Being a Certified BCA Minister’s Assistant, Part I

Editor’s note: The BCA’s Archives-Historic Preservation Committee (AHPC) is highlighting the Minister’s Assistant (MA) program. Two members of AHPC, Cynthia Mee, Ph.D, of Midwest Buddhist Temple and Rev. Dr. Jean-Paul deGuzman of San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple have agreed to share their unique paths and experiences as MAs. The Wheel of Dharma is honored to present Part I of Cynthia Mee’s path as a MA. Part II will appear in the October issue, followed by Rev. Dr. deGuzman’s article in the November issue.

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“I am a link in Amida’s Golden Chain of love that stretches around the world. I will keep my link bright and strong. May I be kind and gentle to every living thing and protect all who are weaker than myself. May I think pure and beautiful thoughts, say pure and beautiful words, and do pure and beautiful deeds.”

— “The Golden Chain of Love” by Dorothy Hunt

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I appreciate learning, taking classes, reading, being an educator, making new friends and being with old friends, helping others, being a practicing Jodo Shinshu Buddhist, and weaving together knowledge, places, people, and opportunities. 

I am fortunate to engage in all these activities at the Midwest Buddhist Temple (MBT) in Chicago, as a Sangha member, as a former Lay Leader, and now as a Certified Minister’s Assistant (MA). 

I think it was in 2009 that my son and I first started attending MBT. We immediately became dedicated Sangha members. Sometime during my second year attending MBT services, then-Resident Minister Rev. Ron Miyamura mentioned something about Lay Leaders and that he was going to offer classes to train interested Sangha members. I wasn’t totally certain what being a Lay Leader meant, but I was intrigued.  

At that time, Rev. Miyamura was not only the Resident Minister at MBT, but also was the supervising minister to both Twin Cities Buddhist Association (TCBA) and Cleveland Buddhist Temple (CBT). Rev. Miyamura and previous MBT ministers received support of their MBT responsibilities and regular Sunday services through Sangha Lay Leaders and Certified Minister Assistants.

Approximately 25 years ago under the leadership of Rev. Koshin Ogui, then MBT minister, and Rev. T.K. Nakagaki, from the New York Buddhist Church (NYBC), designed a program to provide training for Sangha members to become Lay Dharma Leaders to assist resident ministers. 

The program eventually evolved into the Minister’s Assistant Program (MAP). Rev. Dr. Taitetsu Unno assisted Rev. Nakagaki to create the study classes, which became the foundation for the Lay Dharma Leaders in the old EBCC (Eastern Buddhist Coordinating Council). A few years later, Rev. Ogui became the BCA Bishop, and the MAP was supported and approved by the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) Ministers’ Association.  

The MAP training continues today and has evolved by maintaining a traditional commitment while also addressing contemporary and local focus. Within the program, there are different levels of BCA expectations and criteria for the training of Assistant Ministers and of Minister’s Assistants.  

To become a Certified MA, one is expected to attend the Center for Buddhist Education (CBE) MAP Training Sessions, complete the Jodo Shinshu Correspondence Courses (JSCC), be recommended by the resident minister, and approved by both the local temple/church board and the Office of the BCA Bishop. 

Becoming a Lay Leader and a Certified MA

When Rev. Miyamura was planning to start classes to train interested Sangha members to become Lay Leaders, I didn’t think twice. I knew that I wanted to participate. I signed up for the training with a few other MBT members. I attended classes for several weeks conducted by Rev. Miyamura. 

Some of the topics included Buddhist history, Jodo Shinshu history, the Seven Patriarchs of Jodo-Shinshu Buddhism, Rennyo, Honen, Shinran, the background and practicing of various rituals and chanting, ringing the Kansho bell, how to enter and set up the Onaijin, how give a Dharma talk, and so much more. I remember a couple of guest speakers. After completing the training, our training class became Lay Leaders.

After two years as a Lay Leader and continuing my training and practice, I became active in the MAP. In March 2011, I earned the honor of becoming a Certified Minister’s Assistant and received my certificate from then Bishop Rev. Kodo Umezu when he was visiting MBT. It’s an honor I still cherish.  I value and respect the expectations of being an MA and work to represent the temple in a caring, supportive and committed way.

I am sharing my MAP training experiences in this article because some Sangha members see MAs assisting in their temples in various ways but may not know how one becomes a Lay Leader or an MA. While writing this article, I asked a couple of Sangha members what they thought MAs were about. In far fewer words than I have written in this article, they shared that MAs are Sangha members who want to learn more about Buddhism and contribute to the temple. My experience is just that.

I am not certain of the number of MAs over the years at MBT or at other EBL temples and churches, but I know that I and other MAs have taken our responsibilities seriously and with respect.  We have assisted Rev. Miyamura during his years at MBT, and now with Rev. Todd Tsuchiya, our new resident minister.

Next: Midwest Buddhist Temple MA Cynthia Mee will describe post-initial MA training and her experiences.