Leaders’ Workshop and Public Lecture in New York
Study of Man’s Coexistence with Nature
From September 10 to 11, the New York Missionary Area’s Leaders’ Workshop and a Public Lecture were held at the Seicho-No-Ie New York Center. The number of attendees was 19 for the Leaders’ Workshop and 74 for the Public Lecture.
The lecturers at both events were Rev. Mario Kawakami (Ordained Minister, Vice Bishop of the United States Missionary Headquarters), Rev. Bruce Mallery (Ordained Minister, Chief of New York Missionary Area), Rev. Hideki Takao (Assistant Minister), and others.
At the Leaders’ Workshop held in the afternoon of October 10, there were lectures based on the content of July’s Seicho-No-Ie Special Conference for World Peace in Germany. Rev. Mallery lectured on “Connection Among God, Nature and Human Beings.” Rev. Takao’s lecture was entitled “Protestants’ Environmental Ethics in the U.S.A.,” and Rev. Kawakami’s “Why the Office in the Forest?” There was also a Q&A session.
The Public Lecture was held from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on September 11 under the theme, “To Change Your Life by Finding Your True Nature.” Rev. Kawakami gave two lectures, including “Discovery of a New Life by Deepening Your Spirituality.” He explained that every human being is a child of God and that through each individual’s unique personality God’s diversity is manifested. He said that when one gains the awareness of his child-of-God self and acts to express his unique personality, it opens the way for a new life. Rev. Mallery gave a lecture, entitled, “How Do You Turn Misfortune Around?” He said that when one cheerfully accepts with gratitude what seems to be a misfortune in the phenomenal world as a lesson in life’s school, the misfortune will become a great opportunity for a new challenge.”
In addition, there were testimonial presentations by the followers and Prayer for World Peace.
Remarks by Rev. Bruce Mallery, Chief of New York Missionary Area
“The Leaders’ Workshop was a great opportunity to share with the leaders the experience of this year’s Seicho-No-Ie Special Conference for World Peace. The Public Lecture provided each attendee with a good chance to find his unique personality and talent. I was very pleased.”