From the Street to the Pulpit

by Kitty Gorrospe, BSMT '96

Not very far,
in a humble place,
to a simple family
born was a babe…

Rev. Dr. Winfred B. Vergara… to the Episcopal Church and Trinity University of Asia, his name rings a bell. Born in Pili, Ajuy, Iloilo, Philippines, Fred as he is fondly called by family and friends, is third to a brood of six children. The son of Aureo, a veteran of World War II who died before receiving his pension and US citizenship, and Clarita, Fred grew up to be a dutiful son and an understanding sibling. Today, he lives in New York, USA with his of 28 years, Angela Vinluan, daughter of Methodist pastor, Rev. Victor Vinluan.

The hours of time
moved and moved,
the days passed by
the baby grew…

As the third child, Fred had to give way to his older siblings to go to high school because his father, then working as a tailor, barely earn enough for the family. He would help his mother barter rice cakes (puto) to the fishermen and the fish, they then would barter to farmers so they would have rice.

As a child, Fred is a big dreamer. In the morning when he and his mother would be waiting for the fishing ships to dock, he would wonder what is beyond the horizon. Then, in the afternoon, when they go to the farms to barter the fish for rice, he would wonder what's on the other side of the mountains. This was his vision when he ran away from home.

He went to school
mingled with scholars,
read books, mastered things,
gained to his name honors…

At age fifteen, Fred left his barrio and stowed away in a steamer bound for Manila called "Galaxy". He hid from the steamer inspector by pretending to be one of the kitchen boys. He then became a street kid in Manila until a priest, Porfirio dela Cruz, now a retired bishop living in New Zealand, helped him through high school and then to Trinity College of Quezon City where he gained full scholarship by becaming editor of the school paper. He graduated in 1973 with a degree of Bachelor of Arts, with a double major in Political Science and Journalism.

But his thirst for knowledge, understanding and training was like a bottomless well. He pursued graduate studies and in 1978, finished his Master of Divinity from Saint Andrew's Theological Seminar, Quezon City, Philippines. Then, in 1986, earned his second master's degree (Master of Theology) from the South Asian Graduate School of Theology in Singapore.

Never claiming he is wise enough of things, he later pursued post-graduate studies and in 1990, earned his Doctor of Ministry from the San Francisco Theological Seminary in san Anselmo, Califormia, USA, and just recently received his Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, in Berkeley, California, USA.

Although mighty,
he was never lofty;
he was leader
who led by serving…

From being Editor of the Christian Register & Aglipayan Review of the Philippine Independent Church in Manila, Philippine, Fred entered the priestly vocation in 1978 and served as Parish Priest of the Philippine Independent Church in Dagupan City and Pasay City, Philippines. Then, because of the calling, he served as Missionary Priest in 1981-1986 at the Saint Andrew's Anglican Cathedral in Singapore.

His superiors saw goodness in his labor than in 1987, he was made Director of Ministry Probe of the Presbytery of San Jose in San Jose, California, USA. And after this, Fred was tasked to hold multiple positions in San Jose California: as Founding Vicar of the Holy Child Episcopal Church, Chaplain of the San Jose State University, Dean of South Valley Deanery, and Canon Commissioner of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real.

Since 2004 to the present, Fred is Director of the Ethnic Congregational Development & Missioner for Asianamerica Ministries of the Episcopal Church in New York, USA. And despite this high status and rank, Fred spends his Sundays serving as Founding Priest of the Holy Child Episcopal Church in Woodside, New York, and as permanent supply of Saint Michael's & All Angels Episcopal Church in Seaford, Diocese of Long Island, USA.

A thinker
with a mission;
a writer
with a purpose…

While doing his ministry and vocation, Fred wrote and published several books. They are: Asian Contextualization: Theology of Kasuke Koyama, Singapore (1985), Dynamics of Religious Revolution: History, Theology and Renewal of the Philippine Independent Church, California, USA (1991), Milkfish in Brackish Water: Filipino Ministry in American Context, California, USA (1991), Mainstreaming: Asian Americans in the Episcopal Church, New York, USA (2006) and Merry Heart: Contemporary Worship, New York, USA (2007).