International Anglican Women's Network - News

We report on the activities of women in NSKK from 2006 up to now. In 2006, NSKK adopted the resolution to constitute the Women’s Desk in the General Synod. Then the Women’s Desk to deal with issues concerning women was constituted in Japan Province for the first time. The task of the Women’s Desk is as follows.

1. Enlarging women’s opportunities to receive training so that each woman can display her ability adequately and take part in the ministry of God. Particularly, making efforts to promote women’s active participation in all decision-making machinery.

2. Making contact and coordination among women’s groups according to need and facilitating their sharing of information and challenges.

3. Making contact and coordination with international networks.

In 2005, NSKK decided to take appropriate measures to prevent harassment because sexual abuse by a priest came to light. Therefore, the Women’s Desk made a model plan of guidelines for prevention of harassment. Since then, the Women’s Desk made a booklet for prevention of harassment intended for use in each church, and offered training and workshops and carried out the survey of opinions about sexual harassment in cooperation with Gender Project (working group of Justice and Peace Committee). Now, various projects for advancing the process for prevention of harassment and increasing awareness of this problem are promoted in each diocese.

One of the important issues concerning women is “increasing the percentage of women in decision-making machinery”. During the term of the 57th General Synod (2008~2010), there were only 5 women in 55 members (Bishop 11, clergy 22, lay person 22) of the Synod. Moreover, women priests are not recognized in all dioceses. Such an awareness based on the sexual division of work is deeply rooted in Japanese society in general. But we have also cheering news. In the General Synod in May 2010, 3 women were elected as representatives of the permanent committee consisting of 9 members Bishop 2 , clergy 3, lay person 3 and Primate Bishop). And many women are going to take part in the preceding meeting of the Ministry Conference in the summer of this year. Our challenge still continues to encourage each woman to display her ability adequately without regard to sex so that every woman can participate in the ministry.

• Topics of women’s activities in NSKK of recent years
  
  • July 2008, the 16th women’s forum of NSKK took place (Kyoto).
  • August 2008, the women’s conference of Jerusalem Diocese and Tokyo Diocese was held mainly by women (Amman).
  • December 2008, the 10th Anniversary Service to offer thanks to God for ordination of women priests and commemorative event were held. (Theme: In order to walk together toward more fruitful partnership in our church)
  • September 2009, as the side event of the 150th Anniversary Ceremony of Japan Mission, the meeting of women clergy and theological students with Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA, was held. O this occasion, the 1st liaison conference of women’s groups was also held.
    
•  The 1st liaison conference of women’s groups, September 2009 19 representatives of women’s groups linked with NSKK assembled and shared information about their activities. They consulted about women’s present issues, too. (Main members are as follows: Women’s Association of NSKK, GFS, the NSKK representative of NCC Women’s Committee, RIGRIMA [NGO], women clergy, the delegates of UNCSW, ACWCJ, the persons in charge of prevention of harassment, linkperson of the Women’s Desk, Gender Project and the Women’s Desk, etc.) Then they built the consensus about the need for exchange of concrete ideas among them to raise awareness of the policy to increase the percentage of women in decision-making machinery and the problem of guidelines on women priests.

Women’s Desk of Japan Province
Michiko Kikawada
Kaoru Yoshitani