Monday, November 15, 2010

Association of Professional Chaplains 2011 Annual Conference to Focus on the Heart of Holistic Care in Health and Human Service Settings


Read the press release here. Here's some exciting news (relevant for Buddhist chaplains) about one of the speakers...
Joan Halifax PhD, Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, medical anthropologist and pioneer in end-of-life care will present, “Being with Dying: Cultivating a Fearless and Compassionate Heart.” Abbot of Upaya Zen Center, a Buddhist Monastery in Santa Fe, NM, Dr. Halifax established the Project on Being with Dying to provide end-of-life education and services based in a compassionate and contemplative approach. She has taught in hundreds of medical and academic institutions around the world, and has been selected as a distinguished scholar in residence at the Library of Congress. Roshi Joan’s work with chaplains includes teaching cultural humility in a multicultural world.
Take a look at my interview with Roshi Joan here.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The APC Comes Out Against Dozens of Retired Military Chaplains, Says Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Would Have No Bearing On Chaplains’ Ministry


This from the Association of Professional Chaplains:
The largest organization of professional chaplains in the United States, in a statement issued today, says that the beliefs of a faith group about homosexuality do not preclude a chaplain from serving “both God and the U.S. armed forces,” as claimed by some retired military chaplains who do not want the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy revoked.

Association of Professional Chaplains President Rev. Dr. David Johnson DMin BCC says, “All board certified chaplains must abide by our Code of Ethics, which requires serving people without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Our Code further prohibits chaplains from imposing doctrinal positions or spiritual practices on those they serve.”

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

The New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care Will Be Featured on PBS's Religion & Ethics Newsweekly This Weekend!

Our friends at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care will be featured on the PBS program Religion & Ethics Newsweekly this Saturday, Nov. 13 at 10:30 am am and repeated on Sunday, Nov. 14 at 5:30 pm. The piece will also go live on the PBS website starting Friday at approximately 6:30 pm. Visit www.pbs.org/religion for more.

I previously interviewed the NYZCCC’s Robert Chodo Campbell and Koshin Paley Ellison for my personal blog. Read our interview here.

Buddhist Chaplain Donald Stikeleather on the Hurt from Negative Campaigning in the Midterm Election Cycle

Donald and I were colleagues in the Master of Divinity program at Naropa University, and I was delighted to see him teaching on this subject -- in the pages of The Indianapolis Star, no less. Take a look at what he's got to say here.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Western Buddhist Teachers for a Free Burma

This from the mighty Hozan Alan Senauke at the Clear View Project:
WESTERN BUDDHIST TEACHERS FOR A FREE BURMA
c/o Clear View Project
1933 Russell Street, Berkeley, CA 94703
jack@clearviewproject.org / 510.845.2215

1 November 2010

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

As you know, the upcoming elections in Burma, scheduled for November 7th cannot be legitimate without participation of the National League for Democracy (NLD). The NLD is boycotting this sham process because the Burmese military regime has designed electoral laws that insure that a rigged and non-representative election will transpire precluding the participation of Burma’s 2100 political prisoners and other democracy supporters. As leaders in the western Buddhist community, we implore you to repudiate the results of this upcoming election.

We appreciate your Administration’s support for a Commission of Inquiry. We urge the U.S. government to exercise all diplomatic means to call the Burmese junta to account for allegations concerning Crimes against Humanity perpetrated against ethnic nationalities.

It is essential that the international community witness your clear and unwavering support for the freedom of the Burmese people at this pivotal time in their history.

We thank you in advance for your care and wisdom in responding to this urgent request and we look forward to your reply.

Respectfully submitted,

Jack Kornfield
Sharon Salzberg
Tara Brach
Tenzin Robert Thurman
Rev. Hozan Alan Senauke
Lama Surya Das
Bhikkhu Bodhi
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Lama Palden

&

Robert Joshin Althouse

Rev. Susan Myoyu Anderson

Sally Armstrong

Carolyn Atkinson

Pascal Auclair

Martin Aylward

Rev. Zentatsu Richard Baker

Ezra Bayda

Mitra Bishop

Melissa Blacker

Bruce Seiryo Blackman

Joe Bobrow

Dae Bong Sunim

Tilmann Lhundrup Borghardt

Merle Boyd

Irene Bumbacher

Mitchell Cantor

Eugene Cash

Ven. David Chutiko

John Crook

Dhammarati

Gaylon Ferguson

James Ford

Gil Fronsdal

John M. Gage

Michael Grady

Elizabeth Hamilton

Rev. Zenkei Blanche Hartman

Kip Ryodo Hawley

Taigen Henderson

Joan Hoeberichts

Amy Hollowell

Paul Jeffrey Hopkins

Zen Master Soeng Hyang

Mushim Ikeda-Nash

Rev. Keido Les Kaye

Sumi Kim

Liana Kornfield

Rev. Taigen Dan Leighton

Stanley Lombardo

Berry Magid

John Makransky

Genjo Marinello

Rev. Nicolee Jikyo McMahon

Rev. Wendy Egyoku Nakau

Ariya Nani

Ethan Nichtern

Wesley Nisker

Rev. Tonen O’Connor

Rev. Enkyo O’Hara

Peter O’Hearn

Rev. Joen Snyder O’Neal

Michael O’Sullivan

Ji Hyang Padma

Rev. Tony Patchell

Rev. Josho Pat Phelan

Rev. Dosho Port

Rev. Susan Jion Postal

Rev. Taihaku Priest

Dr. Christopher Queen

Jason Quinn

Rev. Densho Quintero

Sylvan Genko Rainwater

Rev. Zuiko Redding

Caitriona Reed

Julie Regan

Alison Reitz

Nicholas Ribush

Joan Rieck

Sharda Rogell

Judith Roitman

Sandra Roscoe

Rev. Daigaku Rumme

Santikaro

Rev. Seisen Saunders

Katharina Schmidt

Gina Sharpe

Tulku Sherdor

Jason Siff

Elihu Genmyo Smith

Tempel Smith

Ralph Steele

Abbot Myogen Steve Stucky

Rev. Heng Sure

Thanissara

Karma Leshe Tsomo

Fred Von Allmen

Alan Wallace

Rev. Jisho Warner

Arinna Weisman

Dr. Jan Willis

Diana Winston

Elizabeth A. Wood

Larry Yang

Shinzen Young

More On Military Chaplains And "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

The Associated Press has the story.