Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

Companion Diocese Committee
http://www.ecctk.info/cktasvst/cktascmp.htm

Committee Chair: Mrs. Pat Edlund


Disclaimer: This is not an official publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

CHRISTIAN SHARING WORLDWIDE

  •       The Companion Diocese Committee is a relationship, begun in the 1980s, between the Diocese of Maryland and the Diocese of Tokyo. This relationship was initiated by our Bishop Eastman and the late Bishop Yamada of the Diocese of Tokyo. When Tokyo's Bishop Takeda was consecrated in January, 1989, a delegation attended from the Diocese of Maryland. The early informal relationship was approved the Executive Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA, and exists today as a formal, continuing relationship.
  •       A relationship of dioceses, one in Japan and one in the USA, brings us to awareness of the wide diversity within the Anglican Communion, and lifts our eyes beyond the boundaries of our own diocese. Japan and the USA are economic equals, so the companion relationship does not focus on material needs of either partner. In Japan, Christians are less than 0.5% of the population. In all of Japan, there are about the same number of Anglicans as Episcopalians in Maryland. Japan's eleven dioceses comprise one province. The USA has nine provinces.
  •       The formal companion relationship is between dioceses. Our purpose is mutual support for the mission and ministry to which each partner is called. Translated into practical terms, this means that congregations support each other with prayer, information, and friendship, which is based upon personal relationships which grew from exchange visits and/or correspondence. Because Tokyo clergy are transferred periodically, and some of our parishes have interim rectors, the relationship between parishes was designed to be congregation-to-congregation, with strong lay leadership within each congregation.
  •       At this time, there are about twelve linked parishes in Maryland, with counterparts in Tokyo, which have maintained a relationship of greater or lesser intensity over the past decade. The Companion Diocese Committee encourages each of the Maryland linked parishes to fashion a companion relationship as best suits their energy, creativity, and resources. For this reason, each relationship between parishes looks different from the rest. The committee coordinates exchange trips, and acts as a resource and clearinghouse for information from the Diocese of Tokyo.
  •       The relationship has taken the form of an exchange of correspondence, visits, prayers, and joint fund-raising projects. The Greeting Card Project, which has been in place over the past two years, is the result of an initiative by a small group of people at St. Martin's, Tokyo. Maryland parishes have been gathering and sending used cards for the people of St. Martin's to rework by cropping the front picture and then mounting the picture on a new folder, for resale in Japan. Originally the proceeds were going to be used for badly needed church repair. After the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995, St. Martin's decided to donate the majority of proceeds for earthquake relief in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area, saving nothing for themselves. The group has also decided each year to contribute to the Outreach program of their companion parish, Holy Trinity in Churchville, Harford County. Other Tokyo linked parishes and individuals have contributed to various Outreach projects in the Maryland Diocese.
  •       Bishop and Mrs. Ihloff have accepted Bishop Takeda's invitation to visit the Diocese of Tokyo in late June, 1997. The Reverend John Kitagawa and the present Companion Diocese Chair, Mrs. Pat Edlund, will accompany them. During their five days in the Diocese of Tokyo, the Maryland visitors will see much of the Tokyo diocese, and meet with as many people as possible, exchange current information about their respective dioceses, and discuss the future for the companion relationship.
  •       We have tried to send Maryland young people to the Diocese of Tokyo in even-numbered years, and to host Tokyo young people from the Diocese of Maryland in odd-numbered years. Although recruiting is not complete, we know that at least nine students will come to Maryland from August 1, 1997, through August 11, 1997. In addition, there have been numerous adult delegations in both directions over the past decade. Unfortunately, it has been years since we were able to recruit a group of Maryland young people to journey to Tokyo. Money has been a big problem. Even though all Maryland young people are guests of families in the Diocese of Tokyo, and are treated to fantastically gracious hospitality by our Tokyo hosts, with essentially no expenses during their stay in Japan, the $1100 round-trip air-fare is prohibitive to many young people. The Companion Diocese Committee urges each parish to plan a parish-to-parish visit at any time mutually agreeable to their Tokyo companion. Several companion parishes have achieved such trips.
  •      Good communications have proved indispensable in achieving a reasonably smooth exchange experience for the Companion Diocese relationship. The Tokyo young people often have at best a moderate command of English, but we have always had two excellent English speakers in the persons of the late Mr. John Shioda and Ms. Jean Ogawa, a former U.S. high school exchange student in South Dakota. Unfortunately, this year, Ms. Ogawa will be unable to participate in the Maryland visit. For preparations and for the actual visit, telephone, fax, email, and the emerging diocesan websites will all be important tools in achieving the communications necessary for a meaningful experience and growth of the Companion Diocese relationship.

    COMPANION DIOCESE COMMITTEE: ANNUAL REPORT, 1995.

  •       Traditionally, Christians everywhere share: our faith, our substance, our goals, and our dreams. Companion relationships exist to strengthen each companion-parish for the ministry and mission to which each is called. For nearly ten years, the Diocese of Tokyo and the Diocese of Maryland have supported each other with prayer, offered mutual encouragement in our ministry, have shared information, and have exchanged resources, both spiritual and material.
  •       Sharing sometimes takes unusual forms. In June, 1994, St. Martin's, Tokyo, requested that parishes in Maryland collect greeting cards for them to rework to help finance parish building at St. Martin's. Examples of the reworked cards gave impetus for our support; these cards were gorgeous. After Christmas, thousands of cards arrived in Baltimore from all over the Diocese of Maryland. Then in January, 1995, came the Great Hanshin Earthquake, which hit areas around Kobe, Osaka, and as far as Kyoto. The people of St. Martin's decided to use the 1995 proceeds to respond to the needs of others: about one-eight to Holy Trinity, Churchville, Maryland, outreach projects; and the remainder to NSKK (Japanese Anglican Church) for earthquake relief. We continue the greeting card collection project into 1997.
  •       In summer 1995, fifteen Diocese of Tokyo high school and college students came to Maryland for ten days. Each host-parish scheduled activities they felt would best acquaint the students and their two leaders with our Christian community. On one very hot August day, four visitors helped to paint two long walls in a Sandtown Habitat home. Another day, we worked alongside an ecumenical group to serve over 800 lunches at the Our Daily Bread soup kitchen. Picnicking at a jazz concert, playing in a church-sponsored softball game, tubing down the Gunpowder, a trip to Washington, DC (including the Smithsonian Enola Gay exhibit), and mall-shopping were also part of the activities for various parishes.
  •       Before the Tokyo students came to Maryland, there was a combined Bible study and discussion of World War II. The students also saw a video discussing the Enola Gay exhibit (nuclear bombing of Hiroshima). We made sure that all seventeen Tokyo visitors saw that exhibit. On the fiftieth anniversary of Hiroshima, August 6, 1995, Tokyo and Maryland Anglicans gathered at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltimore, for an ecumenical service of reconciliation. Afterwards, we heard the story of Sadako, the Hiroshima girl who attempted to fold a thousand paper (origami) peace-cranes, before her death from radiation exposure. Some of us folded paper-cranes, and sent them back to Tokyo. We were deeply moved as several Tokyo guests shared family stories from the immediate post-war times in Japan. 'Never again' seems possible, as our friendship and understanding grow.
  •       In October, 1995, Bishop Takeda and twelve Tokyo parish leaders came to Maryland to help us celebrate the consecration of Bishop Ihloff. The next three days included non-stop parish schedules, time with Bishop Ihloff, and two days of field trips to diocesan outreach projects. Long conversations, some using interpreters, brought new understandings.
  •       On November 10, 1995, news traveled worldwide that John Toshio Shioda had died that day. John first visited the Diocese of Maryland over ten years ago. He became a strong advocate for the companion diocese relationship. For the past few years, he was chair of the Tokyo Companion Diocese Committee. John's friends everywhere grieve that his life on earth ended when he was only 62. At the same time, we celebrate John's life when we share memories and continue God's work that we had planned together. John is now with his Lord, leaving with us his legacy of service to the Lord he loved. We offer thanksgiving for John's life.
  •       As we look forward to the future, we see new challenges and opportunities. Our fast-paced lives are very different from generations past. Community changes threaten a fragile stability. Many U. S. Dioceses have decided that local needs have priority, and have decreased their support for worldwide mission and ministry. As part of our Covenant with God and one another, we continue our relationship with the Diocese of Tokyo Anglicans, who face the same challenges as we do.
    Last updated: 6/16/2006, by Bill Moore.