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