HAVlNG BEEN CALLED to discover a new spiritual wealth and todevelop it into a new form to pursue self-images that welcome others in multi-religious societies, about fifty participants from the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Evangelical Mission Work in Germany (EMW) and the NCCJ gathered in Ranzan, Japan, for their five-day bilateral consultation from September 1 6 under its theme, In Search ofSpirituality.

The participants drafted a joint declaration reflecting changing contexts of both countries and the rest of the world 10 years after their previous consultation that was held in Leipzig, Germany, in 1993.

The Joint Declaration, drafted at the wrap-up session on September 20, stated that the theme was felt at a deep level through an experience of very abundant fruitfulness of under-standing each other despite frictions stemming from differ-ences in the order, organization, social status, and functions of the churches as well as language and culture.

"Through the testimonies of the Bible, we confirmed that the gift of the work of the Holy Sprit is promised by prepared-ness for and openness to God. With this confidence, we will go toward the next German-Japanese Church Consultation and have an encouraging experience of spiritual lives in our respec-tive countries and churches in the coming ten years, which is a good basis and perspective for future encounters," the declara-tion concluded.

The draft declaration said that definitions of spirituality varied between the participants from the two countries due to cultural and generational gaps. It explained that, while German participants suggested that the participants approach new forms of free spirituality outside the church, those from Japan emphasized that many such spiritual movements do not come from true spirituality, stressing the importance of experiences of sadness, pain, burdens, crises, and hardships from which true spirituality is derived.

"Participants agreed that spirituality is not an instrument for narcissistic self-realization, but something that leads to action for service and liberation," the declaration said. "True spirituality leads to community, not away from it, in which love of God, Iove of neighbors, spirituality, and service are the same (Luke 10:27)."

The participants were divided into four groups for work-shops to learn about their specific issues in the two countries in connection with spirituality, including social themes and service, youth seeking healing and identity outside the church, churches and the persecuted minorities, and resistance to wars.

"This declaration is not the end, but a declaration for us to go on further," said Bishop Maria Jepsen, a member of the drafting committee of the declaration, and head of the German delegation. Bishop Jepsen is the first female bishop in the EKD.

"The declaration will hopefully strengthen our ties in mission," said Toshimasa Yamamoto, General Secretary of the NCCJ.