.D., 2017), Philippine Women’s University (M. Music, 2011); BM in Voice 2002; BM Music Education, 1994) and Union Theological Seminary for her Certificate in Theological Studies, (2005).
Debbie sings soprano and was member Professor Lucrecia Kasilag’s (National Artist for Music) Philippine Women’s University Ensemble. In her capacity as UTS Choir director and faculty member she has organized and co-organized choir tours and performances in various parts of the country and abroad and is currently engaged in research on the indigenization of music in congregational worship among UCCP churches in the upper Abra region.
A diaconal minister of Upland Cavite Conference of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Debbie is also founding president of the Ecumenical Association of Church Musicians in the Philippines, and a member of the Philippines Choral Director’ Association and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines.
Instructor for Christian Education
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Hazel Joyce D. Salatan is the Registrar of Union Theological Seminary. She teaches courses in Christian Education and also serves as Online Education Specialist. She is a licensed professional teacher and an Ordained Elder of the United Methodist Church.
She has a BA in Philosophy and Legal Studies from Saint Louis University, Baguio City and was taking up Law before she decided to take her Master of Divinity at UTS where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2019. She completed her Master of Theology degree in 2021, her thesis focused on decolonizing religious education. She also has six certifications in online and distance education.
She served as Administrative Pastor of the Mustard Seed United Methodist Church in Silang, Cavite from 2019 to 2021; was Student Chaplain at the NCCP’s Ecumenical Ministry at the UP Church of the Risen Lord; was Coordinator of the LUMAD Bakwit Iskul at UTS; and was Pastor at Lupang Ramos, an organized farming community working for genuine land reform in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
Luisito H. Saliendra
Instructor of History of Christianity
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Lizette Tapia-Raquel
Associate Professor of Theology and Ethics
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Lizette teaches courses in Feminist Theologies, Christian Theology, Christian Ethics and Ecumenics. She is a member of the Association of Women in Theology (AWIT) and the Ecumenical Association of Thrid-World Theologians (EATWOT) and serves in the Program Committee of the Christian Conference of Asia for the quadrennium. She finished her undergraduate studies, B.S. Tourism, from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, earned her Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, Summa cum Laude and finished her Master of Theology from the Southeast Asia Graduate School of Theology with distinction. Currently, she is taking doctoral studies at the Global Institute of Theology, Yonsei University, So. Korea. In 2018, she was the Anne Duncan Gray Scholar of the United Church of Canada and was hosted by Emmanuel College, University of Victoria, University of Toronto. She has numerous articles and published works and is the author of Crying-Out, Resisting, Asserting, Celebrating: Proclamation and Poetry. An ordained deacon of the United Methodist Church, she is an advocate of human rights and LGBTQ rights among others.
Revelation E. Velunta
Associate Professor of New Testament Studies
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Revelation E. Velunta is Associate Professor of New Testament and Cultural Studies. He also coordinates the Master of Theology Program and the Union Theological Open Seminary (UTOS). He has also taught at Vanderbilt University, Teologiska Hogskolan Stockholm, Philippine Women’s University, Philippine Christian University (Manila and Dasmarinas campuses), and Southern Christian College. His work celebrates the pedagogy of the oppressed and insists that there are other ways of reading and doing. More specifically, his Jeepney Hermeneutics (featured in the Oxford Encyclopedia of Bible and Gender Studies) invites students of the Bible to “beat swords into ploughshares.” His latest book, “Reading the Parables of Jesus inside a Jeepney,” both in its Kindle and Printed versions are Amazon.com bestsellers. Velunta has graduate and postgraduate degrees from Vanderbilt University and Princeton Theological Seminary.
Carmel B. Villar
Instructor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
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Carmel is an Ordained Minister of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines with more than 30 years of pastoral ministry in the local church; as well as campus chaplaincy and community organizing.
Before coming to Union, she was a member of the translation team of Philippine Bible Society working on Cebuano translation projects. She also served as writer/producer for Far East Broadcasting Company, Philippines.
She currently serves as faculty of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Union Theological Seminary where she took her Master of Divinity (Magna Cum Laude) with an award in Pastoral Care. She finished Master of Theology in Pastoral Care and Counseling with thesis, “Tambayayong: Towards a Filipino Approach to Pastoral Care and Counseling.” Her Master of Theology thesis gives signal to her advocacy: retrieving of Filipino intrinsic way of care and integrating these Filipino systems of care and practices into the scholarship of pastoral care and counseling. She is Convenor of the Jose Andres Sotto (JAS) Center for Pastoral and Spiritual Care spearheading the campaign on raising awareness on Mental Health among church workers and the laity.
