THE SEVENTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING SEMINAR
The seminar with aim to develop next generation of leaders and study the mission of Seicho-No-Ie's Founding
The Seventh Leadership Training Seminar was held from July 18 to 20 at the Passionist Spiritual Center in Bronx, New York. The number of participants was 61: leaders from across the United States, including Regional Lecturers and Propagators.
The Seminar is held every year under the sponsorship of the International Spiritual Training Center with the objective of developing leaders. The aim of this year’s Seminar was to study and affirm the mission of Seicho-No-Ie’s founding as well as the content of the past Seicho-No-Ie Special Conferences for World Peace. They also studied how to nurture young leaders who will shoulder the Movement in the future.
The lecturers included Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara (Ordained Minister, Chirperson of the International Spiritual Training Center); Rev. Tatsufumi Yukishima (Ordained Minister, Chief of International Department), who was dispatched from the International Headquarters; Rev. Masayo Tsuruta (Ordained Minister, then Chief of Southern California Missionary Area); Rev. Mario Kawakami (Ordained Minister, then Chief of Northern California Missionary Area); Rev. Bruce Mallery (Ordained Minister, Chief of New York Missionary Area); and Rev. Tetsuya Abe (Ordained Minister, Acting Chief of Hawaii Missionary Area).
The lectures on the first day were on the sutras contained in the English version Four-Part Holy Sutras and its CD published this year. The sutras were used as texts. The lectures on the second day were designed to help deepen an understanding of the content of the past Seicho-No-Ie Speical Conferences for World Peace: Seicho-No-Ie’s teaching that all religions emanate from one universal God, Islam’s diversity and tolerance, and the difference between Judaism and Christianity. On the afternoon of the same day, a panel discussion was held on how to develop leaders for the International Peace by Faith Movement. It was guided by five Ordained Ministers, including Rev. Toshiro Kobayashi (Ordained Minister, Chief of Toronto Missionary Area) and Rev. Yuji Otsuka (Ordained Minister stationed in Europe).
On the last day, Rev. Teshigawara gave a lecture: “World Peace and the Sundial Way of Life.” Rev. Yukishima lectured on “World Peace and Our Mission—International Peace by Faith Movement.” They called upon the participants to practice the sundial way of life, promote the Zero Carbon Movement, and hold Readers’ Meetings across the country.
Comments received from the participants included: “I was able to have an overall study of Islam and the environmental issue based on Seicho-No-Ie’s fundamental teachings”; and “I was moved by the slide presentation which introduced the Readers’ Meetings around the world.”
Remarks by Yoshiko Teshigawara,
Chairperson of the International Spiritual Training Center
“I tried to give consistency to the programs and improve the content of the Seminar. Many participants said that they were happy to learn about the activities of other members all over the world, which are carried out based on the Movement Policy. I have high expectations for their hard work in the coming months.”