The Rt Revd Peter Ichiro Shibusawa

Last December 1, the 20^th Anniversary Service of the Ordination of Women as Priests was held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Diocese of Tokyo.  Usually, it is rare that women priests come together all at once, so it was quite spectacular.  I was again reminded of how many women priests we have in Nippon Sei Ko Kai and felt reassured.

The Reverend Canon Terrie Robinson from the Church of England (Director for Women in Church and Society at the Anglican Communion Office) gave the sermon and spoke of several points.  The ones which especially struck me were …

“We (women) have come from a place of exile, a place where we were not permitted to serve God fully as witnesses…but, this will help us to understand the individual who is classed by others as an ‘outsider’.  This will help us to stand in solidarity with any community in our world that is pushed to the margins,” “As Christians, we know that…transformation requires a willingness…to let go of old certainties so that we are able to grasp what is new and full of possibility,” “In all our Churches around the Anglican Communion, changes in practice, including steps towards women’s ordination, have often been accompanied by anxiety and fear.  Sometimes we need to let go of old ways of thinking and behaving…so that we are free to discover and grasp the truth that shall make us free.”  And lastly the Reverend’s closing words were, “Do not fear! Dare to sing a new song to the Lord!” 

I believe that everyone is invited to do service.  Fear comes with change.  However, when you believe in God and take in that change with prayers and courage, the grace of God full of blessing will be given.  I think the ordination of women priests teaches us this fact.

The Rt Revd Peter Ichiro Shibusawa

The title phrase comes from a TV advertising campaign promoting people to go have cancer checkups.  In the TV commercial, the husband and wife are playing tennis, and the husband says, “In the event that I develop cancer…”  Then the wife clearly replies by saying, “Not in the event that, but it’s half and half.” 

Today, one out of two people develop cancer, and one out of three die from cancer.  In that sense, it can be said that anyone can get cancer, but the question is, will we be able to calmly cope with it if we are diagnosed with cancer?  Probably not.  And, it is questionable whether cancer may be cured easily.  Even after surgery or ending medicinal treatments, patients must continue checking their progress over a period of several years.  They also must deal with the possibility of recurrence and other matters which may be stressful. 

There are several people around me who are going through this.  They are all receiving treatments and are positively leading their daily lives.  I send my warmest regards to them all.

It is best if no one becomes ill, but we cannot help it as long as we are human.  A famous actress, Kirin Kiki, who passed away recently, had said, “If illness is evil and health is good, life would be no fun.”  I truly feel the same way.  Illness is of course not evil, and it is not of a negative matter in life. 

Jesus said to the blind men “the works of God might be displayed,” and he touched and healed people with leprosy.  Jesus became deeply involved with our illness and gave us encouragement and healing.  I would like to remember that Jesus watches over us. 

It is “not in an event that… but it’s half and half.”  Therefore, let’s get ourselves over to the doctor’s office for a checkup.

The Rt Revd Peter Ichiro Shibusawa

On September 8, the ordination of Bishop-elect, Revd. Ignacio Osamu Irie, was held, and he was installed as the Bishop of the Diocese of Yokohama.  For this, my duty as bishop in charge has been relieved, and even though it was only a 5 months-term, I am thankful for the valuable experience I have gained.  Bishop Irie is a person deeply involved with the Diocese of Chubu, so I am hoping that some sort of collaboration develops between the Diocese of Chubu and Diocese of Yokohama.  I pray for God’s blessing and guidance on the new start of the Diocese of Yokohama.

On a different note, in late August, I attended the “Bonfire 2018” organized by Gifu Associa. It was the 47th workshop on marriage for the visually impaired.  Many people from all over the country participated from Okinawa in the south to Hokkaido in the north.

The female secretary general of the Gifu Prefectural Society for Visually Impaired Welfare participated as a guest, and I was startled by the words in her greeting.  She especially asked the male participants to “not look for your mother’s substitute in your partner, but as the woman you will be with for the rest of your life.” 

I felt as if I heard a silent voice from the many people who were there, especially from women participants saying “that’ s right.”  I thought I was the only one who had felt this, but I later heard that the Director of Gifu Associa had felt the same way.

It is not important what your gender is, whether you have a disability or not, or even whether you are “productive” or not.  We are all a unique existence as one individual.  Do not place someone else in the figure, but see that person as who he or she is.  Accept one’s uniqueness.  Her greeting made me realize these, once again.

The Rt Revd Peter Ichiro Shibusawa

The former bishop of the Diocese of Chubu, Rev. Francis Toshiaki Mori, passed away on July 10, 2018.  When I had received notice from the Diocese of Tokyo Management Bishop Katsuichi Hirota, I was so shocked that I asked without even thinking, “Is it true?”  Rev. Mori had felt something wrong with his foot so he had gotten himself over to the orthopedic clinic; this is where he collapsed.  He was taken to the Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine on an ambulance but passed away due to retroperitoneal hemorrhage at the age of 78.

The funeral, as it had already been discussed with his wife, Atsuko, prior to his death, was held with only family members at Mejiro Seikokai on July 12.  I made a visit to see his wife, Atsuko, at a later date and when I gave my prayers then, I was shown the pictures from the funeral.  It was a very simple, yet a neat funeral service, most suited for Bishop Mori. 

During the Bishop’s lifetime, he had said that he didn’t think well about the word “to die,” but rather preferred the expression “be called to.”  I would like to think of his passing away as something far beyond our thoughts and deep within the heart of God.

Bishop Mori had been the Diocesan Bishop from March 1998 to December 2009.  During those years, he played an important role in the missionary and the pastoral care of the diocese such as building of the Diocesan Center of Chubu, the formation of a collaborative relationship between the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Central Philippines, the establishment of Kani Missionary Station (the current Kani Holy Trinity Church), the 90^th anniversary memorial service of the diocese establishment, and the reorganization of the group. 

In addition, it was a commemorative decision of Bishop Mori to have ordained the first ever Nippon Sei Ko Kai female priest, Rev. Yoshiko Shibukawa. 

My appreciation towards the works done by Bishop Mori, and I pray for the repose of his soul and may there be comfort to his family.

The Ministry Council was held in Matsushiro in June.  Reverend Osamu Irie (Chairperson of the Diocese of Yokohama Standing Committee, Bishop elected-to-be) and Reverend Ken Katayama (General Secretary of the Diocese of Yokohama) from the Diocese of Yokohama participated in the meeting. 

As I have mentioned about it in this column previously, the Diocese of Chubu was founded after separating from the Diocese of Yokohama.  However, I feel as though there has been a slight lack of relationship between the two.  We have had two joint Minister’s Meetings with the Diocese of Yokohama since I have become a minister.  The first was during the years of Bishop Jyuji Uematsu and Bishop Katsuhiko Iwai, and the meeting was held in June 1981 in Karuizawa.  The second was in November 2007 at Seisen-Ryo in Kiyosato.  This was during the years of Bishop Toshiaki Mori and Bishop Satoru Endo. Having these two clergymen join the Ministry Council, putting aside whether this might or might not lead to an immediate exchange, was a good opportunity.  I believe the two being together with the ministers of Chubu, allowed them to get a feeling of the Diocese of Chubu.  Myself, as the Bishop in Management, had the opportunity to take part in the Diocese of Yokohama Standing Committee Meeting and the Minister’s Meeting which allowed me to directly experience the atmosphere of Yokohama.  I feel it is important to experience directly on site to show understanding in each other.

May was a month of both joy and sorrow.  On May 1, I attended the ordination ceremony of Reverend Nestor Poltic, the third Bishop to the Episcopal Diocese of North Central Philippines, which has a sister relation to our diocese.  The current Prime Bishop Joel Pachao, who was the former Bishop, had resided as bishop for over twenty years; this seemed to have caused a slight uncertainty in the ordination being the first in a while.  However, the excitement seemed to have been much more than that.

Bishop Poltic respectfully stated that he is still in the process of learning even after becoming the bishop.  He hopes to visit Japan someday, and in such opportunity, I hope he will be able to visit places including the church in Kani City to give words of encouragement to the people there.

Actually, I had been worried about Revd. Akira Aizawa’s condition not being well since a few days ago on my visit to the Philippines.  He passed away on May 11, just ten days after my return.  We worked together for over forty years, and he has supported me at services and given me advice since I had become a bishop.  I give my deepest condolences and may his spirit rest in peace. Holy Mass was dedicated upon the 120^th Anniversary of Nagano Holy Savior’s Church on May 20.  While giving the service, my thoughts were upon the consecration 120 years ago.  I strongly felt the need to learn from Rev. Waller’s fighting spirit on constructing a cathedral during Meiji Era, when people were still strongly biased against Christians, even in Monzenmachi, a leading area in Japan.  We would also like to express our gratitude to the Holy Mass given with the prominent keyboard performer Genzo Takehisa.

With Bishop Yutaka Minabe from Diocese of Yokohama retiring, I have been commissioned as a Management Bishop of Diocese of Yokohama from April 1.  It has been 40 years since Bishop Jyuji Uematsu that a Diocese of Chubu Bishop has been commissioned as a management bishop to Diocese of Yokohama.  This will continue until the bishop for the next term is ordained and takes post.

For those of you who know the history of our diocese, the Diocese of Chubu, until it was established (regionalized at first), belonged to the southern Tokyo region, the forerunner of Diocese of Yokohama, (according to the NSKK districts of those days) and fell under the jurisdiction of the bishop of the Church of England. 

Church of England’s second bishop under NSKK, Edward Bickersteth, had come to Gifu, Nagoya, Ogaki for the order of confirmation.  Also, he had come to inspect Gifu after the Nobi Earthquake.  Furthermore, Nagano Holy Savior’s Church, celebrating its 120^th anniversary this year, was consecrated by the successor to Bishop Bickersteth, Bishop Awdry.  He, too, held orders of confirmation within the diocese.   

Afterwards, in 1912, Chubu Region was established, and became independent from southern Tokyo Region.  But for some reason, the emblem of the Bishop of Chubu Region was much similar to that of the Bishop of southern Tokyo Region.  The emblem of the Bishop of Chubu Region is the same as the Bishop of southern Tokyo Region with the mark of maple, Canada’s official arboreal emblem, incorporated into it.  It has not changed to this day.  I do not know why the emblem was not renewed upon establishment of the region, but it might have been to bear in mind that Chubu Region (The Anglican Church of Canada) had been established separating from the southern Tokyo Region (Church of England). 

I wanted to take a moment to talk about the different connections between Diocese of Chubu and Diocese of Yokohama.

The first time I had a cell phone was when I was at a church in Gifu. (Around 1989) As I recall, one of the church members had one of those big shoulder-strap mobile phones back then.  It was a fine one, but I believe it did not have such good reception. 

Cell phones are becoming more and more convenient day by day.  I too have a cell phone, but it is one of the old types and not the recent so-called “smart phones.”  Cellphones are, for sure, convenient, and we are able to make phone calls whenever and wherever we want.  However, at time of receiving phone calls, phones ring not matter where you are, and oftentimes, I am startled.  There are those who answer phones even if they are in a middle of a meeting, but on the other hand, I am one of those who feel hesitant in doing so.  I believe this is because I would like to concentrate on the meeting that I am taking part in.  So, I make it a habit to return my unanswered phone calls after meetings. (I forget to return those unanswered calls these days, though.)

And when I am talking to a person one on one and his/her phone rings and they answer, I cannot help but think what our conversation and situation mean to that person.  Maybe I am just old-minded.  

There are times when I do not have my cell phone with me.  I do not take it with me to the bathroom.  I sometimes forget to take my cell phone with me when I leave my house.  Those are usually the times when phones ring.  My wife thinks that my cell phone is of no use, and I think she is right.  However, I feel horrified when I think how my life would be if my life is centered around my cellphone.  For those who call me on my cellphone and get no answer, please forgive me if I do not answer right away.

Happy Easter.  I pray the grace and blessings of our Lord be with us.  The Nippon Sei Ko Kai Nursing Federation gathered with founders, kindergarten principals, and head teachers to train at St. Mary’s College, Nagoya at the end of February.  The lecture was based on “Understanding and Support on Developmental Disabilities during Childhood.”

 The lecture was on support for children with developmental disabilities, but upon hearing this, I strongly felt that this is not a problem solely in children, but common in adults as well.  “Not being able to get the situation,” “snaps easily,” “has difficulty learning from past experiences,” “low on sympathy,” “doesn’t get jokes,” “doesn’t realize hurting the other,” “blames others for one’s own mistakes” and so on. 

The lecturer did state that these were not problems only seen in children, but seen also in adults ourselves (those involved in children’s nursing). However, the same can be said for us ministers as well.  It was a talk that I could sympathize deeply with.  

Every one of us lacks something, or should I say, has a weakness.  In order to express the church community, Paul took the body of the human being as an example and said, “The part where it seems the weakest is the part which is most necessary.  God brings out those parts within us and made our bodies.” He also said that the non-weak parts cover up for the weak part to maintain the overall balance.  “Not a disability, but a special quality,” “Not a child with a problem, but a child seeking for a hand.”  These are important factors that build the foundation of Christian nursing.  And then, the church community mutually recognizes the differences in the people related, accepts them, and while taking them into account and leading a religious life will grow into a well-balanced relationship.