Citizenship in faith transcends nationalism: Korean Christians in Japan celebrate 75 years of partnership with Canadian Presbyterians.

Imagine being born ill a country, living there all your life, speaking the national language and, yet, always feeling like an outsider. It happens to ethnic minorities the world over. Koreans in Japan are no different. Although the majority of them were bona in Japan and speak Japanese, they are not perceived or treated as full Japanese citizens. In South Korea, they are considered slightly tainted because of their total immersion in Japanese society. Those who are Christians, however, find their true identity with other Christians, both Japanese and Korean.

This year marks the completion of 75 years of co-operative mission between The Presbyterian Church in Canada and the Korean Christian Church in Japan. In 1927, pioneer missionary Rev. Luther L. Young was invited to organize the scattered Korean missions in Japan into a church. Since that time, Koreans in Japan have survived two wars, internal and external disruptive pressures, and court battles with the government. The present church consists of more than 70 congregations and preaching stations scattered throughout three of the four main islands of Japan.

To celebrate 75 years of partnership, and their common citizenship as Christians, the PCC sent a delegation of seven former missionaries (Rev. Priscilla Anderson, Rev. Robert Anderson, Rev. Glen Davis, Rev. Joyce Davis, Clarabeth McIntosh, Rev. Rodger Talbot and Rev. Ron Wallace) to Japan to participate in various events. Glen Davis, a former moderator of the PCC, headed the delegation, bringing not only greetings on behalf of the national church but also a cheque for $10,000.

The focal point of the celebration was a service held in Osaka Korean Church on Sunday, April 6, at which Rev. Lee, Byung-Ku, Moderator of the KCCJ, preached and a 30-member youth band/ orchestra, along with the church choir, provided special music.

Shared history was at the forefront throughout much of the service. Rodger Talbot presented the Korean Moderator with a plaque inscribed with a capsule history. A copy of Kimchi and Maple Leaves under the Rising Sun, a 75th anniversary history of the PCC/KCCJ partnership that I wrote, was presented to KCCJ research historian Rev. Lee, Chong Il. Mr. Lee presented the Canadians with a copy of a book prepared by his church commemorating the Korean Christian presence in Japan from 1908 to 1998. Later, at a reception, Rev. In Ha Lee, former general secretary of the KCCJ, recognized the contributions of three former Canadian missionaries who were not present--Tamiko Corbett, the late Jack McIntosh and the late Mavis Hyndman.

Another event in the celebration was two-hour meeting with the leaders of the women's association. There are few women elders and ministers in the KCC despite the large number of women members in the congregations. A report presented by the association's general secretary, Rev. Suh, Jung-soon, included proposals for greater and more effective participation by women. One suggestion was that the KCCJ send a woman missionary to Canada. Working in a nonurban context, she could Observe any cases of oppression of women and learn how Canadian women are working for justice. She could also learn how women ministers in Canada address gender issues. Members of the Canadian delegation were able to observe what the women's association has accomplished when they toured Rainbow House, a residence for 50 seniors built and administered by the association.

Following the main events in Osaka, the delegates scattered over other parts of Japan where they had served as missionaries. On a visit to Kawasaki, Rev. In Ha Lee told the group about work toward reconciliation between Korean and Japanese residents. Delegates also toured a multi-ethnic activity centre, a joint community school/nursery school, and a project employing physically and mentally challenged people--all the result of efforts by a concerned group from Kawasaki Korean Church.

Comparing notes at the end of the day, the Canadians found some things had changed and some hadn't. The once-struggling minority church has expanded and its visibility and influence are growing, especially in the larger metropolitan centres. In the public sector, some station signs on commuter lines are now written in both Japanese and Korean characters.

Public sector advances are not always reflected in the church, however. Korean continues to be the dominant language in worship (the Moderator spoke in Korean without any translation). Despite the work of the women's association and other groups, women continue to play subordinate roles in the life of the church. And, inadvertently drawing another similarity between the two denominations, the delegates noticed that young people were conspicuous by their absence at the celebrations.

But it was not in the work of committees, conferences or joint statements that the delegates witnessed the strength of the Korean Christian Church in Japan. It was in the community, in the faith of the church as seen in its people at worship and at home. Perhaps it is in this area, congregation to congregation, that the two churches truly have a common ground.

Rev. Robert Anderson, a retired Presbyterian minister, is the author of Kimchi and Maple Leaves under the Rising Sun: The Story of Canadian Presbyterian Involvement with the Korean Church in Japan. He and his wife, Rev. Priscilla Anderson, were missionaries with the KCCJ in Japan from 1966 to 1983.