The First Anglican Women's Conference, Nippon Sei Ko Kai Hakone, Japan, 16-19 August 2006

with 85 women and 10 men attending

Conference report

Message from The First NSKK Women's Conference:
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. (Luke 1:45) O God, Show us the way forward with your mysterious power. Give us courage to open new doors and walk through them. May we be joined by new companions in our journey. Let your light and joy be poured out on all peoples of the world. Amen.

To our friends in NSKK and throughout the Anglican Communion:

We, the 95 participants of the First NSKK Women's Conference held at Hakone between August 16 and 19, 2006, gathered under the theme of "We Open the New Doors". We talked, listened to each other, and prayed together. We stood in solidarity with sisters who have lived with pain, brokenness and hurt. We heard encouraging messages from the International Anglican Women's Network and the Korean Anglican Church. This conference owes a debt of gratitude to the women of NSKK who have been involved for many years in women's issues and to Anglican women worldwide. We felt that God is calling us to undertake the new challenges of the opened doors.

The participants listed 15 resolutions:

1. Recently NSKK created the Office of Women's Ministries. The work of those who staff the Office should be valued by all the members of NSKK. We, the participants, commit ourselves to be in solidarity with the staff
2. We will take our places on diocesan and Provincial decision-making bodies with courage.
3. The validity of women's ordination to the priesthood should be given respect equal to that of men's ordination to the priesthood in all dioceses of NSKK.
4. Guidelines on Women's Ordination in NSKK need revision.
5. The creation of new prayers and hymns, which clearly include all people, is encouraged.
6. We commit ourselves to reading the Bible with new eyes, upholding the stories of women and gaining deeper insights thereby.
7. We are committed to increasing women's participation in various aspects of liturgy, mindful that gender bias should be eliminated. Women will play their parts with joyful hearts.
8. The vicar's wife may choose the role she wishes to have in the parish. She should not feel compelled to comply with expectations which were dictated in the past.
9. We value the uniqueness of each child and recognize our responsibility in nurturing her/him without gender bias.
10. We will work to eliminate discrimination against those who live with diseases including HIV/AIDS. We will affirm life together in the present moment.
11. The global community is responsible for the future environmental health of this planet. We affirm the inter-relatedness of all life forms.
12. We encourage the formation of support and prayer groups which uphold migrant workers and will advocate for appropriate changes in our legal structures.
13. We will raise awareness of the discrimination and difficulties faced by working women and plan appropriate action to eliminate the problems.
14. Japanese society tends to keep violence against women hidden. We need to bring these cultural realities to light and we will stand in solidarity with the victims.
15. We oppose militarization. We oppose killing. We oppose to be forced into killing. We want not to be killed. We need to acquire our own analysis and perspectives in order to avoid being manipulated by information given in the media.

We, the participants, believe that equal participation of women and men in church ministry is indispensable for the realization of justice and peace in society. We affirm that this is consonant with the teachings of Jesus.

Being led by the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will make every effort to realize:

• gender equality in all spheres of life,
• peace and reconciliation in the world.

We resolve to:

• take courage,
• speak truth,
• advocate for justice,
• be at peace within, and
• stay connected to God.

Participants of the First Women's Conference of NSKK Hakone, Japan, 19 August 2006.