Nippon Sei Ko Kai (NSKK, the Anglican Communion in Japan) Provincial Report January, 2019 International Anglican Liturgical Consultation, Hong Kong Liturgical Commission Established by the resolution of the 52nd General Convention (2000) as one of three standing commissions of the Province Since 2008, the number of the commission members is limited to 5 (plus one bishop in-charge) by a general convention resolution (mainly because of financial reason) The commission regularly meets every two months Membership Rev. John Masato Yoshida, Priest (Chair & Bishop In-charge) Rev. Shintaro David Ichihara, Priest (Secretary) Rev. Mary-Grace Tazu Sasamori, Priest Rev. Paul Hikari Miyazaki, Priest Rev. Paula Atsuko Fumoto, Deacon 2 female, 3 male, all clergy Activities of the Commission (not comprehensive) Lectionary Current NSKK Lectionary - Based on 1979 American BCP, 1955 JBS translation Modification for adjustment to 1988 Interconfessional translation (RC & Protestant) New Bible translation (Interconfessional) : Published in 2018, New Lectionary with this version is needed Weekday Lectionary - translation of CW Daily Eucharist Lectionary, trial status Initiation Communion before Confirmation - Approved by 2016 General Convention, effective on Jan. 1, 2017 - Affirmed having the Baptism, Confirmation and the First Communion in one liturgy is the norm of 1990 Prayer Book - When this pattern cannot be followed, baptized adults receive communion in 1
the following Eucharist - If a person who were baptized in their infancy then left from the relationship with the church comes back, they will receive communion after an appropriate preparation for confirmation - Baptized children who reached the school age (approx. 7 or more) are invited to receive Communion after an appropriate preparation; then they are nurtured in their parish community so that they will be confirmed at the appropriate age - Prepared a photobook for younger children, recommended curriculum of catechism for elder children Meaning of Confirmation (i) Confirmation is a part of the Initiation, but it is not the rite to complete/terminate the Initiation. (ii) Confirmation is not the condition to receive Communion. (iii) The Initiation rites can be understood as a first step of the process to walk the way of Christian. (iv) Confirmation is the rite that the Bishop lays hands on the person who has been baptized and is committed for the mission of the Church, and prays for the person to send out with the daily empowerment of the Holy Spirit. (v) Confirmation is a one-time Sacramental Rite presided by the Bishop. Reception of people of other denominations - RC, Orthodox : without re-confirmation Sunday Worship without Priest Service of the Word Service of the Word with Communion (Presided by deacons) - Intended as an alternative for Sunday Eucharist where a priest (presider) is not available - Order is based on Common Worship s Liturgy of the Word - Using the same Sunday Eucharistic Lectionary Others Alternative bible readings for marriage and funeral Some Seasonal & Occasional Services English Translation of the Prayer Book 2
Revision of the Prayer Book of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai Prayer Book Revision Preparatory Committee (2014-2016) In 2014 (after 24 years from the current 1990 prayer book s publication) the General Convention established the "Prayer Book Revision Preparatory Committee" The committee's task was "to clarify the basic principles and issues of future prayer book of the NSKK within the term of two years Reasons of the proposal in the agenda. Various modifications to the current prayer book, such as revision of the Lord's Prayer and the Apostolic Creed, revision of the Ordination, newly assigned psalms after the Old Testament reading in the Eucharist, the new lectionary revised to accommodate to the New Interconfessional Translation, have already been made Incorporating the achievements that the recent progress in the field of liturgics has made, and responding to the emergence of the new tasks that require great efforts In the Recommendation of the Mission Consultation held in 2012, "efforts to enrich the worship life in the 21st century" is required The Japan Bible Society Bible has been working on the new translation What is the Prayer Book of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai What is the Prayer Book of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai? The discussion over this question was resulted as a Working definition. The Prayer Book of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai is: a book of prayer used by the people who share the faith and life in the NSKK as a people, created and given life by God, to walk with Christ. Issues to be dealt with the revision The committee concluded, based on the above definition, the necessity to deal with the following issues by the revision of the current prayer book. (i) Search for the suitable style of worship life for contemporary people and response to various needs (modernization of liturgy) (ii) Response to the issues of Japan and Worldwide as a church live in contemporary Japanese society (iii) Revisions and additions to the current prayer book incorporating new theological insights The committee listed 11 concrete items to be reflected in the new prayer book. Among 3
those, the following seem to have significant importance: Response to the recommendation of the 2012 Mission Consultation, "Worship based on the respect to the dignity of all life," and reflecting the spirit of the Five Marks of Mission As a prayer book of Japan, consideration of the character of Japanese society where Christians are in the minority, and the service presided by laity to cope with the current situation of the NSKK Response to the new challenges: huge disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear power plant accidents and peace-related issues, social problems such as poverty In addition, Ecumenical point of view which is inevitably necessary for Christians living in Japanese society, and a perspective from the Asia will be especially important Schedule The Constitutions and Canons of the NSKK requires getting two resolutions at two general conventions regarding prayer book revisions First resolution of approval in 2022 general convention In 2024 the new prayer book will be published after the second resolution of consent in the general convention But in fact, this requires us to draft everything only in two years, so the schedule is really tight Organizational Structure The preparation committee required to assign one full-time staff for the revision Financial problems can easily be expected As a conclusion, one priest was commissioned to the position as a staff in-charge of the committee: The cost is shared by the province and the diocese of Tokyo 4
Prayer Book Revision Committee (2016- ) Established by 2016 General Convention, by the advice from the report of the Preparatory Committee Started its activity in August 2016 Consists of 1 Bishop In-Charge & 13 members Liturgical Commission members + 8 new members 5 female, 8 male / 9 clergy, 4 laypersons Meeting once per season: i.e. four times a year (mainly due to financial restriction) Schedule (subject to change) Term of GC Activities 2014-16 Preparatory work done by Preparatory Comm. 2016-18 Est. of Revision Comm: Start of the Work 2018-20 Scholarly work, Text Drafting, Interim report 2020-22 Publishing draft version, feedback & revision Preparation for publishing (from the mid. of 2021) 2022 GC First resolution 2022-24 Practical work for final publishing 2024 GC Second resolution, final publishing Some topics discussed in the committee Review of the current prayer book Thorough survey and review of the current 1990 prayer book based on the user survey performed in 2015 and discussion by members. This covers the following: Contents Writing Style Book size; format; multiple editions or one single edition New Bible Translation The new common (multi-denominational, both RC and Protestant) translation has been published. This will be the bases of the new prayer book, both in direct quote and paraphrased use. Psalter The current Psalter is based on the RC version. We are investigating if the psalm of the new translation can be used as the Psalter of the new prayer book. Study No one in the committee can claim to be a liturgical scholar; As a group of amateurs, we always spend some time in the beginning of every meeting for studying. We started translating the Study of Liturgy and Worship into Japanese as a resource of this study, and it is close to the end. 5
Mode-switch (2018-) After two years of preparation, we are gradually moving toward the drafting phase. Drafting Process We defined the drafting process as follows: Preparation Collect resources Study (History, Theology, Examples of other provinces) Social situations Determine changes Fix the basic structure of the service Review, then move to drafting Drafting Collect concrete resources Draft the service text Check writing style Investigate feasibility of common liturgical text with other denominations Review, then start trial use Trial Use & Feedback Release draft via Internet & print Trial use Get feedbacks Categories We categorized the whole prayer book into the following groups. This will be the contents of the revised prayer book, which does not mean all of them appear in the book as they have been. Preface Calendar Office Service of the Word Seasonal Liturgies Occasional Prayer & Thanksgiving Collect Eucharist Initiation Catechism Rites for the Sick Funeral 6
Marriage Ordination Commission Consecration of a Church Psalter Canticles & Chants All members are assigned to these groups: each member has more than one task 7