Location:

Tokyo, Japan

Agreement term:

Full-time, 4 years

Anticipated start date(s) include:

July 13, 2025

Agreement type:

Long-term

Description:

Tokyo Lutheran Church (TLC) is a congregation in the center of Tokyo, led by a Senior Pastor of the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church (JELC). There is an English worshiping community at TLC which is 35+ years old. It has been led by both English-speaking Japanese pastors and American pastors. The membership is comprised of three groups: 1) Japanese Christians who prefer to worship in English; 2) foreigners living and working long-term in Japan, often married to a Japanese citizen; 3) foreigners working in Japan for a limited period of time. The first two groups are the long-term stable foundation of the English congregation and call TLC “home”.  The latter group is more transient. Often the pastor will welcome tourists that are attending the worship services. Worship attendance ranges from 35 - 55 on a Sunday.

The Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church is a church of some 20,000 members throughout Japan. It traces its roots to mission work by missionaries from South Carolina over 100 years ago. While a small church and part of the very small minority of Christians in Japan (approx. 1% of the population), it undertakes extensive work in social ministries and education (one college, one seminary, two middle/senior high schools, and numerous kindergartens).

Timeline:

• Application Opens:  February 2025 
• Interviews:  February – April 2025 
• ELCA Orientation in Chicago:  July 13 – 25, 2025
• Deploy to Japan: August/September 2025

Assignment Includes: 

• Worship leadership (liturgy, preaching, sacraments) in the English-language
• Plan and prepare worship bulletins
• Participate, as planned and as appropriate, in worship leadership with the Japanese-language congregation.
• Teach and lead Bible study, Sunday School, Lay Preachers’ Workshop, Prayer Team, outreach activities, and monthly members’ meetings
• Offer pastoral care, hospital and shut-in visits, and advocacy as needed
• Provide catechetical instruction for new members and those desiring baptism
• Foster relationships and activities with the Japanese-language congregation, in cooperation with the Senior Pastor and TLC Congregation Council
• Keep and maintain accurate records
• Offer pre-marital counseling and wedding liturgy, as well as funerals and memorial services, including discernment about requests from those outside the congregation

This is an ELCA sponsorable position:

• Quarterly newsletters to sponsoring congregations and individuals 
• Virtual visits throughout the year with sponsoring congregations and individuals 
• In-person visits upon return from the assigned position (every 2 years, travel back to the US to visit sponsoring congregations and individuals) 

Experience and Skills:

• MDiv required, with ordination
• Japanese language skills helpful, or openness to learning
• Congregational experience
• Ability to understand and negotiate among multiple cultural backgrounds and assumptions
• Christian faith and a commitment to the mission of the church.
• Openness to various expressions of Christian faith and respect for people of other faiths.
• Respect for beliefs, values, and customs of church and culture where assigned.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills demonstrating understanding and compassion.
• Demonstrate ability to carry out responsibilities and the ability to adapt to different standards and practices.
• Ability to work within the framework of a local administration.
• Adaptable and flexible, sense of humor - good physical and emotional health.
• Live and serve in a way which reflects the vision and expectations of the ELCA.

Terms and Conditions:

• This position is supported under the terms of ELCA Service and Justice Expectations and Support for Long Term Mission Personnel. Those provisions include international transportation, transportation related to work assignment, pensions and major medical coverage, assistance with schooling for children through high school, housing and cash salary which is      adjusted according to the goods and services differential for Japan.  
• Salary is based on years of work experience.   
• If candidate is married, both must complete an application for this position for discernment of the appropriate pattern of service of the spouse. In the context of global mission service, the accompanying spouse is seen as a representative of the ELCA and of the receiving church regardless of their actual role. It is important for the ELCA that both members of a couple understand the role of a missionary and are comfortable with that reality. 

Physical Effort:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Employees will occasionally need to lift boxes or materials up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

A psychological evaluation is required.

Benefits:

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees and dependent, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer additional benefits upon deployment to the country of service.