Practitioner Council Update
The Practitioner Council has been busy with our ongoing programs and projects. Here’s an overview. We are especially excited about the inaugural PLUS (Practitioner Leadership Unity Summit) event that took place in Los Angeles on June 27 and 28. The Guidance Church community and Dr. Nirvana Gayle provided warm, welcoming hospitality for the 80 Practitioners from Regions 1 and 2 who gathered for a wonderful experience of inspiration, connection and service. Our program, “Deepening Our Consciousness through Spiritual Leadership and Service” included inspiration from Dr. Kenn, Dr. Nirvana, Dee Sermons and Linda Watson. We also heard from Dr. Moira Foxe (Region 2 Regional Support Coordinator) and Founder’s Church’s Dr. Arthur Chang. It was a grand celebration of community and connection.
Summer heralded the arrival of graduations, and I was thrilled to attend two Holmes Institute graduations – the San Diego campus event on June 1, hosted by Seaside CSL in Encinitas and the Denver campus event on June 6 hosted by Mile Hi Church. I was blessed to join the online Practitioners as the guest facilitator at their annual pre-graduation retreat at Questhaven retreat center which culminated in their graduation at Seaside. The inimitable Dr. Christina Tillotson, the Dean of Distance Learning, has been dedicated to bringing our teachings to those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend classes. Dr. Christina and her teaching staff are in their tenth year of offering online practitioner training in which 82 Practitioners have been licensed from six countries. I was deeply honored to receive the invitation to participate in the Seaside ceremony by giving the Call to the Practitioner graduates. It brought back memories of my graduation 25 years ago in the hallowed halls of Founders Church! A week later in Denver, I witnessed 20 new Practitioners from Mile Hi being introduced in a beautiful sacred ceremony. Annie Glasgow, Practitioner Services Coordinator, shared that there will be approximately 200 new Practitioners licensed this year! Congratulations to everyone!! The Practitioner Council traveled to Denver in June for a Joint Councils meeting at the Home Office in Golden, where the Minister, Practitioner and Laity Councils gathered for two and a half days of meetings. During our time there, we met with Home Office staff, toured the Archives and convened for a meeting of all Councils with Dr. Kenn, Dr. John and the Directors. There was important and insightful sharing on numerous topics and it was apparent that all the Councils were very interested in exploring how they could support each other and their work. 
We also had the opportunity to honor Rev. Gregory Toole for his years of dedicated service to Centers for Spiritual Living at a dinner hosted by Steve Burton. Many of you joined us for our Practitioner quarterly calls on June 14, 16 and 21 in which Chair of the CSL Education Committee Dr. Karen Kushner shared information about Practitioner training and continuing education. You can access the archived calls by calling 712.432.1088 Code 836448#. (#27 for June14; #28 for June 16; and #29 for June 21). Wondering what topics you would like to hear about on future conference calls? We continue to hold the highest for Centers for Spiritual Living, each ministry, our ministers, practitioners, and laity. We are blessed to be able to walk this extraordinary path together! You can reach me at Lindajoy99@aol.com or at 714. 585.5070. Blessings! |
|
 |
|
By Linda Watson,