未分類 – Page 3 – Diocese of Chubu, Nippon Sei Ko Kai

We Who Wait on the Lord

As the end of the year draws closer, news headlines of the year are featured, and I think back feeling they were from more than a year ago. During the Edo Period, the common people would listen to Joya no Kane (bells ringing out the old year) and talk about “Shichimi Go-etsu San-e.” Family members would rejoice that the year has been a good one if one had 7 delicious food, 5 happy moments and 3 wonderful encounters with someone during the year. This is quite a stylish way of spending the end of the year. Smartphones have become an element of our lives these days, so it might be worthwhile looking at stored photos on our phones. Unfortunate things and disasters can happen in any year. However, by retracing one’s memory little by little, we may be led to realize that there were happy and thankful moments. Similarly, if people can look to the past from the future, the new year, for sure, may be welcomed peacefully.

“It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:26)

Everyone knows waiting on God is not easy. The Divine Providence is vast and boundless. When unacceptable happenings occur while waiting on God, we may be torn between conflicting emotions suspecting the salvation of God and losing control of ourselves and even our belief. The book of Isaiah is going to be read during the Christmas service.

Although it was more than 700 years before the birth of our Savior, it is said as if it has already happened. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” (Isaiah 9:6) Since the birth of Christ is the Word of God and the will of God, Isaiah took it as an event that has, for sure, already happened. Waiting for the Savior is not just waiting for something uncertain. The true Savior appears to those who earnestly trust in God without any agitation towards the length of the wait.

Abram went as the Lord had told him. He was not able to obtain land easily nor was there any sign of him begetting an heir. To him, the sound of the dry desert wind might have sounded as if “that cannot possibly be.”

However, Abram looked at the stars afar, the light in darkness and continued to hold belief in God. At the beginning of the Christmas Story, the Gospel of Luke depicts Mary who was confused by the angel’s words. “How will this be…?” Mary realized that God’s greatest promise was the birth of the Savior, the Lord himself, and she came to wait on the Lord. We also wait on our Lord.

“But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:24b-25) 　

The Christmas preparations are starting. We wait with joy for that is the definite happiness. The Savior will come into this world among us. Let us spend the season of Advent trusting salvation, love, and forgiveness which God had already started.

Revd Matthew Naomichi Yano
Karuizawa Shaw Memorial Church

The 100-Year History of the Diocese

My sincere congratulations on the publication of “The History of the Diocese of Chubu II: 100^th Establishment Anniversary.” I greatly appreciate the time, effort, passion, and perseverance of all members of the Record Archive Department who took part in the editorial work.

This publication started being discussed in 2007, as written in the editorial note. In 1962, there was a publication of the 50^th-year issue of “The History of the Diocese,” but taking the opportunity of the centennial of the Diocese in 2012, we felt a need to properly put together our history after our 50^th year. So, the preparation began for the next centennial issue.

In October 2012, with many participants from within and outside the country, we were able to hold our 100^th anniversary service for the establishment of the diocese as well as occasions related to those. Even if the centennial issue may not be completed in time for the anniversary year, the goal was to keep an accurate record, and editing was proceeded taking time.

In the editorial note of “The History of the Diocese” says, “In this History, it only tells about the members of the clergy, and nothing is mentioned about the lay people. This can not be stated as the true history of the diocese.” “The History of the Diocese of Chubu II” tells not only about the lay people, but also widely depicts the history of the Diocese, churches, and related facilities. However, the writing was done mainly by the lay people of each church and facility employees.

Speaking from that point of view, if the first was a publication edited mainly by the members of the clergy, the second is a one which was written and edited by the collaboration of the lay people and members of the clergy. This may be said to be the “true history of the diocese.”

The book binding is firm, so it will sufficiently endure the many years to come in preserving its condition. I do hope many people will take a moment to read this publication, and hopefully, it becomes of encouragement and power for missionary work.

The Rt Revd Peter Ichiro Shibusawa

“Do not be Afraid of Being Denied”　　　　　　

It has been over six months since I have started as a chaplain at Rikkyo Niiza Junior and Senior High School. There have been fewer opportunities to see you all from Chubu Diocese which makes me feel very sad, but let me take a moment to update you on my status.

“Our School and Christianity,” the Rikkyo Niiza Junior and Senior High School Handbook, explains about Article 1 (Purpose) of the Rikkyo Niiza Junior and Senior High School regulations advocating character building based on Christianity. It also states that the school’s purpose is to provide education based on the teachings of Christianity and is not a school to coerce Christian faith. It seems that the work of a chaplain at Rikkyo Niiza Junior and Senior High School is not simply “leading students, as many as possible, to baptism.” For example, in “The Value and Treasure of the Anglican Churches” written by Rev. Dr. Prof. Renta Nishihara, it says that Sei Ko Kai affiliated schools, through sharing the tradition of the Church of England, was established from the point of view of pastoral care towards all those residents living within the parish. Schools were established not as a missionary tool to increase the number of church members, and I believe it is the same with Rikkyo Niiza Junior and Senior High School. So, I actively convey the Rikkyo Niiza Junior and Senior High School “freedom of religious belief” to the students and their parental guardians by referring to the establishment of Rikkyo spirit, “with our purpose to provide education based on the teachings of Christianity, we are not a school to force the faith of Christianity.”

Speaking in this way might lead to saying that I am too permissive or not doing my work. However, that is not so. Frank T. Griswold, former Presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church USA, stated that Anglican-related educational facilities are places to taste the truth, and students and faculty members are people who seek the truth. These facilities must remain open at all times to search after truth. It must not be closed. One must not fear of being questioned or denied. Anglican-related facilities which are models of Christianity are dangerous places in such a way. Declaring “freedom of religion,” which is similar to saying that “even a believer of Buddhism, Shintoism, or a non-believer cherish that belief,” means Christianity itself is being tested and denied. It is “a place of great danger.” However, we must not be afraid. The road is a rough one, but I believe it is a natural thing for via media (the middle way) churches and Anglican/Episcopalian educational facilities which “do not assert that they know the truth.” On our way in searching for the truth with such students, I believe it is a natural figure in which students learn the importance of teaching of love by Jesus, and then be given by God those who will be baptized.

Revd Joseph Masatsugu Ishida
Chaplain of Rikkyo Niiza Junior & Senior High School, Rikkyo St. Paul’s Chapel

Good News

On Saturday, June 29 of this year, Mr. Timothy Osamu Kondo of Niigata St. Paul’s Church was baptized and confirmed. The 75-year old Mr. Kondo had a stroke 16 years ago and suffers speech impediment aftereffects and is physically challenged.

After every monthly Holy Eucharist, while each individual tells about one’s daily thoughts or God’s works discovered through occurrences, Ms. Michiko Kondo, Osamu’s companion, would oftentimes talk about him. I told her I would like to see Osamu, and the preparation time came for baptism and confirmation.

I visited Osamu with Michiko at the nursing home he was staying at and explained to him about baptism and confirmation that Michiko had told him about beforehand. When I asked him if he wanted to think about it a little more, he immediately answered my question, telling me he would like to be baptized and confirmed. I was truly happy to hear his answer.

It had been a while since the last baptism at Muramatsu, so with the godparents-to-be Mr. Tadashi Sato and Ms. Atsumi Sato, we took a moment to read the Book of Common Prayers and pray after the Holy Communion, and shared a time of learning.

We had asked support from the people of the nursing home beforehand and were able to have the baptism and confirmation in the room where Osamu was staying.

The following day was “Paul’s Festival” at Niigata St. Paul’s Church. Michiko had joined us hoping to give her gratitude to all those who had prayed with joy during the preparations of the baptism and confirmation. Michiko had wanted to have her wedding in a church, but Osamu, who was not a Christian, opposed to this idea and her dream was never realized. She had always regretted this and told me that she had always kept in mind the wedding vows said at her relative’s wedding.

“Wilt thou have this woman/man to be thy wedded wife/husband to live together in the Holy Estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her/ him? Comfort her/him, honor and keep her/him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep thee only unto her/him as long as you both shall live?”

The two had been supporting each other as both of them worked at the photo studio. Their religious beliefs were different, and everyday was not all fun. When Osamu, in charge of managing the photo studio, had a stroke and was unconscious for several days, Michiko was very nervous. So, when Osamu woke up, she told him, “I’m so relieved. Don’t worry about a thing. Leave it all up to me. When people get married at church, they make a promise to keep each other in sickness and in health.” She remembered when Osamu, unable to formulate speech, heard these words and tears rolled down his cheeks.

Michiko said that Osamu’s baptism and confirmation seem as if Michiko herself has received a reward for her faithful life. One’s joy had become the joy of our community of faith, and those who had gathered were all happy. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” thank you!

Revd. Fides Sunhee Kim
Niigata St. Paul’s Church

“Ryujo Women’s College Aiming Higher”

Ryujo Gakuin (St. Mary’s) marking its 121^st year of establishment this year has been approved for a four-year college, “Nagoya Ryujo Women’s College (Department of Child Studies).” Currently, it consists of St. Mary’s College, Nagoya and three affiliated kindergartens, and this new four-year college will be joining anew.

The plan for the four-year college started to be taken into consideration two years ago, and through board meetings and councilors meetings, made a formal approval request to the Ministry of Education, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) last October. The application had been accepted, and examination was underway. It was approved through paper works, interviews, and on-site examinations on the aptitude of the college as an organization, detailed examination of the contents of the education, the faculty system, and maintenance of facilities. I myself also went to MEXT several times for interviews by the college council, and there was also an examination by the committee member at the junior college as well. I am relieved it was approved and finished smoothly.

The present-day social needs for child nursing and education have become diversified and complex. Childcare workers are required to have not only a high degree of specialization, but also a broad, social perspective and a sense of mission as someone who holds the lives of many. Furthermore, nursing from the point of view of multicultural coexistence is seen as necessary in Aichi Prefecture.

In order to meet such needs, the existing junior college, on top of nursery teacher trainings, organized a new curriculum and improved the campus environment to address the four-year nursery teacher trainings. I hope this further heightens the childcare teacher training on top of the existing achievements and experiences at Ryujo.

Student recruitment will be starting soon. In order to secure the number of students, the student supporting system is being organized including scholarship enhancements. I hope the new Ryujo can provide more students the opportunity to learn, and I sincerely ask all people within the diocese for your understanding and support for the further development of Ryujo.

The Rt Revd Peter Ichiro Shibusawa

“Workers are Few”

The other day, I visited the Central Theological College and had an opportunity to meet with the seminarians. The principal of the College had long hoped to have the bishops from each diocese to interact with the seminarians, and several bishops have been visiting the school until now. This time they have asked me from the Chubu Diocese. It had been a while since I last had stepped inside the dorms. They had changed quite a bit, but I felt very nostalgic. 　

Arriving in the late afternoon on the first day, we offered our evening prayers together, ate dinner in the cafeteria with the seminarians, offered our morning prayers on the following day, had breakfast, and then was given about an hour and a half during the morning to talk bout the Diocese of Chubu as well as about myself.

Currently, there are 5 seminarians enrolled at the Central Theological College. All are Candidates for the Holy Orders, and four out of the five are women. Recent seminarians who enter theological schools have gone through various social experiences, and when they are actually sent to a church, I believe those experiences will be extremely useful in the fields of missionary and pastoral care. What is most important is that they are getting along with each other. In my days, there were times when seminarians would get into fistfights.

However, the current 4 seminarians will be graduating or completing their courses next March, and if there is no other enrollment, there will only be one seminarian. The same goes for The Bishop Williams’ Theological Seminary.

In the Diocese of Chubu, since Mr. Taro Aihara, a Candidate for the Holy Order, finished Theological College in March, there has been no seminarian (a Candidate for the Holy Order.) In the next two years, there will be three clergies retiring including myself. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the Harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38) Let us pray so there will be workers who will be sent to us.

The Rt Revd Peter Ichiro Shibusawa

Church of England Findings from the Church Growth Research Program

I would like to introduce the “Church of England’s Findings from the Church Growth Research Program 2011-2013,” (hereafter “report”) which was translated through the collaboration of the Diocesan Missionary Council’s Ministry Department and Educational Department in 2017. The report is titled “From Anecdote to Evidence 1.0,” a good reference in studying the case on growing churches even in Western Europe where there tends to be a decline in Christian churches in general.

The reason the word “growth” is being used is that the current situation of decline is so rapid that it cannot be helped but to demand for growth.

When speaking about church growth, it is largely divided into numerical and contextual growths. Since the time of European imperial colonization, churches for a long time have been using the Great Commission from Matthew Chapter 28 and believed numerical growth to be as a high priority value. Granted, the increase in number has a direct relation to church operation and therefore, difficult to lump together, but alongside numerical growth, contextual growth (glorious life) has been mentioned as a keyword more serious, and internal, holistic, and social growths have come to be valued.

Especially in England, this report tells about how it has now become an era where churches must come closer to the people who have left traditional churches, and with the young generations and multi-cultural residents. And with the start of the new era with rapid changes, not churches just waiting and making themselves familiar to the people by saying “welcome,” but churches must listen to the words of the people by stepping outside. The report tells how Western European churches who had never faced such huge changes with passing of time have overcome those circumstances.

Of course, this is not saying that growth will be seen in our Japanese churches imitating in such a way. I would like you to read this from a standpoint of not how to convey Christianity, but how to relate the values of God’s Kingdom.

Looking at the story of the “Good Samaritan” in the bible, the thinking of the Jews in those days did not include Samarians as neighbors. (A thinking that will not be broken.) However, repeating questions and answers to “Who is our neighbor?”, it is important to find our new neighbor in this era. (A thinking that there is not a thinking that can’t be broken.)

I feel present churches with traditional faith may grow together through the working of aggressively finding their new neighbor. Of course, there is a certain distance between churches in Japan, where England and Christian culture are not the mainstream, but there are similar points in the circumstances of missionary. Due to the shift of younger generations, the existing local community is falling apart, and an increase in the elderly population has been greatly proclaimed. The commonality is the phenomenon that the church itself is losing power of address from the younger people.

The church missionary work will be targeted not only to the member attendants of the church, but to the whole living area where the church belongs to. It is important that common awareness is present in the whole body of the congregation. And, not only the laity securing the religious calmness, but the purpose of the church is for all people of the society to live a glorious life. (To be able to feel God’s Kingdom).

Please take a moment to read this report in that sense, and have a chat about it.

Revd Ignasio Yoonsic Jung
Sanjo St. Mary’s Church; Nagaoka St. Luke’s Church

“Religious Activities” of the Church

The theme at the Tokyo Diocese Ministers Workshop held the other day was on “Church Finance.” Cases were introduced where profits from bazaars have been taxed these recent years, and lending its storage room for the community’s disaster prevention were not seen as a part of religious activities, and therefore became subject to taxation. Surprised at the same time, but to be honest, I was infuriated at the act of the public offices, who do not hold direct relationship to the church to limit the activities without consulting. I also felt this kind of view by the tax office is something we need to question about on our own views of the church.

“What is church?” is one of the basic themes of theology, also called ecclesiology. There is also “communion ecclesiology” which has drawn considerable attention in the field during these few years. This is just one “way of thinking” and includes many variations, but I believe this is a powerful model of the church in Japan.

Communion ecclesiology, by placing its focus on various “communions,” has a possibility of going beyond the legal and systematic understanding, and emphasizes the correlation between the universal churches spreading worldwide and the individual churches. In other words, “a church is not just a building nor a group managed as an organization. Christians work in various ways and through their creating a relationship with the surrounding, is born this ‘communion’ where the true form of church is seen.”

Within the society such as Japan, when a church attempts to form such a communion, it does not only remain in the old category of Christianity, but it stands to reason that it will form relations with the local community and various organizations. There lies the possibility for churches in Japan. I have been given the opportunity for quite a while to work at schools, and from my experiences, there is a form of a “church” within Christian schools for sure. I am convinced that Christ’s doings go beyond the realms of “Christianity.” The works of the church are done in that sense to spread in various forms this “communion” which is created in places that go beyond the framework of conventional “churches.” It is an important work of the church in Japan.

Going back to the story on tax matters, we need to question the view that limits “religious activities” to a very narrow field. Towards the idea of bazaars and cooperation with the local community not considered as “religious activities,” we must state and actually show that “Christianity is not a narrow-minded religion.” On the contrary, if churches are to turn towards the thinking that “it is good enough as long as churches hold their Sunday services,” then the act itself proves that the people themselves have affirmed to the view of the public.

When we try to create the “church is communion,” one should see the shape of the church which would never have been imagined until now. Believe that Christ is with us and works with us, so why not put our heads together?

Revd David Shintaro Ichihara
Okaya St. Barnaba’s Church

The Order of Transfer

I have once mentioned about this two years ago. The “Exhibition to Tell about Peace to Children” was held again this year at Gifu Media Cosmos. The exhibition theme was “Even shrines and temples engulfed in fire: Shrines, temples, and churches during the Gifu Air Raids” and references regarding the pre-war Gifu Sei Ko Kai building evacuation were also exhibited.

Actually, John Taro Aihara, a candidate for Holy Orders, found an order for forced evacuation at the time, the Order of Transfer, and the copy of it was displayed at this exhibition. It is said to be very rare that such and order remains, and it seems that Gifu Shimbun and even persons concerned of Kyoto University are interested. 　　　　　　

Which reminds me, during those days when I was a rector in Gifu, I had heard from Bishop Ogasawara about the forced church evacuation. Back then, the church in Kanda-machi was forced to leave in preparation for an air raid and evacuated to Mino-ota. I recall him saying not a penny was paid for the eviction since it was an order from the prefecture.

The Order of Transfer was in the name of the Governor of Gifu and said, “The building (related to Sei Ko Kai in Gifu) is needed in order to execute the air raid evacuation. Ought to transfer to Gifu Prefecture. This is an order under the provisions of the Law of Air Defense.” It was dated April 25 and said the church was to be transferred by May 5. It was an order on such a short notice. Soon after on July 9 the central part of Gifu City was burnt to ashes due to an air raid, and the lives of approximately 900 people were lost.

When it comes to war, not a single personal situation is taken into account, and everything is sacrificed for “the country.” The situation probably will not change even with the times. It has become an era where over 80 percent of the population has not experienced war. We need to think about the consequences of war to its greatest, and do our best in preventing that from happening.

The Rt Revd Peter Ichiro Shibusawa

Does the Church’s Political Statement Go Against “Political Separation”?

On February 21, the House of Bishops and the Justice and Peace Committee issued a statement on the ‘Emperor’s abdication and enthronement,’ “The country’s involvement in the Daijo-sai (the festival to celebrate the succession of the emperor) violates the Separation of Church and State.” It pointed out that spending government expenditure on the festival as a public event is against the “security of freedom of religion and Separation of Church and State” as stated in Article 20 of the Constitution of Japan. In addition, we strongly protest and are deeply concerned that by placing the festival as a public event, the image of the emperor is instilled as a special presence, and furthermore as an image of deification.　

When a church makes a political statement, one might see such criticism as “violation of the separation of Church and State” with quotes from Matthew 22:21 of the Bible, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” However, the separation of Church and State, in our country, is inseparable from freedom of religion, and it is deeply related to thoughts and both freedom of religion and speech. Article 20 of the Constitution is stipulated as follows.

Constitution Article 20
Freedom of religion is guaranteed to all. No religious organization shall receive any privileges from the State, nor exercise any political authority.
2. No person shall be compelled to take part in any religious act, celebration, rite or practice.
3. The State and its organs shall refrain from the religious education or any other religious activity.

As stated in Article 20 Clause 3 of the Constitution, the separation of Church and State means that the State is separated from religion. What is being said is the separation of “State and religion,” a principle that denies the State’s involvement in any specific religion, and guarantees the freedom of religion, one of the basic human rights. Although the kanji “sei” (meaning to govern) is used in the Japanese word for the “separation of Church and State,” the kanji “sei” is neither “seiji” (politics) nor “seito” (political party). It does not mean the separation of “politics and religion.”　

Referring to the latter part of Article 20 Clause 1 of the Constitution of Japan “no religious organization shall receive any privileges from the State, nor exercise any political authority,” it seems to arise a misunderstanding that it goes against the separation of Church and State law when a religious organization is involved in political activities. This provision prohibits religions to receive privileges from the State and demonstrates the religious neutrality of the State.

The separation of Church and State sought by the spirit of the Constitution of Japan is stipulated from reflecting on the unified State and State Shinto infringing the basic human rights of many people in Asia and the people of Japan before the war. We cannot omit this and think about the separation of Church and State and the freedom of religion. Again, it is demanding the religious neutrality of the State, not the political neutrality of the religious people.

Rather, the Constitution of Japan guarantees “freedom of assembly and association,” and religious groups also have their freedom of assembly and association. Those who believe in God are certainly free to gather and organize religious groups, and no one is prohibited from participating in political activities based on their own faith.

If anything, churches, not bound by the political system, will tell the words of God through gospel preaching. Our showing the values of Christ to the world based on the words and deeds of Jesus, is an important responsibility of our churches.

Therefore, the church has no choice but to express the intention to this “statement on the emperor’s abdication and enthronement” since Christian churches in the past permitted the adherents to visit shrines as a “social etiquette.” It is part of a reflection on the fact that we have cooperated in moving forward with the war through the united Japanese nation and State Shinto and the failure to fulfill our prophetic mission.

Basic human rights were given to us by God. When the country neglects the Separation of Church and State and tries to violate the basic human rights, the church must play a role as a prophet to correct it according to the words of the Bible.

Revd Ambrosia Kaori Goto
Nagoya St. Mark’s Church, Aichi St. Luke’s Church