13
Sep
Important News
Dear Friends of Meito Christ International Church,
In August 2006 my family and I came to Nagoya, Japan on a 4-year term as Missionaries. Part of my ministry was to be the pastor for the English worship service that had grown to be called Meito Christ International Church (MCIC) – a ministry of hospitality to English speakers in Nagoya. It was a ministry that began years ago under former Lutheran missionaries Rev. Steenburg and continued under Rev. Mason.
I also came with the message from my church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and its partner in ministry, the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church (JELC) that MCIC could not expect Lutheran missionaries to continue to be pastors after my term expired in 2010.
In the spring of 2009 MCIC filed an application for a new missionary in conjunction with the application of our Japanese Lutheran host the Tokai district of the JELC to begin in 2010. Recently, we received the news that the Japanese church (JELC) has decided to end the ELCA Lutheran missionary presence with my term.
This means that after my term ends in July 2010, there will no longer be an English speaking Lutheran missionary from the US in the Nagoya area for the foreseeable future.
In preparation for the possibility of this time, in 2006 MCIC renewed it’s partnership with Nagoya-Kibo Lutheran Church, a merger of three Japanese congregations including the former host of the MCIC – Meito Christ Lutheran Church. MCIC began to have its own budget and responsibility for some expenses and began to save some money with the goal of financially supporting its own pastor. MCIC formed a church council with two elected positions, a president and co-treasures and includes two volunteer representatives who attend MCIC faithfully as well as myself. Although we took those steps, MCIC is not an official congregation or legal entity. MCIC continues to be a ministry of hospitality to English speakers who want to worship in a Christian inter-denominational congregation.
However, now with the recent decision by the JELC the time has come for MCIC to continue to evolve. The council of MCIC met on Sunday and discussed MCIC’s various options. The will meet again shortly to continue that discussion. The council will share their suggestion and the next step at a general congregational meeting on November 1st immediately after worship. This meeting is an important one and on behalf of the council I encourage all to attend. On the agenda will be to discuss the recommendation of the council.
Please continue to pray for MCIC in this time of transition and for God’s Holy Spirit to continue to direct and guide our path.
Be assured that worship will continue at 5:00 pm with Sunday school and Adult Bible Study at 4:00 pm. As always, MCIC welcomes all to worship to God’s glory.
In Christ,
Pastor C.
