【KNL No.411】A Christmas Message on Luke 15:3-7 （1）
【KNL No.411】Kyodan General Assembly Elects New Officers（2）
【KNL No.411】Greetings from the Newly-elected Church Officers （3）
【KNL No.411】Kashiwagi Church’s Food Pantry（4）
【KNL No.411】Support for Evacuees from Ukraine — We will Accompany Them（5）
【KNL No.411】Educating Children in the Love of God（6）
【KNL No.411】11th WCC General Assembly Convenes in Germany（7）
【KNL No.411】International EMS Committee Members Meet in Germany（7）
【KNL No.411】From the General Secretary’s Desk（8）
Executive Council Report
The third Executive Council meeting of the present 42nd General Assembly Period (Sept.27.2022-Oct.28.2024) took place Dec.5-6. This was the first in-person meeting since the new administrative structure was implemented. The first item on the agenda was a report by newly elected Kyodan Moderator Kumoshikari Toshimi on “dealing with the issues faced by the Executive Council of the 42nd General Assembly Period,” in which he outlined the various issues the Executive Council needs to deal with and laid out a plan for doing so.
Beginning with the importance of maintaining an attitude of common prayer for the “structure of the Kyodan as the Church, the Body of Christ,” including the various committees and each local church, he detailed policy goals for the formation and maintenance of an evangelistic network that includes the activities of Kyodan-related schools, institutions, and other groups. Specifically, he raised the ongoing issues of the formation of a procedure for continuing dialog on restructuring, formulating the most appropriate slimmed-down finances, continuing efforts to repair relations with Okinawa District, and continuing to make administrative improvements in the operations of the Board of Publications. Additionally, with respect to conductance of committee meetings and their activities, efforts to hold joint meetings to facilitate cooperation under the banner of unity of the Kyodan as a whole will be made. Based on this opening report, then, the Executive Council members shared their thoughts and opinions on how to best implement these goals through the remaining General Assembly period. Of particular note was the strong desire to continue with the theme of the “Day of Prayer for the Promotion of Evangelism.”
Likewise, at this Executive Council meeting, the various committee assignments were made, based on the recommendations of the nominating committee. Beginning with the Executive Committee, these included the standing committees, standing focus committees, and the Research Institute on the Mission of the Church, along with the selection of the board of directors for the Board of Publications and the Board of Pensions and the director of the steering committee for the Buraku Liberation Center. How to best begin and support these various activities will remain an important issue throughout this General Assembly Period.
With respect to the handling of “recognition of those who pass the ordination exams during the spring of 2023” and clergy transferring in from other denominations, that was delegated to the Executive Council by the General Assembly, it was decided that unlike the past, where the decisions were made by presidium, the Executive Council as a whole would meet online to approve the candidates. At the General Assembly, it was reported that there was a discrepancy of 500,000 yen in the figures for income and expenditures carried over from the 2019 and 2020 fiscal years. The chair of the commission on finance gave a detailed explanation of the cause, which was that there was no actual transfer of funds but only a misunderstanding due to the lack of an explanatory note on a change made in the balance sheet. It was decided to have an explanation by a financial expert printed in the Kyodan Shinpo newspaper.
Another agenda item delegated from the General Assembly involved the selection of a new general secretary for the Kyodan. At the recommendation of presidium, Rev. Aminaka Shoko (pastor of Yokohama Myojo Church) was nominated. Her experience as a staff member at the Kyodan headquarters as well as having served as the general secretary of the NCC, together with her thorough understanding of the Kyodan’s situation and her ability to coordinate with presidium were given as the reasons for her selection. While this would be the first time a woman had been selected as general secretary — something everyone applauded — there nevertheless were some reservations expressed about her perceived lack of experience as a local church pastor. However, after a careful examination of her history of baptism, licensing, ordination and pastoring experience, she was confirmed to be the new general secretary beginning on April 1, 2023. (Tr. TB)
Akiyama Toru, general secretary
常議員会報告
第42総会期第3回の常議員会が12月5日〜6日に開かれた。新しい執行部体制になって初めての対面の形での開催となった。冒頭で、先の総会で新しく議長に選ばれた雲然俊美議長より「第４２総回帰常議員会における課題と取り組みついて」の発題があり、今後の常議員会の運営方針と取り組むべき課題の大枠が示された。「キリストの体なる教会としての教団形成」の祈りを共有すること、各委員会、各教区及び教会・伝道所の取り組みを覚えて祈り、関係学校・施設・団体等の活動を含んだ伝道のためのネットワークの維持・構築に努めるとの方針が示され、具体的に機構改定についての協議の場を設けて継続課題とすること、教団財政の適正化やスリム化の検討すること、沖縄教区との関係修復に努めること、出版局経営改善について現在の取り組みを推進すること、委員会の開催についてこれまでの取り組み方を見直し、他の委員会との合同で集会を開催するなど、全体教会としての教団の一体性のもとに各委員会の活動が展開されることを望む、などが示された。この発題をもとに常議員会の会期中に協議の時が設けられ、常議員各自の教団の働きについての期待や意見交換が行われた。協議の中では、特に「日本伝道の推進を祈る日」で取り組んできたことを継続するようにとの強い要望があった。
今回の常議員会では常任常議員や教団の宣教を担う常設委員、常設専門委員、宣教研究所委員、また、出版局、年金局の理事、部落解放センターの運営委員長などの選任を行い、今期のそれぞれの部署の働きを始動させることが課題であり、選考委員会の推薦に従って協議の上、各委員が選任された。
総会から付託された「２０２３年度春季検定試験合格者承認に関する件」と「教師転入に関する件」では、従来のように三役一任としないで、常議員会をオンラインで開催して承認を行うこととした。また、総会で明らかにされた２０１９年度〜２０年度にかけての繰越収支差額５０万円が生じている件について、予算決算委員長からの詳しい説明があり、実際の資金の移動ではなく貸借対照表上の表記修正を行った結果の注記がなかったため生じたものであることが判明した事、このことを専門家の解説と合わせて教団新報に報告することとした。
総会からの付託事項として総幹事選任の件について、三役からの提案により、網中彰子牧師（横浜明星教会）が推薦され、教団事務局の職員としての経験、NCC総幹事等の経験を通して教団の事情によく通じていること、三役との連携が期待できることなどが推薦理由として挙げられた。協議の中で教団の歴史上初めての女性の総幹事が誕生することを歓迎する一方、牧師としての牧会経験の少なさなどが指摘され、詳しい受洗、准允、按手、牧会経験等の資料を確認した上で、２０２３年４月１日より網中牧師の総幹事就任が決められた。
秋山徹総幹事
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
to all KNL Readers
Publisher: Akiyama Toru
Copy Editor: Hazel Terhune, Timothy Boyle
Staff Assistant: Niina Tomoko
Editorial Committee: Tokuta Makoto, Kofukada Yutaka, Suematsu Kozue, Kashiwabara Michiko
Translators: Timothy Boyle, Robert Terhune, Suematsu Kozue
Note: The names of Japanese persons are listed in traditional order, with last names first.
The Committee for Programme and Project Support (ProPro Committee) of the Evangelisches Missionswerk in Solidaritat (EMS) met in Stuttgart, Germany, Sept. 19-21, 2022. Though the Kyodan received support before that, ever since the Great East Japan Disaster in 2011, EMS has sent much financial aid to the Kyodan. In addition, it has supported the work of both the Buraku Liberation Center and Asian Rural Institute as well as prison chaplaincy. EMS’ ministry was begun with an endowment from the churches of southwest Germany, and its influence has spread around the world.
The ProPro Committee consists of six members who consider the various formal requests for funding. It consists of a representative from Germany and five other regions: Indonesia, the Middle East, Africa, India and East Asia. This year, the East Asia region was represented by Rev. Nishinosono Michiko, chair of the Kyodan’s Commission on Ecumenical Ministries. Just prior to this year’s meeting, EMS held its 50th anniversary worship service and celebration on Sept. 16, which was attended by various people related to EMS as well as ProPro Committee members, who together served as liturgists for the worship service.
Reading through the documents for the various funding requests, I learned of the many issues that threaten the livelihoods and even the lives of the people in those regions. I was encouraged to see the huge impact these ministries are having on their communities, and I learned about the many ways that God is working in those societies to bring His Kingdom on earth. I also strongly felt anew the importance of the term “solidarity,” particularly when the reports touched on the dark and sinful history involving the aftereffects of the actions of Japanese soldiers that cost so many lives in certain regions.
I really resonated with the words of one of the delegates, who said, “reading through all of these documents is difficult, but it also brings joy to my heart.” This mutual feeling was demonstrated by the smiles of all the delegates in the group picture taken at the end of our deliberations.
(Tr. TB)
—Nishinosono Michiko, chair
Commission on Ecumenical Ministries
ＥＭＳ（福音連帯宣教会）報告
2022年9月19日〜21日にドイツのシュトゥットガルトにてＥＭＳのProPro委員会が行われた。東日本大震災時、ＥＭＳから日本基督教団に多額の支援金が送られた。また部落解放センター、教誨師活動、アジア学院等のためにも支援をいただいている。ＥＭＳは南西ドイツの教会の働きと基金が元となって始まった活動だが、今は国際的な広がりを見せている。
その申請書類について検討するのがProPro委員会であり、ドイツ、インドネシア、中東、アフリカ、インド・東アジアのそれぞれの地域から計6名の委員が選出される。今年度より西之園路子世界宣教委員長がこの委員に加わった。また今年は委員会に先立ち9月16日にＥＭＳの50周年記念礼拝と祝賀会が開催され、ＥＭＳ関係者やPro Pro委員たちの共同司式で礼拝が捧げられた。
申請書類に目を通していると、それぞれの地域に人々の生活や命を脅かす様々な問題があることを知らされる。厳しい困難な状況の中で、神の国を地上にもたらすために様々な取り組みがなされており、それらの活動が地域共同体に大きなインパクトを与えていることも知り、こちらが励まされる。しかしまたその地域の背景、歴史を知る時、例えばかつてその地域で日本兵が多くの命を奪ったという深い闇と罪の歴史にも触れることとなる。その痛みを覚えるからこそ改めて「連帯」solidarityという言葉の大切さと重さを感じる。
「大変だけどこの書類に目を通すことは喜びでもある」と言われたある委員の言葉に共感を覚える。すべての審査を終えた後に撮った記念写真の委員たちの笑顔がまたそのことを証している。
西之園路子
After a hiatus of nine years, the 11th World Council of Churches’ General Assembly was held from Aug. 31 to Sept. 8, 2022 in Karlsruhe, Germany. Japan was represented by five delegates from its four member churches: the Kyodan, the Korean Christian Church in Japan, the Anglican Church in Japan, and the Orthodox Church in Japan. The Kyodan delegates were Nishinosono Michiko, chair of the Commission on Ecumenical Ministries, and Rev. Ise Nozomi, who represented the youth. Also, as stewards, Tokyo Union Theoloical Seminary student Uchida Koshiroh and as partial visitor, Doshisha University Professor Kitani Kanan attended. About 3,000 people, including the 750 delegates, attended the event.
The Russian Orthodox Church, as a member of the WCC, sent about 20 delegates to the main assembly. When WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca visited Ukraine prior to the event to encourage its participation, the Ukrainians requested that the Russian Orthodox Church be disqualified from attending. However, Sauca told them the role of the WCC was a platform “to foster dialogue between churches who are not in agreement between themselves,” so Ukraine sent 11 representatives as guests so the Ukrainian side could be given the opportunity to make its appeal concerning the situation in Ukraine. On the final day of the assembly, “War in Ukraine, Peace and Justice in the European Region” was adopted a public issue. Likewise, as part of another public issue, the general secretaries of the National Christian Council in Japan, the Anglican Church in Japan, and the Kyodan worked to have included a reference to Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution as being “an important heritage” in the world, which was adopted by the assembly.
For the interim period until the next general assembly, 150 WCC Central Committee members were chosen, including Kyodan delegate Nishinosono. (Tr. TB)
—Nishinosono Michiko, chair
Commission on Ecumenical Ministries
ＷＣＣ第11回総会報告
ＷＣＣ（世界教会協議会）第11回総会が、2022年8月31日〜9月8日にドイツのカールスルーエで九年ぶりに開催された。日本の加盟教会は、日本基督教団、在日大韓教会、日本聖公会、日本正教会の四教会、代表議員数は5名。教団からは代表議員として西之園路子世界宣教委員長と伊勢希牧師（ユース枠）が派遣された。またスチュワードとして内田幸四郎神学生、訪問者枠の部分参加で木谷佳楠先生(同志社大学)が参加。
代表議員750名を含むＷＣＣ参加者総数は計3000名ほどとなる。
本総会には、ＷＣＣ加盟教会でもあるロシア正教会からも代表議員が参加。ウクライナには事前にＷＣＣの代表者が訪ね、本総会への出席を促した。ウクライナ側からはロシア正教会の参加資格を無くすよう申し出もあったが、異なる立場の者たちの対話のプラットホームを提供するのが自分たちの役割だとのＷＣＣの立場も受け入れた上で、一一名の教会代表者たちがウクライナからゲストとして総会に参加し、直接ウクライナの状況を訴える機会が設けられた。総会最終日には、パブリック・イシュー (public issue) としてWar in Ukraine, Peace and Justice in the European Region (ウクライナの戦争、ヨーロッパ地域における平和と正義)が採択された。ＮＣＣ、聖公会、在日大韓教会、日本基督教団各総幹事連名でＷＣＣに提案した「憲法9条は世界の宝である」との声明もＷＣＣのバブリック・イシューの文言の中に組み込まれ、議場で採択された。
また、次の総会までの期間のＷＣＣを担う150名の中央委員を選出、西之園代表議員もその一人に選出された。
西之園路子
by Sakashita Michiaki, pastor
Asagaya Higashi Church,
Principal, Asagaya Kindergarten
Takasaki Yoshiki started Asagaya Kindergarten in October 1925, and it became a government-licensed facility a year later. Takasaki was a pastor in the Nihon Kirisuto Kyokai (Japan Christ Church) denomination, which was absorbed into the Kyodan in 1941. Following the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, he was involved in earthquake relief, focusing on children, and he felt sad when those efforts were phased out. He had been thinking for quite some time about the importance of religious education for children, particularly those who remained in a particular location until they reached adulthood, so he decided to establish a kindergarten. The Asagaya site he chose was at that time surrounded on both sides by thick forests, with rice fields lining the way to the railway station. In spite of much trouble in the beginning, the records say that 400 children graduated in the first ten years.
One of the things Rev. Takasaki valued was education for mothers. He said, “In order to raise children well, it is necessary to first educate the mothers,” and once a week he taught mothers Christianity and methods of child-rearing in a Mothers’ Course, which was later renamed Mothers’ School. Later, he worked with Rev. Takenami Takashi, who founded Koganei Church and Koganei Church Kindergarten, to publish a magazine on raising children entitled, Children’s Learning. Following Takasaki’s wishes, Asagaya Kindergarten requires that all mothers attend Mothers’ School the few times each year that it meets. Recently, so that fathers and grandparents as well as mothers will feel comfortable attending the class, its name was changed to “Soapberry Tree School,” after a soapberry tree on the school grounds.
In 1945, the proprietor’s name was changed from Rev. Takasaki as an individual to Asagaya Higashi Church. It’s interesting to note that the kindergarten preceded the church, as the kindergarten’s worship service gave birth to Asagaya Church. A kindergarten developed into a church – something that is rather unusual.
The situation today is one of decreasing numbers of children and an increasing need for daycare centers in urban areas. Every kindergarten is affected by this ongoing trend to one degree or another, so Nishi Tokyo District’s Commission on Education established the Association of Church-related Kindergartens for the purpose of promoting fellowship among principals and directors and the exchange of information.
Some kindergartens have expanded their programs to include those of daycare centers and have been certified as such. Among these, some now offer daycare from early morning to late at night and during extended vacation periods. It seems likely that the number of conventional kindergartens no longer able to maintain their former structure will continue to increase. In 2017 Asagaya Kindergarten restructured itself to conform to the New Child-rearing Support System and regained some financial stability. However, the reality of decreasing numbers of children remains the same.
Having a kindergarten results in some of those children feeding into the church school program as well, but unfortunately, as they reach the upper years of elementary school and begin attending afterschool “cram schools,” many of them begin to drop out, and after they enter middle school, their various club activities (which are often on Sunday mornings) cause them to quit entirely. Occasionally, the parents of kindergarten students begin to attend church and even receive baptism, but their numbers are small. I do not fret over that, however, because we educate children in love of God in this kindergarten. This is the mission we must faithfully complete. We are sowing the seeds of the Gospel here. (Tr. SK)
From Kyodan Shinpo (The Kyodan Times) No. 4976･77
阿佐谷幼稚園園長・阿佐谷東教会牧師
坂下道朗（さかした みちお）
阿佐谷幼稚園は1925（大正一四）年10月、旧日本基督教会の牧師であった高崎能樹(よしき)氏によって始められました（認可は翌1926年10月）。高崎牧師は関東大震災後、子どもたちへの「震災救護活動」に当たっていました。活動が終わり、子どもたちとの関わりが絶たれてしまったことを悲しみ、「一人前になるまで引越してゆかない子供たちの居る処で、長い間の持論である宗教教育を試みたいと思い立」ち、幼稚園を開くことを決断しました。場所を阿佐ヶ谷に定めた当時は、「左右に深い森があり、駅との間には田んぼが広がっていた」といいます。当初は様々な苦労があったようですが、10年後には卒業生400余名を送り出したと記録されています。
高崎牧師が大切にしたことの一つが母親への教育です。「子供をよくするにはどうしても先ず母性を教育せねばならぬ」と、「母の学校」（最初は「母の講座」）を設け、毎週一回キリスト教や子育てのための知識を教授しました。また後に小金井教会と小金井教会幼稚園を設立する武南高志（たけなみたかし）氏と協力して、育児雑誌『子供の教養』を発行しました。その後「母の学校」は年に数回の開催になりましたが、全員参加を原則としているのは、高崎牧師の願いを引き継いでのことです。最近は「母」のみならず、父親や祖父母なども参加しやすいよう「むくろじ学校」（園庭にある無患子(むくろじ)の木にちなんで）と改称し、現在に至っています。
その後、1945年、設置者が高崎氏個人から阿佐谷東教会に変更されました。ちなみに教会が先にあって幼稚園を始めたのではなく、園舎内で礼拝を行うところから教会が生まれています。幼稚園から教会。珍しい順序かもしれません。
さて現状についてです。都市部の幼稚園にも、少子化や保育所増設の影響が出てきました。西東京教区には教育部の下に「幼稚園保育園連絡会」が置かれ、園長・設置者同士の交流や情報交換などが行われていますが、どの園も多かれ少なかれ園児減少に嘆いています。
すでに保育所機能を併せ持つ認定こども園になったり、早朝・夜間や長期休み中の預かり保育の充実を図っている園もありますが、従来型の幼稚園では立ちゆかなくなる園も増えそうです。当園は2017年度から「子ども子育て支援新制度」の下で運営される園となり、財政的には多少安定しましたが、それでもなお園児が減っていく現実は変わりません。
幼稚園があることで、教会学校にはそれなりの子どもたちがやってきます。ただ小学校高学年は塾通いのため、中学生は部活動のため、来られなくなる人が多くなります。残念です。保護者の中には子どもの入園を機に求道、受洗へと導かれる人も皆無ではありませんが、ごく稀なことです。それでもよいと思っています。幼稚園は神の愛の中で子どもたちを育む場だからです。その使命を誠実に果たしたいと思います。御言葉の種はしっかり蒔かれていますから。
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