leadership structure at tokyo multicultural church

• A congregational church with Departments
  • TMCC will be a congregationally organized church with multiple language congregations. Each congregation will be its own Department with its own lay and/or clergy leaders. The Departments together make up the entire church.
• Congregational meetings
  • The entire church will hold a congregational meeting at least once a year. Each Department shall hold its own congregational meetings at least once a year. Congregational principles are best reflected if quorum at these congregational meetings is determined by members present (no proxies).
• Boards
  • There will be two levels of boards: the multiple departmental boards and the single all-church board. The members of each departmental board will be elected at the congregational meeting of that Department. The all-church board will consist of elected representatives from each Department. The all-church board will handle issues that relate to the entire church. Congregational principles are best reflected if pastors do not chair any of these boards.
• Languages
  • Each Department shall select its own language. The idea is to begin first with English and Japanese Departments, then add other language specific Departments as feasible.
  • The all-church board and the all-church congregational meetings shall be conducted in English, with translation into Japanese provided. Nevertheless, non-English speaking leaders may participate if interpretation into English is provided.
• Multiple worship services of one Department
  • No Department shall have multiple worship services on Sunday. When a Department wishes to have multiple worship services on Sunday, that Department will be encouraged to help us start another church. However, a Department may have additional worship services on days other than Sunday.
• Denominational affiliation
  • The denominational connections for each of the Departments will be decided at the all-church board, after discussion with the leadership team of each Department. Perhaps the Japanese Department would best fit with the EFC of Japan association of churches. But the other Departments might find a better fit with other evangelical denominations in other countries.
  • For example, there might be merit in starting an association of churches callled something like “International Evangelical Free Churches of Asia” (IEFCA). Such a network of churches could be a subset of various EFC denominations in Asia.

These and other structural elements will be captured in the constitution and bylaws of TMCC. One idea is to draft the constitution for the entire church, but develop unique bylaws for each Department.