7 Ministerial Aspirants Get Shin Grants

Northwest District Council Supports Those Seeking to Serve Temples

FYI

Donations may be sent to Scott Winner, Northwest District Council Treasurer, Oregon Buddhist Temple, 3720 SE 34th Ave., Portland, OR 97202.  

The Shin Buddhist Grant, established more than 40 years ago to encourage ministerial aspirants seeking Kaikyoshi ordination to serve BCA temples, recently issued seven grants.

The program is administered by the BCA’s Northwest District Council, and a secondary purpose is to support certified Minister’s Assistants in the Northwest District who seek to further their education and continue their service to their temple. This includes those individuals seeking Tokudo, Kyoshi and Kaikyoshi ordination. 

This year “was one of our largest years,” said Mike Iseri, Chairman of the Shin Buddhist Grant Committee and co-President of the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple. “In the past 20 years, we’ve given more than 30 grants amounting to a total of more than $50,000.”

The following grants were approved at the May 18 council meeting, with the amount of the grant and the temple:

• Rev. Stacy Reardon, $1,000, San Fernando

• Geoffrey Russell, $1,000, Ogden

• Sydney Shiroyama, $1,000, Palo Alto

• Rev. Von Magnin, $100, Arizona

• Rev. Blake Honda, $1,000, Fowler

• Rev. Rosalie May, $1,000, Seattle Betsuin and Yakima

• Sara Perrott, $1,000, White River

The reduced amount of the grant for Rev. Magnin was because of limited need, based on the application, Iseri said.

The Shin Buddhist Grant dates back to June 30, 1979, when the Northwest District Council created a scholarship grant for ministerial candidates studying in Japan, according to Iseri.

The program ran until February 1990 as a scholarship for Buddhist studies and was not necessarily focused on ministerial training.

It is funded from the Northwest District Council, the Northwest BWA, temples and individuals.

“The Shin Buddhist Grant of the Northwest District Council has become a gesture of support and encouragement to those who apply,” Iseri said. “We’re grateful for their efforts and welcome their likely addition to the ranks of qualified Kaikyoshi ministers serving the BCA.”

For more information about the Shin Buddhist Grant, contact Iseri at mikeiseri@fmtc.com. 

Donations may be sent to Scott Winner, Northwest District Council Treasurer, Oregon Buddhist Temple, 3720 SE 34th Ave., Portland, OR 97202. For donations made via credit card, please contact Iseri.