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The Methodist Church
Nottingham and Derby District
Rev J W Wesley Blakey
Visit to Japan 19th ~ 26th October 2008.
Kyodan
United Church of Christ in Japan
I was welcomed with fulsome Japanese courtesy. Both the Secretary Rev Ueada and her staff went out of the way to
ensure that my stay for Kyodan was organised. I was given an interpreter for the sessions – Rev Timothy Boyle
In conversation with a number of people including Tim Boyle, I learnt that the main item for debate was the subject
of Holy Communion. Part of the church felt that there should be open communion and part (spearheaded by the
Moderator) felt that only those who had received Christian baptism could be communicants.
This became very obvious in the business of the first day, when a lot of the motions brought to the floor of the
Conference were about this subject.
The argument for closed communion is that in a country where only just over 1% of population is Christian; there
must be some fundamental standard. Shintoism and Buddhism are religions with a good mixture of superstition and
folk lore attached to them. If Christianity is to be distinct, then it must have a firm basis, so that Holy Communion
does not deteriorate into superstition and a good luck charm.
Also the UCCJ is made up of many denominations ~ some traditional and some newer which were formed after the
war time government decreed the unification of Christian Protestant denominations. This all adds to the mix of a
conflict of practices. The Kyodan is seeking to bring a base of good order from which to progress its policy. As yet
nothing has been properly resolved. I understand that although officially there is a [policy of closed communion,
those who are opposed to it are and will find ways around it.
Okinawa did not send any representatives to Kyodan, on principal, though Kyodan appointed a small number from
Okinawa to attend. Okinawa feel that they are not properly recognised by UCCJ nor Government. They feel that they
have just been absorbed by UCCJ and their distinctive contribution is not recognised. Also they feel that as they still
‘host’ a big USA military presence, which the Government wishes to keep in place in order to maintain good and
peaceful relations, they have not been given sufficient recognition of what they are doing for the whole of Japan,
and they would like their land back and have less of a foreign presence in their area. So they feel ignored by Church
and state – their boycott was to bring this to the fore.
Wesley Heritage Group
I was due to meet with Group on 22nd October, but through a ‘misunderstanding’ on the part of my i9nterpreter,
where I was to be met, and where I was told to meet them was a different place. However, i met with 3 m3mbers –
President; Peter T and Rev Kishi . Had a long conversation with Peter.
They would be interested in keeping links with our Methodist Mission Partners, and feeling more part of the
Methodist scene. Is there anything we can do to help facilitate this?
Regular e.letter?
Rev Ekkehard Maase – who is a co-ordinator of youth work in Evangelisches Jugendpfarramt Hamburg-West would
be interested in a link up with young people in England with a possibility of exchange visits. He is particularly keen to
do this in Derbyshire as he has some links here himself.
I intend to put him in touch with our Nottingham & Derby District Team Leader for Worship Learning & Caring and
encourage this to happen. We will keep Europe desk informed of any progress – or will anyone else need any other
input at any stage?
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Dellmings
Daniel is now a full time English teacher and no longer Proxy (Assistant) Chaplain in the High School.
Daniel has some issues about the new Chaplain who has been appointed
 Headmaster has appointed Chaplain for life.
 Fear that Headmaster appoints those who will agree with him
 Chaplain has already said something to the effect that ‘when the Chaplain speaks, God speaks’ – and there is
a fear he will have a too dogmatic approach and spoil the ethos of Christianity witness that exists.
We discussed these points when we met with the Chancellor (Daniel, Sheila Norris and I). She has already been
aware of the situation and has spoken to the people concerned. The incoming Chaplain will be encouraged to fit in
with the ethos of the school and a watch will be kept on the matter.
Daniels’ own position is that he seems happy to continue to teach and also play a part in the wider life of the school.
He is a member of a governing board and continues to represent Christian principals through this medium.
He also is studying for a full teaching licence which will enable him to teach more subjects and to teach without
supervision.
I observed a class of his and also observed his relationships in the staff room. In both he was at ease and he is liked
and respected by staff and students alike. He certainly is playing a good and valued part in the school; and he seems
very happy to be making the contribution that he does.
Daniel’s aim is to expand his knowledge and gain as many skills as he can while his children are young.; for the area
in which they live presents good opportunities for them and their education. He speaks of ordination at some point
in the future.
My own feeling is that Yasuko is fully behind this ‘steady’ course of action and she is reluctant to be a Pastor’s wife ~
certainly at present. Japanese Pastor’s wives are expected to play a big part in the life of the church community and
Yasuko does not want that at the moment. If Daniel had been single, he may have moved towards ordination
quicker (this is purely my view) , but he is taking cognisance of His family situation. However, we did have some
conversation when he stated that he feared that he may not make such a good pastor as other people ~his and
Yasuko’s families are strewn with missionaries! I conveyed my view that when called to any kind of work, we can
only do it as ourselves and not be a copoy of others. Others will teach and inspire etc, but Daniel must do whatever
he is called to do as Daniel.
When I spoke to both Rev Musubi Tbuchi the Dean of Chaplains and Ruth Kubel the Chancellor, they were fully
supportive of enabling Yasuko to be a paid Mission Partner as from April 2009. At this point a nearby Kindergarten
will be incorporated into the life of Kwansei Gakuin and they see Yasuko as having paid employment as a teacher in
this Kindergarten. They recognise that Yoko, the youngest Dellming is only 3 years old and that Yasuko would prefer
part time employment at least until Yoko0 goes into full time education. This is not seen as a problem, and they
would be keen to work out something. They would be keen to have Yasuko for her skills; her contacts; her standing
in the community (she already organises a mother and toddler group from her home) and for the fact that she is
Christian.
I underlined the fact that the British Methodist Church would be fully supportive of this appointment for Yasuko, for
we value them as Mission Partners, would want to recognise both Yasuko and Daniel formally as such , and we are
very happy that Kwansei Gakuin has a link with BMC through them.
Sheila Norris
Sheila came top Osaka from Nagasaki and we had some good conversations. Part of the time we spoke about her
particular current situation at Kwassui Gakuin., where the Arts Faculty is undecided how to proceed. Numbers of
students are falling partly because of the falling birth rate; partly because standards to enter University are not so
high, and partly because Nagasaki is in the south of Japan and other universities are more accessible.
There are proposals to open a School of Nursing, but this is receiving opposition – mostly from Alumni, who want old
standards to be maintained. However such a school would link to a good (relatively) local hospital; provide girls with
a sound education for caring for people which is part of the Christian ethos. Also, nursing is seen in Japan as quite a
low status profession and therefore only a fallback if other avenues become closed.
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The general discussion about the future has not been helped by the head of English being indecisive. In recent
months Sheila has decided to be more outspoken about a need to take decisive action, and the head of department
has eventually agreed, and indeed all the English department are now speaking with one voice on this.
The decision as to whethetr5 the English department will still be grouped under Arts or something else has now
been deferred for 12 months.
Concern that her School’s Christian ethos will be diminished – and if they just doing what everyone else does, what is
the point of their existence? So far they have given a Christian emphasis and stood on Christian principals. This has
been appreciated, valued and effective.
Sheila is much happier about this, though has taken many long, late night meetings to get this far!
Sheila is loyal; will stay; and if the worst came to the worst and there was no job for her, would be agreeable to be
redeployed by BMC – though she would much prefer to stay where she is.
In all of these long struggles she has felt unsupported, and although very capable of being her own person, feels it
would be good to have some other support for her points of view.
World Church Relationships
Sheila has voiced a frustration with the uncertainty of the situation in MCH, which the 6,000 miles distance has not
helped.
There has been a lot of confusion over appointment of new Methodist Asia Secretary and concern has been voiced
about :~
 No British notification to Japan over the person appointed – word first filtered through via Tokyo. This was
made worse by the fact that when the American Presbyterian equivalent was appointed for Barbara, she
received advance formal notice and details of person concerned.
 Person appointed not ordained (some understood that Chris Elliot was ordained) ~ ordination is a high
Japanese status
 New appointee (Steve) being husband of former post holder has given rise to ‘eyebrow raising’.
 New Secretary not easily contactable. No designated PA for Steve in World Church relationships office . and
so when he is away there is not anyone who can speak for him or arrange matters on his behalf. Those who
are contacted are doing best, but are often in the dark, and there is a perception that they do not fully
appreciate the circumstances in Japan.
 Perception that new appointee has not been fully briefed about Mission Partners and their circumstances –
leaving an air of frustration that BMC is not properly informing its staff .
 If BMC does not know something – it should ask Mission partners and not make assumptions.
Companion scheme.
Japan needs a senior ordained man. Culture of Japan means that these credentials are taken seriously and thgis is
seen as the proper status to give to such a representative position
Need a Companion to relate to Mission partners and not just to Church organisation
Concern that a Mission Partner to separate countries will be costly (i.e – more people needed); questions about how
Area Secretary can keep up same efficiency of networking when lots of conversations and concerns are in the hands
of others.
Concern about how Companions will network with each other.
Concern that Companion will be a one way tier and that it may hinder Mission Partners giving their ideas and skills
and being able to contribute to the world wide Church effectively.
My response was that there has been a great deal of confusion at MCH for everyone; Japan has not purposely
bee4n singled out. We are assured that the system and the staff will all be more certain o0f their positions and their
procedures in the coming months.
I gave assurance that Steve had been appointed as the best person for the job and some of his current unavailability
was due to him making necessary contacts for his future work.
Companion scheme is still being worked out – and it should become clearer in coming months.
I assured Sheila (and Dellmings) that we valued their work and the position they were in. We were currently glad to
support them as they made the Christian presence effective in their respective spheres; and if there was anything we
(or I) could to that was helpful, we would be glad to know.
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Personal note
I am not sure where the Wesley Heritage Group fits into this – or mif it has a more active role to play.
It was a good, if frantic visit. I felt that the personal contact with p[people was invaluable – especially as I was able to
meet some of the people that Ii had met before. This enabled a continuing of conversations, a deepening of trust
and a mutual commitment to be helpful.
I confess that in 2004, all the internal travel arrangements were made from London, so that I knew where I was
going and how I was travelling well in advance, The relative short notice of this trip made that more difficult. If in the
future Mission partners are to make local travel arrangements, then more notice would be needed to make things
go smoother.
J W Wesley Blakey
30.10.08