10月 26,2019
by Kato Makoto, executive secretary
I attended the 2019 Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain, held at the Hilton Hotel in Birmingham, England’s second largest city, from June 29 through July 4. The program began with Assistant secretary of the Conference Rev. Ruth Gee’s declaration, stating that the conference has been held in the same fashion since 1744. Everybody stood to sing a Charles Wesley hymn, as the outgoing president and vice-president entered in procession. (A clergy member is always elected as president and a lay person as vice-president, with no possibility of reelection after their one-year terms of service.) In keeping with the tradition since 1844, incoming president Rev. Dr. Barbara Glasson received a copy of John Wesley’s Bible and incoming Vice-president Prof. Clive Marsh received a copy of Charles Wesley’s 1739 Hymnal.
About 20 ecumenical foreign guests were introduced on the stage, with those from Asia including two from the China Christian Council, one from Myanmar, and another from Japan. The foreign guests were each assigned to one of the 33 districts and participated in all the agenda as regular delegates. I was assigned to the London District and participated, though I was dealing with jetlag.
Sunday worship was held at the conference site, concluding with a sending-out ceremony for the ministers and deacon ministers who would be ordained in the afternoon at the local churches. Some of this year’s discussion focused on the role of deacon ministers in the ministry of the church, with the confirmation that they should take a leadership role that includes preaching. We sang more than ten hymns in the worship service. I have never heard of any other assembly with more hymn singing than that.
On Monday the real deliberations began. Due to the nation’s low birthrate and the aging of the population, this denomination is also confronted with declining membership, causing much heated discussion about the budget. The same-sex marriage issue which had been assigned to a special committee three years ago, was discussed under the topic of Marriage and Relations.
About half of the 350 representatives took the opportunity to speak on the stage for the two-minute time period allotted to speakers. There was also impassioned discussion on the topic of calling. As I look back on it, I felt as though I had been to a church retreat. (Tr. AKO)
英国メソジスト教会年会報告
２０１９年６月２９日から７月４日にかけて、イギリス第二の都市バーミンガム、ヒルトンホテルで開催された英国メソジスト教会の年会に参加した。最初のプログラムは年会補助書記のRev. Ruth Geeによる「メソジスト教会は1744年以来このような形で年会を行っている」との宣言で始まり、一同起立してチャールズ・ウェスレーの讃美歌を歌いつつ退任する議長と副議長を迎えた。任期一年で、議長は教職が、副議長は信徒が代々選ばれ再任されることはない。1844年以来の伝統で、新議長のRev. Dr. Barbara Glassonにはジョン・ウェスレーのフィールドバイブルが、副議長のProf Clive Marshにはチャールズ・ウェスレーの1739年度版の讃美歌がそれぞれ贈呈された。約20名の海外ゲストも名前を呼ばれ壇上で紹介された。アジアからはCCC（China・Christian Council）から２名、ミャンマーと日本から各１名であった。海外ゲストはそれぞれ３３教区に割り振られ、正議員としてすべての議事に参加する。私はロンドン教区に席が与えられ、時差ボケと戦いながら議事に参加した。翌日曜日は午前に会議場で礼拝が行われた。プログラムの最後は午後に地域の教会で按手を受ける教職と執事の派遣式であった。年会の議事の中には執事の職務についての話し合いがあり、説教を含めてミニストリーの指導者的な位置づけが確認された。礼拝では10曲以上が賛美された。これほどに讃美する総会を他に私は知らない。月曜日から本格的な議事が始まった。英国メソジストも少子高齢化からくる教会員の減少の影響を受け。予算の審議は白熱した。同性婚も３年前の年会で専門委員会が発足して、Marriage and relationshipsという大きな枠の中で協議された。議員数はおよそ350、発言者には２分が与えられ、４日間で約半数の議員が壇上で発言した。Callingについても熱心な議論が展開された。終わってみれば教会修養会に参加した気分であった。
（加藤誠）
10月 26,2019
by Watanabe Taeko, chair of Preparatory Committee
50th Anniversary Central Committee Conference
This year’s National Federation of Kyodan Women’s Societies’ (NFKWS) National Assembly, held June 7-8, marked the 50th anniversary of the first NFKWS National Assembly. The theme was “Living in Love and Truth: Listening to the Gospel of John.” Participants came from locations that ranged from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Including the ecumenical guests, more than 900 participants met in one location, Makuhari Messe, Inc. International Conference Hall. At this year’s conference, participants were told, “Let’s bridge the generation gap and connect!” It had been decided that the second day of the conference would be Saturday, in order to make participation easy for everyone, including women with young children as well as women who are employed.
After the opening worship service, there was a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary. As participants listened to a cello performance, they watched “The 50-Year Journey of the NFKWS” on a large screen in the Conference Hall. It was a time to look back once again on the organization’s history. After that, participants attended the breakout session of their choice. The five breakout sessions planned by the committee in charge of NFKWS activities were entitled “Listening to what the Bible says about Peace,” “The Church and Evangelism,” “The Environment and Our Children,” “Solidarity with our World,” and “The Blessings of Growing Old.” During the evening “Federation Hour,” each district gave a report on its activities. Every report was thought-provoking, and participants felt that they shared each other’s tasks. At the close of the first day, a soloist led the entire assembly in singing a hymn together.
After the morning prayer on the second day, Saya Church (Shikoku District) Pastor Shinoura Chifumi spoke on the assembly theme in a message about the women mentioned only in the Gospel of John. These comments were among the many received on the follow-up questionnaire: “It was a powerful lecture that was also easy to understand. It echoed in my heart.” “I received the words as words spoken for me, and it was encouraging for me.” “God loves me, and every single person has been given a gift.”
The hearts of all the participants were touched when their youngsters sang children’s gospel hymns. After that, the participants separated into these three groups for a time of fellowship: “A Deeper Look at the Theme,” “Lectures for the Younger Generation,” and “Fellowshiping Freely.” This year there was a program for the children called “Did You Know That? / A Story About When You Were Born.” The planners realized that there was a wide range of participants, so they prepared many ways to get them involved. The closing communion worship service was a special time to recognize the blessings of being in fellowship with the Lord.
It is our hope that in every activity on the schedule, this conference expressed thankfulness and praise to God, who has led the NFKWS throughout its journey. We are also mindful of our position that we are an autonomous organization within the Kyodan, an organization of church women who are in solidarity with, and involved with, the mission of the Kyodan. We will move forward and continue to have hope! During this conference, we experienced the solidarity of church women who are involved in churches throughout the nation. All participants will take this solidarity to heart, listen to and follow the Word of God, and enthusiastically work for the Lord, wherever the Lord sends them. That kind of strength was given to us at this NFKWS National Assembly. Let us be thankful for the grace of God, which is greater than we can imagine!
(Tr. KT)
全国教会婦人会連合50周年全国集会
日本キリスト教団全国教会婦人会連合は、６月７日～８日に50周年全国集会を開催。主題「愛と真理に生きるとはーヨハネによる福音書に聴くー」。会場の幕張メッセ国際会議場には、北海道から沖縄まで、そしてエキュメニカルゲストを加えて９００人を越える参加者が一堂に会した。今回の集会は、「世代をこえてつながろう」と呼びかけ、若い子育て世代や有職女性も参加しやすいよう２日目は土曜日に設定した。
開会礼拝の後は、50周年セレモニー。チェロ演奏に聞き入りながら、会場の大スクリーンに映し出された「婦人会連合の50年の歩み」を見て、改めて歴史をふり返る時となった。その後、婦人会連合の活動を担う小委員会が企画した５つの分科会「聖書から聴く平和」「教会・伝道」「環境・子ども」「世界との連帯」「老いと祝福」の中で、希望した分科会に参加。夜には連合アワーとなり、各教区よりの報告を受けた。それぞれの活動に思いをはせると共に、課題を共有した。最後に独唱と会場一体となった賛美で１日目は終了。
２日目は、朝祷の後、篠浦千史牧師（四国・さや教会）による主題講演。ヨハネによる福音書だけに登場する女性を取り上げ、メッセージが語られた。アンケートには、「わかりやすく、力強い講演で心に響いた。」「自分に語られた言葉として受け止め励まされた。」「神さまが私を愛し、一人一人賜物が与えられている」等多くの言葉が寄せられた。
心和んだ参加者の子どもたちによるキッズ賛美・ゴスペル（あなたをたたえ等）の後「主題を深める」「若い世代のための講演」「自由に交流を」の３グループに分かれ、交わりの時をもった。今回、子どものためのプログラム「しってる？うまれたときのおはなし」も実施、幅広い参加者を意識していろいろな形で関われるように準備を重ねた。最後に閉会礼拝・聖餐式、全員であずかる聖餐は、主につながる恵みを実感する格別の時となった。
全日程を通して、婦人会連合の歩みを導いてくださった神への感謝・賛美を表す集会になったことを願う。そして教団の宣教にかかわる教会婦人の連帯する組織として、教団内自主活動団体の立ち位置を覚えつつ、今後も希望をもって歩んでいきたい。この集会で体感した全国の教会に連なる教会婦人の連帯を心にとどめつつ、参加者それぞれが御言葉に聴き従い、遣わされたところで活き活きと主のために働く。そのような力が与えられた全国集会であった。私たちの思いを越える主の恵みに感謝！（50周年全国集会準備委員長 渡辺多恵子）
10月 26,2019
by Ishida Shinichiro, executive secretary
The Mission Conference organized by the National Christian Council in Japan (NCCJ) was held at the YMCA’s Asia Youth Center and the Japan Christian Center, July 14-16. In attendance from the Kyodan were General Secretary Akiyama Toru, Executive Secretary Ishida Shinichiro, and Miura Hiroto, a member of Sendai Kita Church. The NCCJ is made up of 30 member and associate-member churches and organizations.
The opening day’s 70th anniversary worship, which recalled the 70th year celebration of its founding in 2018, was followed by a panel discussion on the theme “The Past, Present, and Future of the Ecumenical Movement.” On the second day, there were reports from each section and committee, and separate sessions were held on the themes of mission, service, witness, and prayer and worship. The discussion topic of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee on East Asia, in which I participated, was “Japan’s Colonial Rule and North Korean Schools in Japan.” The People with Disabilities and the Church Committee’s topic was “People with Disabilities and Peace.” The Peace and Nuclear Issues Committee focused on the topics of “Aid for the Children of Chernobyl,” “The Issue of Nuclear Power Plants,” and “The Nuclear Weapon Problem.”
In the session on service that I attended, the meaning of service (diakonia) in the New Testament was affirmed, and participants talked about what they themselves are doing, such as the Kids’ Diner, feeding the homeless, volunteering after the 2015 flooding in Joso, Ibaraki Prefecture, and creating an ecumenical network to prepare for the major earthquake expected to hit the Tokyo area. It was stimulating to come into contact with the variety of ways Christians are living lives of service, starting with worship and extending to service to their neighbors.
On the third day, the NCCJ Mission Declaration 2019 was adopted. “The groaning of youth isolated in this ‘law of the jungle’ society,” “the cries for peace of an Okinawa that has been sacrificed,” “the cries of those exposed to nuclear threat,” “the cries of the women made into ‘comfort women’”—listening to all these and asking ourselves whether we have been able to be a neighbor to these women and men, the declaration states, “We declare here that we will be ‘the fellowship, the community (koinonia) of the Lord’, working for ‘God’s mission’.’’ (Tr. RB)
National Christian Council in Japan(NCC)主催・宣教会議報告
7月14日（日）～16日（火）に、「NCC（日本キリスト教協議会）主催・宣教会議」が在日本韓国YMCAと日本キリスト教会館で行われた。教団より秋山徹総幹事、石田真一郎宣教幹事、三浦洋人氏（仙台北教会員）が出席した。NCCは、30の正加盟と準加盟の教会（教団）・団体で構成される。
昨年の創立70周年を思い、初日に70周年記念礼拝を献げ、「エキュメニカル運動の過去、現在、未来」のテーマでパネルディスカッションを行った。二日目は、各部・委員会の報告会、そして「宣教」、「奉仕」、「証し」、「祈り・礼拝」のテーマ別分科会が行われた。筆者が参加した「東アジアの和解と平和」委員会では、「日本の植民地支配と朝鮮学校」の発題がなされ、「『障がい者』と教会問題」委員会では、「障がい者と平和」で発題があった。「平和・核問題」委員会では、「チェルノブイリの子どもたち支援」や「原発問題」「核兵器問題」の発題があった。
筆者が参加した「奉仕」の分科会では、新約聖書における奉仕（ディアコニア）の意味が確認され、参加者が取り組みを述べた。子ども食堂、野宿者支援給食、常総水害のボランティア、首都直下地震に備える超教派の防災ネットワーク作り等について語られた。礼拝から出発して、隣人への奉仕に生きる様々なキリスト者の生き方に触れ、刺激を受けた。
三日目に「ＮＣＣ宣教宣言2019」が採択された。「弱肉強食社会で、孤立させられる青年たちのうめき」、「犠牲にされてきた沖縄の平和の叫び」、「核の脅威に晒される人々の叫び」、「『慰安婦』とされた女性たちの叫び。」これらを聴き取り、彼／彼女たちの隣人となり得ているかを自らに問い、「神の宣教」のために働く「『主にある交わり、共同体（コイノニア）』となることを、ここに宣言します」と述べている。（石田真一郎）
10月 26,2019
by Park, Heon-Wook, member
Kyodan Commission on Ecumenical Ministries
The 36th Conference for Japanese Christians in Europe was held July 25-28 at the Grand Hotel Napoca in Cluj Napoca, the second-largest city in Romania. More than 200 Japanese Christians residing in Europe, together with other constituents of their churches and 30 to 40 of their children, participated in the event. The conference initially began after a Japanese church in Düsseldorf invited two nearby Japanese churches to join them in sponsoring such a conference once each year. The event has been held every year since that first meeting in 1983, each year attracting a broader group of participants than the previous year and from various denominations.
The theme for this year was: “Live as One who has been Liberated – The 30th Anniversary of the Liberation of East Europe in Romania.” This year was the first time the event had been held in an East European country. Citizens of the various countries represented, people who had been freed from oppression after the collapse of the East European communist countries’ regimes in 1989, were celebrating the 30th anniversary of their liberation this year. The planning committee’s efforts to create an opportunity for reexamining the meaning and challenges of freedom and liberation, while redefining the two within the context of faith, bore fruit as a result of invitations received from a Japanese missionary who has been serving in Romania for 30 years.
For the first time, the Kyodan Commission on Ecumenical Ministries sent Executive Secretary Kato Makoto and myself, a commission member, to participate in this conference. Although this annual event is an ecumenical conference, many of this year’s participants came from evangelical churches who encouraged the faith of other attendees through their passion for praise, testimony, prayer, and evangelism. Missionaries sent from Japan by the Commission on Ecumenical Ministries and their church members attend this conference and enjoy fellowship with the other participants every year.
As part of an optional two-night/three-day tour held after the conference, approximately 60 people participated in a tour of the Judetul Maramures region in Northwestern Romania, visiting the wooden churches and monasteries that symbolize the ancient orthodox faith. In addition, testimonies were given by three Japanese people at the Baptist Church’s Sunday evening service. One of the three, Rev. Kato Makoto, gave a powerful testimony about the hidden Christians and the persecution of Christians during World War II. He also shared the solidarity he felt with the Christians in Romania who had endured their own period of suffering and how that relates to our calling as Christians. (Tr. JM)
「ヨーロッパキリスト者の集い European Christian Conference」
報告 朴 憲郁 Park Heon Wook
「第36回ヨーロッパ・キリスト者の集い」が去る7月25日から28日までルーマニアのクルジュ・ナポカ市のホテルで開催され、ヨーロッパ在住の日本人キリスト者とその関係者200名を超える大人とその子どもたち30~40名が参加した。1983年にデュッセルドルフの日本語教会が近隣の他の二つの日本語教会に呼びかけて、共同で年一度の集いを始めたのがきっかけとなり、それ以降一度も中止することもなく開催され、諸教派の信徒たちの参加の輪が広がったとのことである。
今回のテーマは「解放された者として生きる－東欧解放30周年、ルーマニアで－」である。東欧圏国での開催は初めてであるが、1989年の東欧共産主義諸国の体制崩壊によって、圧政から解放された諸国民は今年、解放30周年を迎えた。自由と解放の意味と課題を見つめ、それを信仰的に問い直す機会としたいとの実行委員会の願いが、ルーマニアで30年活動を続ける日本人宣教師の勧誘の下で実った。
教団世界宣教委員会はこのたび初めて、委員の一人である私と加藤誠幹事とをこのカンファレンスに送り出した。年一度のエキュメニカルな＜集い＞ではあるが、その多くは福音派系の教会信徒たちであり、讃美・証し・祈り・伝道に情熱を燃やし、信仰を励まし合った。世界宣教委員会が派遣した数名の宣教師とその群れの信徒たちも毎年これに参加し、交わっている。
＜集い＞の終了後に二泊三日のオプショナルツアーがあり、約６０名がルーマニア北西部のマラムレシュ地方を巡って、伝統ある正教信仰のシンボルとなる木造教会や修道院などを見学した。またバプテスト教会の主日夕礼拝では３名の日本人の証言があり、その内の一人の加藤誠牧師は、日本のキリシタン時代や第二次大戦下のキリスト教徒迫害に触れつつ、ルーマニアにおける受難期を耐え抜いた信徒との連帯とキリスト者の使命について力強く証言した。
10月 26,2019
Again this year, the Young Adult Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) sponsored the “I Love Taiwan Mission.” ILT was held from June 26 through July 13 with the theme “Corners of God’s Kingdom.”
Since 2009, the Kyodan has been sending young adults to participate in ILT through the Committee on Taiwanese Church Relations. This year’s participants were Ms. Kosaka Wakana from Izumi Aisen Church in Tohoku District and Ms. Shimozono Haruka from Kyodo Midorigaoka Church in Tokyo District. The purpose of having this program in Taiwan is to provide an opportunity for young adults from both Taiwan and abroad to serve the Lord and the Lord’s Church as members of the Lord’s larger family and to gain a multi-faceted knowledge of Taiwan. This year 102 young adults attended, with 22 participants coming from eight foreign countries.
At the opening orientation, some pastors and professors gave talks on the Bible and other topics. Following the presentations, participants were separated into groups in which the topics were discussed. Kosaka was impressed that despite varying opinions expressed in her group discussion, the members seriously continued to debate and seek answers. Rather than only reading the Bible passively, she felt keenly the importance of learning more about why certain scriptures appear as they do as well as the need to pursue a greater understanding of the background.
The main part of the program was ten days of service in a local church. While serving in churches throughout the country, the participants and the members of these churches shared their culture, history, cuisine, dances, songs of praise, and much more.
This year both Japanese participants were assigned to aboriginal churches. Kosaka was assigned to a church of the Paiwan people in Pingtung. She learned that the Paiwan people and Japan have a strong historical connection. She also met a person there who had volunteered during the Great East Japan Disaster. As a result of her experience, she hopes to deepen her knowledge of the history shared by the Paiwan people and Japan, as well as to serve as a bridge between Tohoku and Pingtung.
Shimozono was assigned to the Kabalelradhane Church of the Rukai people in Pingtung. While there, she sensed the relational ties among these rural people, which people in the city lack, and felt a strong need across society to support the youth and elderly with intentional neighborly love. (Tr. JS)
—Hironaka Yoshimi, staff
Commission on Ecumenical Ministries
I Love Taiwan Mission を終えて
今年も台湾基督長老教会（PCT）青年委員会が主催するI Love Taiwan Mission（ILT）が「神の国の片隅に」いうテーマで6月26日から7月13日まで行われた。
教団は台湾協約委員会を通して2009年から青年を派遣している。今年は高坂若菜こうさかわかなさん（いずみ愛泉教会）と下園晴歌しもぞのはるかさん（経堂緑岡教会）を派遣した。このプログラムは「台湾で、」国内外の青年が主の大家族として共に主と教会に仕えることと、多面的な台湾を知ることを目的としている。今年は102名の国内外青年（海外8ヶ国からは22名）が集まった。
始めのオリエンテーションでは、聖書や各トピックについて教授や牧師が話をし、参加者も分野ごとに意見を交した。高坂さんは、参加者同士が異なる意見でも諦めずに討論し、主体的に問いつづける姿勢に感銘を受け、聖書も受け身で読むのでなく、なぜ聖書にそう記載があるのか、その背景を問い続け、学び続けることの大切さ実感したそうだ。
プログラムのメインは10日間の現地教会における奉仕である。参加者は台湾各地の教会に派遣され教会と地域活動の奉仕をしながら、互いの文化、歴史、料理、踊り、讃美歌を分かち合う。今年は二名ともに原住民教会へ派遣された。パイワン族の教会である長楽ちょうらく教会に派遣された高坂さんは、パイワン族と日本に歴史的にも強いつながりがあることを知り、同時に東日本大震災のボランティア経験者にも出会ったことから、今後パイワン族や日本の歴史について更に認識を深め、東北と屏東の架け橋になりたいと願っている。またルカイ族の教会である神山かみやま教会に派遣された下園さんは、都会では希薄になっている人々のつながりを感じ、社会全体で子どもや高齢者を積極的に支える隣人愛の大切さに改めて気付かされたそうだ。今年も皆様の祈りと支えに感謝する。 （廣中佳実）
