Leaders’ Workshop in Southern California, U.S.A.
Program Centered around the Content of Seicho-No-Ie Special Conference for World Peace
A Southern California Missionary Area Leaders’ Workshop was held on September 29 at the United States Missionary Headquarters in Gardena, California and was attended by 34 people.
The texts used were Seimei no Jisso (Truth of Life), Vol. 1 by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi, Jisedai eno Ketsudan (Decision for the Next Generation) by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, Chie to Ai no Message (Messages of Wisdom and Love) by Rev. Seicho Taniguchi, and other publications. The lecturers included Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara (Ordained Minister, Bishop of United States Missionary Headquarters), Rev. Mario Kawakami (Ordained Minister, Chief of Southern California Missionary Area), and Rev. Tomio Otsuka (Ordained Minister, United States Missionary Headquarters).
The program of the Workshop was centered around the content of last August’s Special Conference for World Peace held in Germany. Rev. Kawakami lectured on “Germany’s Environmental Policy and Grass Roots Movement.” Rev. Otsuka gave a lecture, “Decision for the Next Generation” and talked about the problems of nuclear energy generation and stressed the need to discontinue its use. In his lecture, “The Status of the ‘Office in the Forest’ Construction Work,’” Rev. Kawakami explained the outline of the “Office.” He also answered the question from an attendee regarding its electricity generation methods and so forth. Rev. Teshigawara referred to the Special Conference as a whole and encouraged those who did not attend to gain an understanding of its content.
In addition, Rev. Teshigawara explained the important points which Regional Lecturers should observe when giving individual counseling. It was followed by a workshop, where discussions were held by group on social issues facing the recent America, such as domestic violence and bullying, and actual examples of how to guide were presented through skits. In her closing remarks entitled “As a Believer of Seicho-No-Ie and Leader,” Rev. Teshigawara talked about the important qualities that Regional Lecturers and leaders should have and urged them to develop successors.
Comments from attendees included: “I felt the joy of propagation deep in my heart. It was a wonderful Workshop”; and “I was able to understand Seicho-No-Ie’s specific aims.”
Remarks by Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters
“We were able to deeply understand the teachings based on the content of last year’s Special Conference for World Peace, share the joy of propagating and study specifically how we should propagate in the future. The leaders who attended shared the joy of having attended the Workshop. I thought it was beautiful and felt deeply moved.”