Vol.XV #3December, 2003

NSKK NEWSLETTER
日本聖公会管区事務所だより
NIPPON SEI KO KAI Provincial Office

Editor : E. Hajime Suzuki

65 Yarai-cho, Shinjuku-ku,

Tel. +81-3-5228-3171

Tokyo 162-0805 JAPANFax +81-3-5228-3175

Issues on Homosexuality and the Primates of the Anglican Communion Meeting
The Rt. Rev. David Shoji Tani
The Anglican Communion is at present confronted by the very serious situation relating
to the issues regarding homosexuality, and as to whether or not the Anglican Communion
can maintain its unity as a communion. The Archbishop of Canterbury called thePrimates to urgently meet together at Lambeth Palace on 15th and 16th October 2003.
Among the 38 Provinces worldwide, all the Primates got together, except the one from theDiocese of Philippines, and had heated discussions. After serious consideration, theattached Statement was finally presented.
The issues which we were called to discuss were:
1) the controversial decisions to authorize a Public Rite of Blessing for those incommitted same sex relationships made by the Diocese of New Westminster, Canada, and2) the election of Canon Gene Robinson, who is in a committed same sex relationship, tothe office of and work of a Bishop of the diocese of New Hampshire which wasconfirmed by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church (USA).
Eighteen provinces including African, South American, and some Asian countries havealready made a decisive resolution to secede from the Anglican Communion, dependingon the outcome of the discussions. Thus the Meeting started in a highly tense atmosphere.
First of all, each Province presented its own comments on these issues; some Provinces
submitted their comments in a documented form. Among the comments, there were somewhich seemed to be quite subjective and personal.
We, NSKK, reported our view on the issue which had been seriously and eagerly
deliberated at the Extraordinary Bishops’ Meeting held on 10th September. A summary
follows:
1. It is difficult for homosexuals to come out in the open and publicly declare theirhomosexuality. However, it is true to say there is the side that maintains
homosexuality is secretly accepted by the society.
There is an increasing understanding of “Gender Identity Disorder” by intellectuals
and the well educated.
But it is also a fact that there are some homosexuals who are suffering from socialpressure. In particular, amongst the Christian churches, members of the Protestantchurches are suffering because their churches regard homosexuality as a sin.
The Nippon Sei Ko Kai on the other hand is gradually beginning to understand thathomosexuality is not a matter of the individual’s “choice”, but rather of “orientation”.

He or she is born homosexual. For this reason there is a widespread tendency toaccept homosexuals as they are among our members.
2 We do not unilaterally declare homosexuality as being against the Bible. We areaware that there are some passages in the New Testament that condemn
homosexuality ( Romans 1:26-28, 1 Corinthians 6:9) but we try to see these passages
within their historical contexts. We realize that there is a need to understand thedifferences in the times.
3. A more pressing pastoral problem in the Nippon Sei Ko Kai is the problem of divorce.
At present, divorce is not unconditionally accepted in the church. In cases wheredivorce could not be avoided and is accepted by the church, both parties are asked torepent and ask for God’s forgiveness. They are encouraged to continue to come tochurch. If a clergy divorces, it is expected for him or her to resign.
Will the Nippon Sei Ko Kai accept a homosexual as a priest or in particular as abishop? Members regard priests and bishops as role models as well as protectors of
the faith. Based on the present level of understanding and acceptance of homosexuals
among the members, I have to say that it is still difficult.
4. With regard to the acceptance of the installation of Bishop Robinson as the bishop of
the Diocese of New Hampshire;
Nippon Sei Ko Kai recognizes that a lot of serious deliberation and a lot of pain has
been incurred in making this decision. Thus, we respect the final conclusion. We
believe that the pros and cons of this issue have been seriously considered anddiscussed, and therefore the result of the vote taken on this issue is valid. We support
the efforts of ECUSA to remain as one body in spite of the threats of schism that it isfaced with.
We renounce the efforts to create more confusion by those from outside the ECUSA
who support those against this decision. Care should be taken to avoid such asituation.
However the Nippon Sei Ko Kai condemns that this decision has been made rightafter the Primates’ meeting in Brazil. We see it as an act which ignores the efforts of
the Anglican Communion and the agreement made during that meeting and theLambeth Conference to remain as one body. We ask everyone to be moreconsiderate from now on.
5. There is a minority number of the bishops who think this problem is important enoughto cause a schism in the Anglican Communion, but the majority of the bishops do notregard this problem to be grave and fundamental enough for such a schism. We praythat we all will agree to maintain our unity.
6. From now on, NSKK will exert its efforts to continue to study the problem ofhomosexuality so as to be more pastoral towards our homosexual members. We will
also work and study the issue of the ordination of homosexuals to priesthood and theblessing of same sex unions as essential issues in the church community.
In the present Primates’ Conference, the majority held the negative and unilateral views
concerning homosexual persons, based on the interpretation of Scripture. Diversity ofinterpretation of the Scripture was not a major topic to be discussed in the presentMeeting. However, we have to admit that there is a profound controversy among theprovinces and dioceses of the Anglican Communion whether or not homosexuals are to
be regarded as “immoral sexual relationship” as written in Scripture or as “homosexuallyoriented persons” which is the generally accepted opinion in present society. At the sametime, we have also to know that each province has its own social and religiousback-ground which must be taken seriously into consideration.
The recent actions of the Diocese of New Westminster in Canada and the Episcopal
Church (USA) have raised a serious question as to whether they would lead to disunity in
the Anglican Communion or not. After reporting the opinions and views from eachprovince and after having discussed them, four bishops raised proposals. Based on these
proposals, heated discussion continued, and finally the Draft Committee presented aStatement, which was further deliberated. During the course of this difficult situation, wecame up against a large wall, which caused us to wonder whether any common idea could
be brought up ever again. However, we all appreciated the Archbishop of Canterbury,
Rowan Williams that that difficult situation could be overcome due to his extraordinary
catholicity and leadership.
On the 1st day of the Meeting a daytime Holy Eucharist was proposed. Some bishops
stated that under such circumstances, they would not attend the Eucharist, and some otherprovincial representatives agreed with their decision. What would happen to the Anglican
Communion if disagreement should occur in the Holy Eucharist which is the mostimportant expression of unity for all the Anglican Communion? Such negative action
would put the whole Anglican Communion in jeopardy. One bishop said “The matter has
yet to be concluded, and at this stage if you are declined to accept the invitation to theHoly Table, your action will be regarded as unfaithful to the God.” Those opposed to theholding of the Eucharist agreed with this suggestion, and subsequently all the members
attended the Eucharist. Thus we all felt relieved. In such a state of tension, the meeting
could be maintained by the aid of morning and evening prayers, sermons and study of theScriptures.
The Statement has thrown at us a very serious question. The break-up of the Communion
has seemingly been avoided for the time being. However, if the Installation of the new
bishop in the Diocese of New Hampshire to be held on 2nd November 2003, should takeplace, no one can predict the outcome. On the other hand, each Province has been asked
to prudently consider the matter. It is greatly expected that the matter is to be resolved bydeliberation of the “Commission” and through the mediation of the Archbishop ofCanterbury. We of the NSKK, must buckle down to facing this issue as an urgent andmost important subject.
A Get-together Meeting of South Korean Priests and their Families staying apart inJapan.
There are five priests and one deacon from South Korea serving in Nippon Sei Ko Kai
right now. They are The Rev. Sikyung Yoo who works at St. Paul’s University andDeacon Min Soo Rhee at Tokyo St. Paul’s Church in Tokyo Diocese, The Rev. Ignatius
Yoon Sik Chong at Niigata St. Paul’s Church in Chubu Diocese, the Rev. Seong JongSung and the Rev. Mi Hyun Park at Shuri St. Andrew’s Church in Okinawa Diocese andme the Rev. Dae Bin Im of Osaka St. Paul’s Church in Osaka Diocese.
The Get-together Meeting of South Korean priests and their families staying apart inJapan took place from July 29th (Tues.) to 31st (Thurs.) both in Tokyo and Hakone. The
meeting came about because of Primate Uno’s positive response to a request made by theRev. Sikyung Yoo of St. Paul’s University at the meeting of The Conference of Overseas
Missionary Works of the Korean Priests in Japan held last year.
On the first day, July 29th (Tues.), 18 Korean priests and their families, Primate Uno, TheRev. Yutaka Minabe, the General Secretary, Mr. Shinya Yawata, the Secretary of Partnersin Mission, the Rev. Naoki Kimura, the Secretary of the Department of Ministry Works,
the Rev. Yoshihiko Maeda, the Chairman of the Committee of Peace and Justice and theRev. Hiroto Kayama from Tokyo Diocese attended. Moreover, the Rev. Paul Keun Sang
Kim director of the Department of Ministry Affairs and the Rev. Jung Ho Lee director ofthe Center for Foreign Labors from Seoul Diocese also attended from South Korea andhad worship services and opportunities to exchange opinions together.
As I have been staying in Japan the longest among other Korean priests, I gave a message
on “My experiences as a priest in Nippon Sei Ko Kai and its prospects.” The Rev. PaulKeun Sang Kim’s “The history of the exchanging of the priests and laymen between theAnglican Church of Korea and Nippon Sei Ko Kai and its prospects” and the Rev. Jung
Ho Lee’s “The recent information of the Anglican Church of Korea and the expectations
for the activities of the Korean priests in Japan” followed.
During those three days, we talked over the present conditions of the places where we
Korean priests were, our own experiences in ministry works in churches and how todevelop our mission activities in churches in the future.
During the meeting we reflected that most of the women had no chance or place to present
their thoughts or to explain the environments that they were in. We men attendants wereso much occupied with our own talking, sticking the women attendants with taking careof the children, that we had not enough time to talk with each other.
It was our most great pleasure that our children, from infants to junior high school kids
had a wonderful time to get to know each other. Having a good command of Korean,
English Japanese, both Okinawan and Osaka dialects, they had a wonderful time toexchange with each other and seemed to realize that there were many friends in Japan
under the same circumstance with them. Since this occasion my son in the second yearof primary school has started to speak Korean without hesitation even though he has beenaccustomed to speaking Japanese since he entered the school.
On behalf of the Korean Priests in Japan, I’d like to express my hearty gratitude toPrimate Uno and the members of the Province in Japan for giving us the most wonderful
opportunity to have this meeting.
The Rev. Moses Dae Bin Im
Osaka Diocese Nippon Sei Ko Kai

Preliminary NSKK ‘Gender’ Conference Held
After returning from a Women’s Conference in South Africa, Miki Mei saw there was aneed to encourage more of the women of NSKK’s to take a more prominent role in thedecision-making of the Church.
A preliminary conference was held this August, attended by women from all over Japan.
Comic sketches about women in every day situations were debated, and brief
introductions given on various gender issues, such as discrimination against women,
domestic violence and sexual harassment.
Participants also looked at passages from the Bible from a woman’s perspective, and weregiven presentations on the Environment, Filipinas in Japan, and Okinawa.
In the final session we considered what should be included in the agenda of the first fullconference. Empowerment seemed to be the keyword, and training on this was requested,along with sessions on the Bible and the prayer book from a feminist viewpoint.
At the closing service we all wrote a word important to us on Japanese coloured
handmade paper, and made a beautiful multi-coloured cross; a symbol of our hopes for
women’s rights for the future.
Claire Gelder
NSKK Gender Committee member

Women’s Solidarity Meeting in Okinawa
The Women’s Committees of the National Christian Council (NCC) Korea and Japan(including Korean women in Japan) have had solidarity meetings every two years in eachcountry for ten years. The fifth meeting was held in Naha, Okinawa (Nov.26~ 30th).
NCCJ took the initiative for the whole program with the cooperation of local Christian
women in Okinawa. Since both committees are deeply involved with activities for“overcoming violence”, responding to the Campaign of WCC, the theme of this meeting
was set as “Let us listen to the call for life and pass it down to the next generation”.
During the meeting, three worship services were prepared by each group. The key note
speech was given by a woman who had sat fasting for 9 days in front of the US Consulate
General, protesting the US attack against Iraq. After the Bible study, the regional reports
and discussions, a whole day was spent on a field trip, pilgrimage to the World War 2 sites
and exposure to the US military bases. Through the all these programs the participants
have acknowledged that no military power can bring peace but has violated and is still
violating the lives of God’s creation. We have also realized that Christian women,
especially women who live in the North East Asia are called to work together to bringabout change and create a peaceful culture based on the Christian faith.
At the end of the meeting, the participants have determined to make common anddecisive action plans as follows:
1. Protest against construction of new US base in Henoko, Okinawa
2. Protest against amendment of Article 9 of Constitution
3. Create common prayers and songs for peace
4. Protest against amendment of Japanse Constitution, Article 9 (Renunciation of War).
Junko Matsuura(Chair, Women’s Committee of NCCJ)

Three new Bishops were installed in the 2003
1. On 14th June, Rev. John Michihiro Kato was consecrated and installed as the 7thBishop of Tohoku Diocese.
2. On 6th September, Rev. Barnabas Takashi Kohchi was consecrated and installed as
9th Bishop of Kyoto Diocese.
3. On 11th October, Rt. Rev. James Toru Uno was installed as 6th Bishop of Osaka
Diocese.