During the 39th Constituency Session of the Japan Union Conference (JUC), delegates engaged in candid and in-depth discussions on the structural challenges facing the church in Japan. Issues related to education, human resources, and aging membership emerged as matters directly tied to the future of the Japan Adventist Church and drew the greatest attention and questioning on the floor.
One of the most pressing topics was the restructuring of the Adventist education system. Adventist University in Japan is currently facing a severe student shortage, placing the institution’s long-term sustainability under serious strain. Participants expressed concern that “If the university were forced to close due to operational limits, the theology department might somehow survive, but the nursing program would likely disappear.” Such a scenario raised alarms that one of the longstanding pillars of medical mission in Japan could be severely weakened.
Secondary education also presents significant challenges. Delegates discussed the realistic but difficult option of closing one of the two existing high schools and operating a single integrated campus. However, this proposal raised substantial concerns. Questions such as “Can one school adequately serve and spiritually nurture Adventist youth across the entire country?” underscored the lack of clear solutions.
The shortage of pastoral workers has reached an equally critical level. The theology department at the Adventist University in Japan currently enrolls only 9 students across all 4 academic years, and of those, only 2 have expressed a clear intention to enter pastoral ministry. As a result, no new pastors will be deployed to the field in April of this year, 2026, and the outlook for the coming years remains uncertain. Observers attributed this trend to declining birth rates and prolonged discussions over the consolidation of Adventist educational institutions, which have contributed to lower overall enrollment.
While average Sabbath worship attendance nationwide remains at approximately 5,000, the underlying reality reveals a rapidly aging membership. In many congregations, the sounds of children have long faded, and leaders acknowledged that relying solely on elderly members makes it increasingly difficult to sustain evangelistic momentum.
Throughout the session, delegates engaged in intense dialogue over new evangelistic strategies and future directions to address these intertwined challenges. Yet amid the complexity of education, workforce shortages, and demographic change, clear and immediate solutions proved elusive. The Japan Adventist Church now finds itself in a critical “golden time,” a moment that calls for deep reflection, decisive action, and earnest prayer to revive its mission and restore focus on reaching the next generation.