Rhee Timbang

{{Short description|Filipino bishop (born 1959)}}

{{Philippine name|Millena|Timbang}}

{{Infobox Christian leader

| type = bishop

| honorific-prefix = The Most Reverend

| name = Rhee Timbang,
Obispo Maximo XIII

| honorific-suffix =

| image = OM Rhee Timbang 2019.jpg

| caption = Rhee Timbang, Obispo Maximo XIII, {{circa}} 2019.

| title = Thirteenth Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church

| church = {{ublist|Philippine Independent Church}}

| see = Manila

| appointed = 10 May 2017

| term_start = 25 June 2017

| term_end = 29 June 2023

| birth_name = Rhee Millena Timbang

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|06|08}}{{Cite web |title=Happy 64th Birthday Eminencia Rhee Timbang |url=https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.cartin/posts/pfbid037eBjprMkneDxacxFHpVVK4JMShj3YGjzYxgcsRHqZDySfj63YnJHryExftgpt3uNl |date=June 8, 2023 |publisher=Jonathan Orias Cartin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918041000/https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.cartin/posts/pfbid037eBjprMkneDxacxFHpVVK4JMShj3YGjzYxgcsRHqZDySfj63YnJHryExftgpt3uNl |archive-date=September 18, 2023 |url-status=live |via=Facebook}}

| birth_place = Surigao del Norte, Philippines{{cite book |last=Nallos |first=Bienvinido Jr. E. |year=2022 |title=Know Your Faith: A Question-and-Answer approach of knowing the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) |publisher=Bienvinido E. Nallos, Jr. and Graphic Etc. Printhaus |isbn=9786210602876}}{{Cite web |title=THANKFUL By Mayette Timbang |url=https://www.facebook.com/teejae.cones/posts/pfbid0apRAnQFGouwpDhzt7oVDQPEoY6FBgJdKSurbjq7sajHTLps5BDkxieQ2KLJ4uKAbl |date=May 8, 2023 |publisher=Tee Jae Bulactiar Senoc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918044033/https://www.facebook.com/teejae.cones/posts/pfbid0apRAnQFGouwpDhzt7oVDQPEoY6FBgJdKSurbjq7sajHTLps5BDkxieQ2KLJ4uKAbl |archive-date=September 18, 2023 |url-status=live |via=Facebook}}

| predecessor = Ephraim Fajutagana

| successor = Joel Porlares

| other_post = *IFI Diocesan Bishop of Surigao (1996–present; {{small|concurrent capacity during OM term}})

| ordination = {{ublist | 18 April 1982 {{small|(Diaconate)}} | 23 May 1982 {{small|(Priesthood)}} }}

| consecration = 29 September 1996 {{small|(Episcopate)}}

| consecrated_by = Alberto Ramento

| residence = Surigao City
Metro Manila

| nationality = Filipino

| religion = Aglipayan
{{small|(Philippine Independent Church/Iglesia Filipina Independiente)}}

| spouse = Ma. Theresa "Mayette" Timbang

| children = 2

| education = *Saint Andrew’s Theological Seminary {{small|(BTh and MDiv)}}

• Trinity University of Asia
• University of the Philippines Diliman
• Birmingham City University

| previous_post =

• Chairperson of the IFI Supreme Council of Bishops

| coat_of_arms = Coat of Arms of Obispo Maximo Rhee Timbang.png

| module = {{Infobox bishop styles

|embed= Yes

| image = Coat of Arms of the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church).png

| bishop name = Rhee Timbang

| dipstyle = His Eminence

| offstyle = Your Eminence

| relstyle = Obispo Máximo XIII
The Most Reverend

|deathstyle =

}}

}}

Rhee Millena Timbang is the thirteenth Obispo Máximo or Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church (Iglesia Filipina Independiente) who served from 2017 to 2023. He was elevated from Diocesan Bishop of Surigao to Obispo Máximo (OM) on June 25, 2017 and succeeded Ephraim Fajutagana after getting elected on May 9, 2017. He is the first supreme bishop from Mindanao. He was also previously the church's Chairperson of the Supreme Council of Bishops.{{cite news |title=Iglesia Filipina Independiente enthrones 13th Archbishop |url=https://nccphilippines.org/2017/06/22/iglesia-filipina-independiente-enthrones-13th-arcbishop/ |accessdate=2 January 2019 |publisher=National Council of Churches in the Philippines |date=22 June 2017}}{{Cite web |title= News from the Philippine Independent Church |url=https://www.utrechter-union.org/page/518/news_from_the_philippine_indepen |work=Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic) |access-date=November 28, 2022}}

In his role as Obispo Máximo, as well as a widely regarded human rights defender and staunch advocate of the marginalized sectors, Timbang has been highly critical of then-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of martial law in Mindanao and the task force NTF-ELCAC. He has condemned those who would unjustly vilify and link him and his church with the ongoing communist rebellion in the Philippines.{{Cite web|url=http://davaotoday.com/main/human-rights/red-tagged-ifi-bishop-we-fear-for-our-lives-and-liberty/|title=Red-tagged IFI bishop: We fear for our lives and liberty|last=Genotiva|first=Mara S.|date=2019-02-24|website=Davao Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.panaynews.net/red-tagging-of-iglesia-filipina-independiente-and-partners-2/|title=Red-tagging of Iglesia Filipina Independiente and partners|last=Timbang|first=Rhee|date=2019-03-03|website=Panay News|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-12}}

A proactive promoter of ecumenism, in 2021, during the Philippine Independent Church's 119th Proclamation Anniversary and as part of celebrating 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, Timbang led the signatories from the representatives of the Philippine Independent Church (IFI) in the signing of two joint statements with the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), represented by the officials of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, expressing both churches' readiness for a more ecumenical cooperation amidst diversity. The liturgical launching of the two documents was held at the IFI National Cathedral. The first statement was titled "Celebrating the Gift of Faith, Learning from the Past, and Journeying Together" and the second one as "Mutual Recognition of Baptisms between the IFI and the RCC in the Philippines." In one of the statements, both IFI and Roman Catholic leaders "ask and pray for mutual forgiveness for any injuries inflicted in the past" and "strive for the healing and purification of memories among its members".{{Cite web |title=Celebrating the gift of faith, learning from the past, and journeying together |url=https://philippines.licas.news/2021/08/04/celebrating-the-gift-of-faith-learning-from-the-past-and-journeying-together/ |date=August 4, 2021 |publisher=LICAS News |website=Latest Catholic News in Asia |access-date=August 4, 2021}}{{Cite web |title=Catholic, IFI churches move towards reconciliation |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/catholic-ifi-churches-move-towards-reconciliation/ |date=August 3, 2021 |publisher=CBCP News |website=Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines |access-date=August 3, 2021}}

Timbang was succeeded by Joel Porlares, his former General Secretary, as the Supreme Bishop in June 2023 after six years of tenure. Timbang remains the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Surigao.