Japan North-America Mission Forum Statement

Japan North-America Mission Forum Statement

Memorandum of Understanding, Japan-North America Mission Forum

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.

Memorandum of Understanding, Japan-North America Mission Forum

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 21st 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 100th anniversary celebration of the KCCJ in 2008 and the 150th 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 21st 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

Joint Statement

We, who are gathered together at the Japan-North America Mission Forum, believing in the sovereignty of the God of peace, express our deep concern and anger over the hasty preparations now being made in Japan to revise the Constitution, particularly Article 9.

Japan’s present Constitution was developed as a response to the remorse felt by the Japanese people for their aggression against other Asian countries, particularly Korea and China, in which an estimated 20 million people were killed and many lands, including their own, were ravaged by war.  Following their defeat, the Japanese people chose to be a peaceful nation by adopting its present Constitution, in which Article 9 declares the “renunciation of war and the relinquishment of the right of Japan to maintain a military and engage in war.”

Nevertheless, since taking office in September 2006, the ruling party of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made constitutional reform its top priority.  His administration pushed through a revision of the “Basic Law of Education” (which strengthens efforts to impose nationalism) in December, and he is now pushing hard for adoption of the “National Referendum Bill” on procedures for constitutional reform.

If Article 9 of the Constitution is rescinded, the way will be opened for Japan to engage in military action, and Japan will join the U.S. as a nation that can legally engage in war.

We believe that war is evil and not the will of God, and therefore a country that can engage in war cannot be considered (in the words of Prime Minister Abe) a “beautiful country.”

It is for this reason that we declare both our opposition to all efforts to change Japan’s Constitution and our heartfelt desire for true peace under the reign of God.

March 29, 2007

Participants in the Japan North- America Mission Forum
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
Japan Christian Social Work League
Christian School Council on Cooperative Mission