A Glimpse of Rev. CIRILO A. RIGOS, D.D. -------------- Cirilo Rigos was bom in Candelaria, Quezon in 1932. He graduated as valedictorian of his class from the Tayabas Western Academy. He studied at the Union Theological Seminary in Manila and earned the Bachelor of Theology degree, summa cum laude. Simultaneously he earned the Bachelor of Arts degree (major in English) at the Philippine Christian University. In Marxh 1955, Cirilo Rigos, a young seminary graduate, accepted the call to become the Associate Pastor of the Cosmopolitan Church. The following month he was ordained Minister and was designated Pastor. Twice he left for the United States in September 1957 and in 1963 when he pursued his doctorate at the Union Theological Seminary of New York where he earned the Master of Sacred Theology degree. Later he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa, by Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in recognition of his preaching and ecumenical leadership. In 1968. he was elected General Secretary of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines where he served for four years. However, arrangements were made to enable him to continue serving Cosmopolitan Church. At the expiration of his term as General Secretary, Cosmopolitan granted him a leave of absence for one year, so he could serve as Consultant to the United Church Board of Ministries in New York. On his return in 1973, Dr. Rigos, together with Dr. Jovito R. Salonga, organized the Wednesday Forum, an ecumenical forum held every Wednesday at the Social Hall of Cosmopolitan Church. Attended by pastors, priests, nuns and lay leaders of all churches, this was the only forum at that time which analyzed and discussed public events and issues in the light of Christian values of truth, justice and human dignity. The Wednesdsy Forum attracted world-wide attention. This was during Martial Law in the Philippnes. Due to external pressures, several participating pastors were arrested, and Pastor Rigos himself was pressured to quit. In 1977, he resigned as Pastor of Cosmopolitan Church after 22 years of courageous, forward-looking and dedicated ministry. He accepted the pastoral call of Ellinwood Church where he served for almost 11 years. Dr. Rigos was appointed by Pres. Corazon Aquino to the Constitutional Commission in 1986. In 1987 he became visiting professor of homiletics at the University of Toronto in Canada. In 1988, he was appointed General Secretary of the London-based United Bible Societies where he served for almost two years. He was the first and only Asian to have assumed the position. After his return to the Philippines in I990, Cosmopolitan conferred on him the title of Pastor Eme- ritus. OIn July 1,1993, Dr. Rigos was installed for the second time as Pastor of Cosmopolitan Church. He became a dele- gate to the the UCCP Constitutional Convention in Septem- ber 1993, where he was appointed Chairman of the Com- mittee on Style. On January 7,1995, Cosmopolitan Church, under the leadership of Dr. Rigos and Church Council Chairman Dr. Salonga, launched the Church Building Fund Campaign for the purpose of raising a substantial amount to construct a four-storey edifice on the lawn fronting Taft Avenue for the expansion of the facilities, services and ministries of the church, and the renovation of the main sanctuary. In 1996, he was afflicted with a serious illness, but in spite of his physical condition, he continued to inspire the members of the Cosmopolitan Church by a rare display of courage and strength. He continued to bless the Lord and His people as he preached the Word of God on Sundays. He was already bound to a wheelchair, but his spirit manifested a complete trust and surrender to the sovereign will of God. Admirably, he remained faithful and steadfast to his com- mitment in the service of the Lord until his last earthly days. In loving remembrance of 25 years of faithful service to his God and his people by Dr. Cirilo A. Rigos, (MORE INSIDE. THANKS)