Memorandum of Understanding, Japan-North America Mission Forum 2007

In response to the commitment made to one another at the final meeting of JNAC in January 2005, we, the representatives of churches in Japan and North America, held the Japan-North America Mission Forum under the theme of “Mission in Japan – Perspectives on Cooperation in Mission,” from March 27 to 29, 2007 at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, Japan.

Joining the representatives from the United Church of Christ in Japan, the Korean Christian Church in Japan, the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the United Church of Canada, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ (USA) and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the USA and Canada, and the Reformed Church in America were several resource persons and ecumenical guests, for a total of 56 persons.

We listened to God and to each other through worship and keynote presentations on the context of mission in Japan under the following titles: “Mission in Japan – Perspectives on Cooperation in Mission;” “On Level Ground Before the Cross and the Empty Tomb;” “Aiming at a World We Can Live Together In: Missiological Issues of the 21^st Century Diaspora Church.”  There were also four workshops under the titles of: Nationalism in Japan and Christianity; The Role and the Mission of Christian Schools in Japan; Leadership Development Among Christians in Japan; and Young Adult Ministry: Outreach, Discipleship, and Christian Ministry Training. Through these presentations and workshops, along with a “youth evening” during which the youth shared their vision for mission in Japan, we deepened our mutual understanding as we explored and affirmed our partnership in mission and considered ways of doing mission together in our changed circumstances.

Through this process, we affirmed that the participating churches and institutions desire to establish bilateral relations between churches in Japan and North America.  Likewise, we developed an action plan in covenant ministry together as we dealt with the following issues: Globalization and Migration of People; Economic Dislocation and Disparity; Demographic Shift to an Aging Society and Church; and Racial, Ethnic and Gender Discrimination.

Action Plan

1. In response to the rising trend of xenophobic nationalism in Japan, we have covenanted among ourselves a specific action plan that includes having: 1) the Japan partners share statements and background information with North American partners concerning the issues they are dealing with, such as the revision of Japan’s Constitution to remove the peace clause (Article 9) and revisionist history as taught in schools and used for political purposes, the re-imposition of the fingerprinting system, and issues surrounding U.S. military bases in Japan; 2) the North American partners share this information with their church constituencies and with ecumenical agencies, the religious news media, etc.; and 3) Japan ecumenical partners invite North American churches to join in fact-finding teams to visit Japan.
2. We affirm the role and mission of Christian schools in Japan by encouraging North American churches to share personnel with the schools. Such mission schools are also encouraged to add to their curriculum racial, ethnic and gender justice issues.
3. We will endeavor to increase educational opportunities and funding for leadership development. This includes exchanges and scholarships for visitations to specific events, such as youth and women’s events.
4. We will support a joint KCCJ/UCCJ youth leader training program. We will also support a program to have youth leaders from North America act as resource persons and learn from the churches in Japan.
5. KCCJ and UCCJ will invite their covenant partners in North America to participate in the 100^th anniversary celebration of the KCCJ in 2008 and the 150^th anniversary celebration of Japanese Protestantism in Japan in 2009.
6. In order to actualize this action plan, the partner churches and institutions will designate their own contact persons.

We pledge ourselves to work towards the realization of these goals to which we believe God is calling us in the 21^st Century.

Presbyterian Church in Canada

United Church of Canada

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

United Methodist Church

United Church of Christ (USA) and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the USA and Canada

Reformed Church in America

United Church of Christ in Japan

Korean Christian Church in Japan

The Japan Christian Social Work League

The Christian School Council on Cooperative Mission

ActionPlan（EN）

Memorandum（EN）

共同声明

北米宣教フォーラムに集った、平和の神の主権を信じる私たちは、今日本で、憲法、とりわけ「第九条改正」の準備が急速に進められていることに、大きな不安と憤りを抱いています。
　そもそも日本国憲法は、かつての日本がアジアを支配しようと、朝鮮や中国をはじめ近隣諸国を侵略し、二千万人とも言われる犠牲者を出し、自国をも焼け野原にした大きな後悔と反省から、「戦争放棄・戦力不保持・交戦権を認めず」という完全平和を願い、これこそ平和国家の基礎であると選び取ったものでした。
　しかるに安倍晋三氏は、昨年９月に首相に就任するや、「憲法改正」を前面に出し、政府与党は、12月には「教育基本法」を改訂し、現在は憲法改訂のための「国民投票法案」の成立を急いでいます。
　もし憲法第九条が改訂され、集団的自衛権が行使できるようになると、日本は、米国と共に、合法的に戦争ができる国となるのです。
私たちは、戦争できる国が「美しい国」とは到底考えられず、すべての戦争は悪であり、神の御旨ではないと考えます。
　それゆえ私たちは、「憲法改正」に関するすべての動きに反対し、神の支配のもとにある真の平和を心から願うものです。

2007年３月29日
日北米宣教フォーラム出席者一同

カナダ長老教会（Presbyterian Church in Canada）
カナダ合同教会（United Church of Canada）
米国長老教会（The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)）
合同メソジスト教会（United Methodist Church）
米国合同教会／クリスチャン・チャーチ（United Church of Christ (USA) and Christian Church Disciples of Christ) in the USA and Canada）
米国改革教会（Reformed Church in America）
日本基督教団
在日大韓基督教会
日本キリスト教社会事業同盟
宣教協力学校協議会

ActionPlan（JP）

声明（JP)