"The Protestant Churches in Germany and Japan must rediscover their rich spirituality and develop new ways of expressing it, in order to become more inviting to people in a multi-religious society." This was the demand made by the 5th German-Japanese Church Consultation, "In Search of Spirituality."

From September 16-20, 2003, representatives of the National Christian Council in Japan and delegates of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and the Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW) met together in Ranzan in Japan .

Their first point of reference was the document of the 4th consultation in Leipzig ten years ago, when after the breakdown of Socialism the consultation considered “Ｔhe task of the church in a changing world.” Both churches committed themselves in this　document to carry their share of responsibility for building a just economic order throughout the world, within the framework of 　the ecumenical movement for justice, peace and the integrity of creation.

Since this last consultation in Germany, the situation has changed considerably in both countries and the disadvantages of globalisation have become much more apparent. The Asian Crisis in 1997 and the continuing economic recession in Japan and Germany have considerably increased the gap between the rich and the poor. Many people have less hope now than they had ten years ago that their situation in life will be sufficiently secure in the future.

After years of military detente between East and West, the hope for a more peaceful world has not been realised. Worldwide networks of terror organisations threaten the civilian population throughout the world. The terrible poison gas attack by the Aum movement in 1995, the September 11, 2001, the growing atomic threat and the wars with conventional weapons in Asia and Europe have all shown just how vulnerable the industrial nations are.

In the face of all this insecurity and in the face of the growing attractiveness of both new and classical Eastern religions, the Japanese and the German churches have taken up their prophetic task within society, "In Search of Spirituality."

The churches in Japan are concerned to reassure people of their identity in the face of growing nationalistic tendencies. There are many disconcerting signs, including: the introduction of the national anthem; the Tsukurukai history book that glosses over Japanese aggression during World War 11 in the Pacific, describing it as a war of liberation against colonial powers; the continuing conflict about the bitter fate of the so-called "comfort women" (forced into prostitution); the Prime Minister's visit to the Yasukuni shrine; and the emergency laws passed to enable military support in lraq and to deal with a possible confrontation with North Korea.

The churches in Germany are being called into question by many people officially leaving the church and by the detachment of many of their members. The churches have less and less success in interesting young people in their message. Millions of unemployed and an unexpectedly high number of bankruptcies are rocking social stability while the lack of a clear position towards the questions raised by bio-ethics demonstrates the increasing loss of values within society.

First of all the participants tried to gain an understanding of the spiritual reality outside their churches. They tried to find where the fascination lay in the new forms of spirituality in the new religions or the various expressions and forms of a "patchwork religiousness."

In both Japanese and German the term "spirituality" Is an enrgmatrc concept used to describe qurte differmg phenomena and traditions. It is necessary to differentiate at least between a non-ecclesiastic and an ecclesiastic concept. But great differences also became apparent between the churches of the west and the churches of the east and between some of the older and the younger delegates when we considered the question of a new concept of spirituality for the church.

Members of the German delegation suggested an understanding of spirituality that was also capable of accepting forms of spirituality from outside the church. Church becomes inviting when it is open for new forms of spirituality. But at the same time it is necessary to revitalise the rich resources of spiritual expression handed down through centuries of church history.

Japanese participants emphasised that although the new spiritual movements outside of the church received a lot of attention, they usually did not deserve the predicate of true spirituality. For them, true spirituality was characterised by the experience of grief, pain or difficulties. True spirituality can only arise out of a crisis experience and out of coping with suffering.

Both sides agreed that true spirituality is not an instrument for self-development of a narcissistic individual, but should rather enable people to get involved in helping others - so-called diaconal activity. True spirituality leads towards fellowship in the community and not away from it. However the love of God and the love of one's neighbour, spirituality and diaconal activity are of equal importance and value (Luke 10,27), but diaconal activity is not a concrete expression of the love of God but rather its consequence.

We described our experience of spirituality under four headings:

1) Social issues and spirituality
Diaconal activity and spirituality belong together. But what spirituality develops out of our diaconal practice? Diaconal activity can be valid in itself. Spirituality is already there when we show respect to the other and offer him or her new possibilities in life that make him or her a subject and not an object. A diaconal culture of listening and a language of attentiveness bring social needs and spirituality together.

2) Youth and Spirituality
Many young people seem to feel a particular need for healing and for ways of strengthening their identity. But very few of them expect to find this in church services or in an involvement in a church congregation. They tend rather towards a patchwork religiousness and are open for all kinds of new spirituality. The churches could develop a much clearer profile here if they were to learn to express the message of justification in a more therapeutic language rather than in forensic terms. And if they were also to try to take the biblical connection between salvation and healing more seriously.

3) Spirituality of the minorities in society and the church as a minority
It is often painful to recognise that the church is a minority, as in Japan. This situation can however be seen as a chance for us in our search for spirituality, if it leads to a new dependence on God and opens our eyes for the Gospel. Minorities that are discriminated against, such as the Burakumin in Japan or the Sinti and Roma (Gypsies) in Germany, often develop an impressive and refreshing spirituality in their battle against oppression which gives them strength to continue their struggle.

4) Spirituality and Opposition
The situation in Japan, particularly after the lraq war and the passing of the Emergency Laws, raised the question of a spirituality of opposition. In general, the need for this arises where human rights are violated. An actual example of such activity is the Decade for Overcoming Violence of the World Council of Churches. In the situation when the emergency laws were passed in Japan, the Japanese delegates requested their brothers and sisters in Germany to write a letter of protest to the Japanese churches and the Japanese government.

The delegates of the consultation took a closer look at the various aspects of practical spirituality and how they are reflected in theology and the religious and social sciences. During this process we became aware that we had different traditions and ways of understanding spirituality. These differences were already obvious in the difficulties we had to translate the concepts into each others languages. But they extended way beyond questions of terminology and rational explanation, going deep into our understandings of faith and devoutness. The different structures of the churches and their organisations, their standing and their role in each society, and also the differences in culture and language proved to be additional factors hindering our understanding of each other during the course of the consultation.

Yet the rewarding outcome of the consultation came about perhaps through this very questioning of ourselves, and the deeper understanding of each other that resulted from the friction between our different ideas. The continual search for these deep cultural differences and their realisation is not something that can easily be formulated and presented as a result. Such broadening of our horizons only happen gradually, but is something that enriches us enormously. The chosen subject "In Search of Spirituality" confirmed this in a deep way.

It is only when we are prepared to open ourselves without prejudice to other cultures and their spiritual forms of expression that respect and understanding for the other can grow.

The consultation was an attempt to develop a deeper understanding of spirituality in the church, and enable Christians to give convincing answers reflected in their own lives. The practical consequences resulting from this, for further cooperation between churches of the NCCJ, the EKD and the EWM, was referred to the relevant committees. In the light of our consultation they are requested to consider particularly the form that the ecumenical exchange of co-workers, theological training, youth encounters, and our consultations should take in the future.

We have experienced confirmation of the fact that if we are open and willing to receive God's good spirit, then we shall receive this gift promised to us through the Holy Scripture. We go, strengthened by this conviction, each to our own country and church, to experience new encouragement in our spiritual lives in the coming years until the next German-Japanese Church Consultation - a good basis and perspective for future encounters.

Ranzan, September 20, 2003

Ms. R. Suzuki M. Jepsen, Bishop

Moderator of NCCJ Leader of the German Delegation