From the August 2022 HQ Update:

The annual Minister Lay Assistant (MLA) Retreat will be held at the Buddhist Study Center in Honolulu on the weekend of October 8-9, 2022. It will be held in conjunction with the 23rd Annual Bloom-Futaba Memorial Lectures on October 7th.

The MLA Retreat program is an update for current certified MLA’s as well as an opportunity for novice temple service helpers who may want to become certified. The goal is to have trained lay assistants ready to perform Dharma services in the absence of their temple minister.

The faculty this year includes Rev. Toshiyuki Umitani, resident minister of Moiliili Hongwanji temple and
Hongwanji-ha certified ritual instructor, and retired BCA minister Dr. Rev. Kenji Akahoshi who will lead the Dharma workshops.

Registration requires your temple minister’s endorsement.