New Year Message 2002
For Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue

The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake Senior Chief Minister, Konko Church of Izuo

To wish you blessings at the New Year.

All the people on this planet were threatened by the terrorism occurred in the United States on 11 September 2001. I'm sure some predicted such an anti American terrorism would be committed because of the structural problem of the world order in the post cold war period. Moreover, those who carried out the incident naturally recognized.

However, the influence of the terrorism might be beyond the expectation. It caused war in Afghanistan and the world wide recession. Al-Qaeda who is suspected to commit the terrorism may not expect such a big affect.

We'd like not to have such start of the new Century, and be forced to face the fact of the globalized society that an incident happened somewhere in the world affects greatly and directly on our daily life. Under the situation, the present society can not be understood without "intercultural and interfaith dialogue."

From the viewpoint of above, Konko Church of Izuo announces proudly to hold the symposium on 13 January to commemorate the 50th year of the Jinrui Kyoei-kai (Association of the Prosperity for Humankind) inviting Dr. Shigeru Suganami, Chief Executive of AMDA. AMDA (Association of Medical Doctors of Asia) has continued superior activities among Non Governmental Organization in Japan.

Izuo Church also holds the Grand Service on 27 January to commemorate the 75th year since the late Rev. Toshio Miyake started the missionary work inviting many distinguished guests from Japan and abroad. I believe we are able to recognize again the principle of Izuo Church, "Be People Fortunate."

I wish from the bottom of my hart the year of 2002 is filled with hope for all the people in the world.