Monday, May 31, 2010

"House Rejects Amendment on Chaplains' Prayers"

This from the Religion News Service:
The House on Thursday (May 27) rejected a proposed amendment that would have allowed military chaplains to close public events with faith-specific prayers.

The amendment, offered by Tea Party favorite Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., to the Military Construction Authorization Act, was deemed not relevant to the bill, Bachmann's office said.

The amendment would have specified that "a chaplain shall have the prerogative to close the prayer according to the dictates of the chaplain's own conscience.''

Bachmann's proposed amendment comes after church-state separationists have tussled with military chaplains over the appropriateness of praying "in Jesus' name.'' Secularists say it's insulting to nonbelievers; Christian clergy say they know no other way to pray.

The dispute has most recently played out in Virginia, where Republican Gov. Robert McDonnell repealed a ban on Virginia State Police chaplains praying in Jesus' name.

Former military chaplain Rabbi Israel Drazin said the chaplains' role is different than a civilian clergy like a rabbi or priest. "They are addressing everybody. They are there for everybody,'' he said. "They should not give a prayer that addresses a particular group.''

The Washington-based Secular Coalition for America had rallied against Bachmann's bill, saying it would harm minority rights.

"Closing a prayer in a sectarian manner, or in the name of Jesus, would exclude members of the military,'' said Paul Fidalgo, a spokesman for the group.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Congrats, Daijaku!


daijakukinstThis from the Institute of Buddhist Studies' Facebook page today:

The Rev. Dr. Daijaku Judith Kinst, Professor of Buddhism and Psychology, has recently been appointed as a core faculty member of the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS). The announcement was recently made by Dr. Richard Payne, Dean.

Dr. Kinst, is an ordained Buddhist Priest in the Soto Zen tradition. She earned her BA at Occidental College in Los Angeles and upon completing her formal priest training she studied Western Psychology, earning an MA degree and license in psychotherapy. During her studies she trained at UCSF Medical Center’s Clinical Pastoral Education program. She completed her Ph.D. at the California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco.

She teaches graduate course in Buddhist Studies, Contemplative Psychology, and Spiritual Direction and has an ongoing commitment to interfaith dialogue.

With the MA/MDiv chaplaincy program, IBS offers the opportunity for Buddhists of any tradition to get a graduate education in chaplaincy at a Buddhist institution with a long and rich history. It is a gift to people of the wider Buddhist world to be able to do this, to benefit from this, and form sustained contact with the Shin Buddhist tradition.

There are many people who want to serve, who want to express their dedication to Buddha’s teachings through caring for others. What is needed is an effective training in how to serve. IBS is uniquely able to fulfill this need.

Dr. Kinst is building relationships with Graduate Theological Union faculty and chaplains, supervising chaplains at various hospitals in the area, and other institutions who are need of chaplains.

"Calling on Corporate Chaplains"

The Atlanta Business Journal writes about how having corporate chaplains on-hand to "see employees through tough times" is "beneficial to businesses in the long run."