“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matt. 5:9)
This past Sept. 19, a set of security-related bills was passed by the upper house of Japan’s Diet. I am deeply troubled by the fact that these bills are in defiance of Japan’s Constitution, and thus, in addition to protesting this action, I strongly demand that my government rescind this action and return t……
Alden Ewart Matthews, a former Kyodan executive secretary, died in Florida in 2014. In accordance with his will, close friends of his gathered in October 2015 for the internment of his ashes in Tokyo, which, following the example of his wife Derrith Jane Lovell, were divided and placed in both Aoyama Cemetery and the cemetery of Kyonan Church.
Forty-seven years ago, in late 1968, I be……
The Conference of the Kyodan National Laity Organization was held June 9 at Fujimicho Church in Tokyo, thus reinstituting a previously existing but disbanded organization.
After thoroughgoing preparation, the Kyodan National Laity Organization was reorganized. With a joyous desire to share the good news and celebrate communion together, 212 people, including 26 ministers, gathered. Th……
A joint Summer Workshop of the Task Force on Evangelism Promotion was held in conjunction with the "C-course Assembly" assisted by the Commission on Ministry, Aug. 11-13, with Tokyo Union Theological Seminary providing the meeting place.
“C-course” refers to ministerial candidates covered by Article 3, Section 6 of the ministerial examination regulations. C-course is for candidates no……
by Torii Shinpei, delegate Buraku Liberation Center
The discriminated-against Buraku in Japan, the Dalit of India (outcasts), and Germany’s Sinti Roma held a conference, Sept. 24 -27, 2015, at the Christian Studies Institute on the outskirts of Stuttgart, Germany to create international s……
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Dr. J.C. Hepburn, one of the founders of Meiji Gakuin, which was established in 1863. He was born in Milton, Pennsylvania in 1815.
Hepburn’s mother was interested in overseas mission work and used to read The Missionary Herald, a magazine for missionaries. Thus, from a young age, Hepburn grew up reading it. At the age of 16, he wen……
Joshi Gakuin began as Presbyterian Mission Female Seminary, which was founded in 1870 by Julia Dodge Carrothers. Julia was born in the United States in 1845 as the daughter of Richard Dodge, a Presbyterian pastor. Pastor Dodge was a friend of Abraham Lincoln’s in his days as a lawyer in Illinois and served as a military chaplain after Lincoln became president.
In April 1869, Julia mar……
The March 11, 2011 East Japan Disaster caused much anxiety and hardship to many children and their families, which began, of course, with the damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami to both facilities for young children and the homes of their families. But another cause is the ongoing radioactive contamination from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. In response to this, the Kyodan’s Ea……
by Sasaki Michio, Kyodan vice-moderator
I was given the opportunity to attend the general assemblies of both The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) and The Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) this past September. As both churches were celebrating their 100th anniversaries, it was a particularly auspicious time. Because the general assemblies of both churches overlapped……
The fourth Executive Council meeting of the present 39th Kyodan General Assembly biennial period was held Oct. 19-20 at Fujimicho Church in Tokyo, with all 30 members in attendance. General Secretary Nagasaki Tetsuo reported on the progress of the earthquake refitting of the Japan Christian Center, saying that it was scheduled to be complete by the latter part of February 2016. He also reported on……
