At the beginning of 2020, I was told by Global Mission Personnel Secretary Patti Talbot of the United Church of Canada that the church had disposed of a missionary property it owned in Japan and planned to donate funds to the Kyodan and other related bodies. Secretary Talbot intended to visit Japan in March to discuss the details, but her trip was canceled due to the corona virus. In June, Kyodan hosted a meeting via Zoom to share how, as much as possible, the various donated amounts could be used in ways of UCC’s intentions. We already understood these intentions to some degree since the United Church of Canada has historically maintained a supportive relationship, through prayer, of the Buraku Liberation Center and the Center for Minority Issues and Mission; but fortunately, through the meeting this time, the desires to be furthered by this donation became more clear.
Receiving advice from UCC missionary Robert Witmer, a plan was developed to designate use of the donated funds in four directions.
1. The Kyodan’s mission program. (1) Aid for the plan to create an Internet delivery studio adjoining the Kyodan Business Office, (2) Aid to continue the joint Canada Young Adult Camp, which could not be carried out this year due to the corona virus.
2. Humanitarian support and race activities. (1) Aid for the Ainu Peoples Resource Center’s child-learning center and the international interchange of indigenous peoples. (2) Aid for Okinawa Christian University’s program for sending a student overseas.
3. The East Asia peace-building program. (1) Aid for the Japan-Korea Joint Prayer Meeting, the Taiwan Ecumenical Forum, etc. (2) Aid for the project of sending and receiving students to other parts of Asia.
4. Rural evangelism. (1) Aid to the rural evangelism councils of the various Kyodan districts. (2) Aid for the Theological Seminary for Rural Mission.
Over a three-year period, the donated funds will amount to 76 million yen. (Tr. RT)
by Kato Makoto, executive secretary
カナダ合同教会のパティ・タルボット幹事から、カナダ合同教会が日本に所有する宣教師のための不動産を処分して、教団その他の関係団体に献金する予定である事を伺ったのは２０２０年初頭であった。３月にはタルボット幹事が来日して、詳細について話し合う予定であったが、コロナ禍のために中止となった。６月にはズーム会議をカナダ側と持ったが、その目的は多額の献金をなるべくカナダ側の意図に沿った形で使用することであった。カナダ合同教会はこれまでも部落解放センターやマイノリティ宣教センターを献金と祈りで支えてきた歴史があるため、ある程度は予測できたが今回の会議を通じて献金に込められた願いがより明確になったのは幸いであった。
ロバート・ウィットマー(Robert Witmer)宣教師のアドバイスをいただきつつ、４つの方向性を持つ献金使用プログラムが出来上がった。第一は教団の宣教プログラム支援である。事務局に隣接する形でインターネット配信用のスタジオを作る予定である。今年はコロナ禍で実行できなかったが、カナダ青年キャンプも継続の予定である。第二は人道支援と人権活動支援である。アイヌ民族情報センターには子供学習支援と原住民の国際交流を支援する。沖縄キリスト教学院大学の学生海外派遣のプログラムを支援します。第三は東アジアの平和構築プログラム支援です。日韓共同祈祷会や台湾エキュメニカルフォーラム等を支援し、アジアへの青年の派遣と受入れを企画し支援します。第四は農村宣教支援です。各教区が主催している農村伝道協議会や農村伝道神学校を支援します。３年間で献金総額は7,600万円になります。加藤 誠
The 9th Executive Council meeting of the 41st General Assembly Period (2019-2020) was held on Oct. 26, with the core leadership (moderator, vice-moderator and secretary) meeting together with the executive secretaries and a few of the council members at the Kyodan office, while most of the other members attended online.
In his report, General Secretary Akiyama Toru reported that due to the Corona Virus pandemic, it was decided not to publish the 2021 Kyodan Yearbook and that the various reports concerning the 41st General Assembly Period would cover a two-year period, with the extended year being handled as an appendix. The Kyodan office will not be hiring any new personnel, and due to the financial situation, the bonuses provided for the executive secretaries were reduced. Likewise, he reported that a studio concept is being considered with which to produce YouTube and other such productions for youth evangelism.
In the report on the Committee for Reviewing the System of Clergy Development, chairperson Sugahara Tsutomu presented a three-page document entitled “A Discourse on Clergy in the Kyodan,” which explains the debate about the status of clergy. In response to various questions, Sugahara stated that this document “isn’t something that deals with all of the issues surrounding the status of clergy but is for the purpose of coming to an agreement on the most important parts related to it in the Confession of Faith and the Church Constitution.”
Agenda items related to finances included a second revision of the 2020 fiscal year budget, as well as the 2021 budget. Uda Makoto, chairperson of the Commission on Finance, reported that most of the meetings were conducted online and that cuts to the summer bonuses of the general secretary and executive secretaries, along with the 10% reduction in assessments from the districts had been actualized. Since the districts were unable to utilize the money in the evangelism fund for 2020 for that purpose, due to the restrictions of the pandemic, the remainder of those funds are expected to be returned.
The discussion that took up the most time during the Executive Council meeting concerned the Kyodan Board of Publications. Secretary Kumoshikari Toshimi reported that in order to improve the operations and finances of the Board of Publications, a “Board of Publications Operations Improvement Team” was established and an outside consultant by the name of Kato Masasumi, who is an expert in the field, has been added to that team. The approximately 1.3-million-yen expense for the consultant will be paid from the Executive Council budget. (Tr. TB) —Kato Makoto, executive secretary
第４１総会期第9回常議員会報告
加藤 誠
第41総会期第9回常議員会が2020年10月26日、三役、総幹事、幹事、一部の常議員が教団事務局に集まり、多くの常議員はオンラインで出席して開催された。総幹事報告において秋山徹総幹事は、コロナ禍の対応の一環として「2021年度版教団年鑑」を休刊とし、41総会期の諸報告は1期2年の活動報告を行い、延期された1年については「補遺」を考えていることを報告した。教団三局については職員の新規採用は行わず、コロナ禍の財政状況に鑑み、幹事の一時金を減額したこと、青年伝道についてはユーチューブ等で発信するスタジオ構想を検討していることを報告した。教師養成制度検討委員会の報告では、菅原力委員長が、教団の教師論を定義した3ページにわたる文章「日本基督教団の教師論」を報告した。様々な質問を受け菅原委員長は、この文章は「教師をめぐる諸問題を反映するものではなく、信仰告白・教憲が記す一番大事な部分を共有するためのもの」と述べた。
財務関連の議案は2020年度第2次補正予算、2021年予算が取り扱われた。宇田真予算決算委員長は、多くの会議がオンラインで行われ、総幹事及び幹事の夏の一時金減額により、各教区からの負担金10％減が実現したことを報告した。2020年度の伝道資金運用については、コロナ禍の影響で各教区の伝道資金を用いた活動が行えず、執行残金が返金されることが予想される。今回の常議員会で一番時間を割いたのは、「日本基督教団出版局の件」であった。雲然俊美書記は出版局の事業及び財務の改善に関して外部専門家を加えた「出版局経営改善検討チーム」を設置し、加藤真澄に経営コンサルタントの業務を依頼することに至ったことを報告した。外部委託費用は約130万円で常議員会費から支出される。（加藤誠）
“Feliz Navidad.” Brothers and sisters in the Lord, I bring you midsummer Christmas greetings from Paraguay! Paraguay is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are exactly the opposite of Japan so Christmas is in the height of summer, and Easter is in the Fall. We made the advent wreath while sweating in the heat of summer last November. I keenly sense that the seasons of the Bible are those of the Northern Hemisphere.
The year 2020 was one of ordeals. The believers from the Colonia Yguazu and Colonia Fram immigrant areas came together for Christmas worship in 2019, welcoming 2020 with joy. From January through February, I returned to Japan temporarily, holding first-year work-report meetings in churches here and there, with many people hearing about the mission work in Paraguay. I returned, enveloped in great joy, and reported on the work in Japan to the people in Pirapo Church, and we had just reopened worship services when all meetings, including missionary work, were prohibited from the middle of March to control the spread of the corona virus.
As a general rule, people were not permitted to go out, and I heard that anyone doing so unnecessarily and non-essentially would be given a large fine, so I went out for nothing other than food shopping. Online live services were out of question as there were some who didn’t have smartphones. I could not take anything to the believers or go to meet them, and we were completely unable to engage in church activities. I was confined only to the church, and two weeks after worship services were suspended, I began to confirm the current condition to believers on Saturday by phone and via the SNS (Social Networking Service) and also announce the weekly Bible passage. I have continued to communicate this way every week to the believers living far away from Pilas even after worship services reconvened.
From the middle of June, regulations for going out were revised; mission work involving under 50 persons became possible; and worship services reconvened. That was the one-year anniversary of the church building’s dedication, and we sensed God’s deep compassion. During the worship service, the windows and doors were left open and we used fans, but at times during the winter months of July and August, we were cold. The restrictions about elderly people going out still continues, and to prevent infection within families, those who have an elderly in the family couldn’t come to church neither. On the first Lord’s Day in November, the few who had been unable to attend services came to their first worship service in a year and were able to share Communion together.
It is said that the increase in the rate of infection has slowed down somewhat, but the situation does not allow for predictions. From Oct. 20, the International Airport was reopened, and regular airlines have begun to fly; but returning to Japan is a concern because many infected people may be in the area where passengers change planes.
The corona virus infection still continues, and during the summer there is also a rise in the danger of Dengue Fever. I am confined within the church, and gazing up at the sky everyday, I have come to realize deep within my heart that there is only One upon Whom I can depend.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18: 2) “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.’ (Psalm 121:1-2)
Christmas teaches me to depend only on the Lord. I am praying for a great blessing for all of you. (Tr. RT)
by Ehara Yukiko, Kyodan missionary
Pirapo city, Paraguay
主に在る兄弟姉妹の皆様 ¡Feliz Nividad! 盛夏のパラグアイから、クリスマスのご挨拶を申し上げます。パラグアイは南半球にありますので、季節が日本と逆になり、クリスマスは夏の盛り、イースターは秋になります。昨年は11月に汗を流しながらアドベントクランツを作りました。聖書の季節が北半球のものであることをしみじみと感じます。
2020年は試練の年でした。2019年のクリスマスは、イグアス移住地やフラム移住地の信徒の方々も集って共に礼拝を守り、喜びのうちに2020年を迎えました。1～2月には一時帰国してあちこちの教会で1年目の報告会を開催し、たくさんの方々がパラグアイの宣教報告を聞いてくださいました。大きな喜びに包まれて戻り、ピラポ教会の方々に日本での活動報告をし、礼拝を再開した矢先、コロナウイルス対策で、3月半ばから宗教活動を含む全ての集会が禁止されました。
外出も原則禁止となり、不要不急の外出とみなされると高額な罰金を課されると聞き、買い物以外は全く外出しませんでした。信徒の中にはスマホを持たない人も複数おり、オンライン礼拝は考えられませんでした。また、信徒の方々に何かを届けたり会いに行ったりすることもできず、教会の活動が全くできなくなりました。ただ教会に閉じこもって過ごしましたが、礼拝が中止となってから２週間後、土曜日に電話とSNSで現状を確認してその週の聖書個所を伝え始めました。礼拝を再開してからも、ピラポから遠くに住む信徒の方々に毎週連絡し続けています。
6月半ばから外出規制が緩和されて50人以下の宗教行事が可能になり、礼拝を再開しました。その日は献堂式から一年目の記念日で、神様の深い憐れみを感じたことでした。礼拝中は窓もドアも開け放って扇風機を回しますが、7，8月は冬のために寒いこともありました。高齢者の外出は依然制限されており、家族が感染を懸念することもあって、数人が礼拝に出席できないでいましたが、11月最初の主日に1年ぶりに来会し、共に聖餐に与ることができました。
今も、感染者の増加速度がやや鈍ったと言われますが、予断を許さない状況です。10月20日から国際空港が再開して定期航空便が飛び始めましたが、日本に帰るためには、感染者が多い地区での乗り換えが必要になるため、帰国するのも心配です。
コロナウイルスの感染は続き、夏にはデング熱の危険も高まります。教会に閉じこもって天を仰ぐ毎日ですが、このような大きな困難の時こそ、頼る方はただお一人であることを心の底から思い知らされています。
「主はわたしの岩、砦、逃れ場／わたしの神、大岩、避けどころ／わたしの盾、救いの角、砦の塔。（詩編18編）」「目を上げて、わたしは山々を仰ぐ。わたしの助けはどこから来るのか。わたしの助けは来る／天地を造られた主のもとから。（詩編121編）」
ただ主に頼ることを教えられるクリスマスです。皆様に大いなる祝福を祈ります。
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