By Neal Fischer with assistance from Google Gemini
The 2025 South Carolina Synod Assembly recently highlighted the profound impact of its global companion relationships, with a special focus on its enduring connection with the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church (JELC). These international partnerships, which also include the Southwestern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Colombia, serve as concrete expressions of the global communion within the Lutheran World Federation, enriching ministries through shared challenges and diverse perspectives.
A delegation from the JELC, led by its Vice President, The Rev. Hiroyuki Takita, traveled across the world to bring greetings to the assembly. In his address, Takita offered heartfelt congratulations on the South Carolina Synod’s 200th anniversary, recalling the historical roots of the JELC, which began with two missionaries sent from the South Carolina Synod in 1892 from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Charleston. He reflected on the constant challenges of mission work throughout history, from early persecution to current issues like pastor shortages and financial difficulties in Japan. Takita shared compelling testimonies of God’s ongoing work, including a Japanese-born international lawyer who later became a pastor like his missionary father, and a Japanese pastor who now serves in South Carolina, underscoring the miraculous connections forged by Christ. The delegation expressed deep gratitude for decades of exchanges, including the pastor exchange program, and voiced a desire to continue fostering these vital bonds of fellowship.
