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Pushing up leaders
In Furano, four young church members are preparing to fill Tamura’s slippers by taking classes from Mennonite Education and Research Center. None of them would quit jobs for full-time study, even if seminary courses were available. MERC, a program of Hokkaido Mennonite Conference, offers a series of onsite training courses in key areas like worship leading and Bible study. Beyler, a MERC teacher and director, said the courses are intended to provide ongoing education for all church members, not just leaders. "We're no longer like Peter, throwing away our nets," said Hiroshi Mori, pastor of Asahikawa Mennonite Christian Church and a MERC teacher and director. "Young people now keep their regular jobs and study on the side." But Peter, Tamura added, was trained in fishing, not in a school. He led using his gifts, not his knowledge. Besides, said Sachi Mikami, a longtime member at Furano, Mennonite congregations do not need a single, strong leader. They can share the burdens.
In Mennonite churches, even at Shiroishi, where the Ooyamas are the congregation’s first full-time pastors, the congregation holds decision-making power rather than ministers or mission workers. Mike Sherrill, who serves in Sapporo with his wife, Teresa, said leaders must share power. Ministers, mission workers and lay people must cooperate and collaborate so all are involved in the direction of the church. Ooyama said sharing leadership, even in the context of Japan’s traditional top-down structure, is not difficult, if leaders believe in the Mennonite servant-leadership concept. Rather than lead as the culture defines it, he continued, pastors teach, encourage and show others the way to Christ. According to Tamura, a Japanese cultural leader stands above and pulls people along. Though he hand-selected the four young leaders who will replace him, he does not believe he has done any pulling. Instead, he said, he acted as an Anabaptist leader who serves below others, pushing them up. Mary Beyler and Mike and Teresa Sherrill are supported by Mennonite Mission Network and Mennonite Church Canada Witness. Other workers in Japan supported by Mission Network and Canada Witness are Kaz and Lois Enomoto and Gerald and Rie Neufeld. Another Mission Network worker in Japan is Angela Yamanaka. back to page 1 | 2 In this issue: Features Highlights Viewpoints |
