FORMER National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP) general secretary Rev. Dr. Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes died of illness last October 30, leaving a legacy of a strong prophetic stance for human rights, gender justice, environmental protection, and just and lasting peace. She was 78.
The first woman and lay General Secretary of the country’s association of mainline protestant religions, Ruiz-Duremdes steered the NCCP for two biennial and one quadrennial terms (2000 to 2007), becoming one of the country’s most important religious leaders. After her terms, she earned her doctorate and was ordained minister of the Philippine Baptist Church. She was also a professor of the Central Philippines University.
Her life was defined by a remarkable commitment to service and excellence, starting early in her career. In 1967, she was named as one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) while she was a young Convention Baptist leader. She was Pastor Emeritus of the Jaro Evangelical Church, the first Baptist church in the Philippines.
As a church worker, she used her prophetic voice to speak out against large-scale mining, misogyny and patriarchy, corruption in government, the continuing state of unpeace, and the US’ domination and control in the country.
As a church leader, her achievements were important and manifold. In 2007, as the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in rampage mode, she responded with the report “Let the Stones Cry Out: An Ecumenical Report on Human Rights in the Philippines and a Call to Action.” It was her response to the killings of activists, including church people and many from NCCP’s member churches and even former NCCP staff members. The report “distills the collective cry for justice of thousands of Filipinos – including more than 800 victims of extra-judicial executions from the year 2001 to 2006 – who have suffered the brunt of violations of human rights under the Philippine government’s counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism strategies.”
Her prophetic voice reached foreign shores, leading delegations of church leaders and human rights defenders to the US Congress, the Canadian Parliament, the European Union and the United Nations Human Rights Council. Her efforts contributed to eventual demands for accountability from the Philippine government on its gross extrajudicial killings record.
Because of NCCP’s determination to defend the people, it faced various forms of harassment and attacks from suspected State agents. Its workers faced trumped up charges and red-tagging, even abduction, torture and assassinations. Ruiz-Duremdes did not flinch, defending them all with utmost courage. When most of the Council’s international funding partners have turned elsewhere, instead of buckling down to pressure, she led the NCCP to survive and thrive despite the challenges. She persevered and nurtured the NCCP and its member churches’ fellowship and unity for faith, witness and service for the marginalized.
A woman of peace, Ruiz-Duremdes was also a staunch supporter and vocal advocate for peace. She was founding co-chairperson of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform that pushed for the resumption and continuation of peace negotiations between the Manila government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. She believed that for peace to happen homeland, the root causes of armed conflicts in her homeland must be sincerely addressed. She readily lent her name to peace petitions until her last days.
In its announcement of her passing, the NCCP said: “Sharon’s writings were literary and poetic, with flawless grammar, that inspired countless women and men in the ecumenical movement. Even memos to the staff were a joy to read.”
“Sharon left behind a towering and lasting legacy in the ecumenical movement – the movement of church people working with other sectors for social justice,” the Council said.
Tributes poured from all over, praising the departed’s legacy:
“At the heart of her theological articulation was solidarity with the most vulnerable of the world. She courageously voiced the people’s aspirations and longing for national sovereignty, democratic rights, and human dignity. She was steadfast and uncompromising whenever the welfare and well-being of the basic sectors were at stake.” — Association of Women in Theology (AWIT) Philippines
“It was [when I met her] that I experienced that a new way of being church was possible because of women and to be a woman leader, one did not need to follow male authoritarian figures. It was not because Ma’am Sha was impressive, wise, and compelling. She was all of that but she did not need to exhibit it. Instead, she was empowering, kind, and self-effacing… Ma’am Sha was a source of light and inspiration for me. Her BTRs challenged me and I found in her a role model as a feminist, a teacher, an ecumenist, and a sister to women in communities and churches. She has touched my life in immeasurable ways. I am deeply grateful. — Rev. Dr Lizette Tapia Raquel, Dean, Union Theological Seminary-Philippines
“Ate Sha shattered traditional barriers. She was so daringly herself that the people around her never thought of her as someone aiming for the metaphoric ‘glass-ceiling’; she wasn’t seeking that type of affirmation. Her heart and mind were always with the poor and marginalized, the exploited and the oppressed. She shattered the biases of Church people, so that they would see and embrace a call to ministry and partnership, a call to be with the poor, with the people. She embodied solidarity with workers, farmers, indigenous peoples, fisherfolk, urban poor, migrants, women, youth, and all sectors of society who are willing to journey together towards a just and lasting peace. – Rebecca K. Lawson, EcuVoice
She loved without demanding in return, without entitlement, without expectations. She was a mentor, a teacher, an adviser, a spiritual and political guide, and a servant leader. The brilliant and well-known Sharon never exhibited a desire to receive the special treatment afforded to many leaders. We were at home with ‘nang Shar…[She was] a sharp theologian whose bias was loud and clear – for the salvation and liberation of the people. No one would raise an eyebrow when we say that Sharon is a prolific writer who amplified the words and voice of the people from the underside. It is undeniable that Sharon was an eminent ecumenical leader whose life and work embody the ministries of the church for unity on the fundamentals of justice and peace…Sharon was the gentle and unassuming leader of the ecumenical community. She never raised a voice, even to the person who is disagreeable and rude. It was not about her resilience and tolerance, but more of rationality, humility, and humanity that molded her into a person with a profound appreciation of contradictions in our society. She attributed her perspectives to her long years of activism. ‘Nang Shar, as we fondly call her, has nurtured a character that welcomes people of different views and developed the ability to lead the person to a better understanding of the world – such a great quality of an effective community organizer…’Nang Shar was a humble woman who was proud to acknowledge that amongst the sectors that raised her awareness to social justice issues was the youth sector, her students at Central Philippines University. It was one of the sectors that “educated” her about activism. She was a teacher who listened well to her students, and her heart was open to realities because she let the younger ones feed her intellectual curiosity and political inquiries.”– Deaconess Norma Dollaga
“Thank you, Ma’am Sharon for sharing your colorful and meaningful life with us. You exemplified leadership beyond measure. We witnessed your commitment, passion and creativity to the ministry of human rights, justice and peace for the interest of the struggling people. As early as now, people in the ecumenical community are now suggesting that your name should be included in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani’s wall of remembrance…You were a gift to humanity.” – Deaconess Rubilyn Litao
“Rev. Dr. Sharon Rose Ruiz-Duremdes will long be remembered as a trailblazer of faith and courage — the first woman and lay General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), who led with conviction and compassion from 2000 to 2007. Her ministry was marked by steadfast advocacy for human rights, gender justice, ecological stewardship, and the pursuit of genuine peace.”—United Church of Christ in the Philippines
“Not only was Sharon’s grasp of the situation incisive, it was also firmly grounded in the experiences of thetoiling masses: the poor, oppressed, marginalized and exploited. Sharon’s writings—often affirmed through collective feedback — were among the first to elaborate and explore the intensity and range of the root-causes ofthe GRP-NDFP armed conflict. She helped peace advocates to internalize and embrace the priority of addressing the roots of the armed conflict, rather than simply calling for the laying down of arms. Her articulations are still referenced and repeated today…One notable construct that Sharon often employed was drawing the line between having and not having something. Sharon asked: What makes for peace versus un-peace? Un-peace is not just an absence. She created space to denounce State harassment, abuse, and militarization, especially in far-flung communities. She also expansively outlined the needed fulfilment of civil and political as well as socioeconomic and cultural rights…Sharon lived out the Church’s bias for the poor. She proclaimed the Church’s stand WITH the poor, as Christians ON THE SIDE OF the poor. She dared to challenge the Church community, illuminating that economic disparity is injustice, an un-Christian situation.” – Pilgrims for Peace
“Indeed, her life is worth imitating as she imitated Christ Jesus—truly a ‘Rose of Sharon’ who always brought refreshment, lent beauty to justice, and shared the fragrance of holiness. Her impact is immeasurable. Our prayers are with her loved ones.” – The Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
“Rev. Dr. Duremdes inspired generations of pastors, theologians, and Christian workers through her teaching, preaching, and leadership. Her voice of compassion, courage, and conviction will continue to echo in the hearts of all who were touched by her ministry.” — Central Philippines University
“She stood and walked with the people in the most difficult times in our nation’s history. Her words and deeds, and more importantly, her prophetic witness and leadership, reflected a deep faith that never wavered in the face of injustice, and a love that never separated faith from action. KARAPATAN pays tribute to Rev. Dr. Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes — a woman of faith and courage whose life was a living testament to the struggle for human rights and genuine peace.” — Karapatan
(Raymund B. Villanueva)
