Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha in Kyoto has overseas districts with their own regional headquarters: Buddhist Churches of America (BCA), Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, Buddhist Churches of Canada, and South America Hongwanji Mission. There are also developing districts throughout the world: Australia, Europe (Austria, Belgium, England, Germany, Poland, Switzerland), Mexico, Taiwan, and Thailand.
In the U.S., BCA is the national body that oversees some sixty temples and five fellowships. BCA is divided into eight districts: Bay, Central, Coast, Northern, and Southern* in California; Eastern; Mountain; and Northwest. Southern District comprises fifteen temples, including SFVHBT.
* Southern District includes one temple in Arizona.
The organizational chart below illustrates much of this information.
Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-hA
The official name of our school of Buddhism is Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha (sometimes called “Honpa Hongwanji” or “Nishi Hongwanji”). The headquarters (honzan) are in Kyoto. The spiritual leader of Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha is the Monshu, who is a direct descendant of Shinran Shonin. The lineage is through Shinran’s youngest child, daughter Kakushinni-ko.
The Hongwanji comprises ten thousand temples within Japan and two hundred temples overseas, with twelve million members. At honzan, the Board of Governors, headed by the Governor General, oversees all business operations of the Hongwanji. The General Assembly, consisting of elected ministerial and lay representatives, is the legislative branch of the Hongwanji. It deliberates on statutes, regulations, and budgetary matters. Under the guidance of the Board of Governors, the administrative departments manage the operations of Hongwanji
Buddhist Churches of America
At the national level, the two main organizations are Kyokucho – Ministers Association Cabinet and the BCA National Board. The National Board is a lay organization consisting of an Executive Committee, district representatives, directors-at-large, and organization representatives. The National Board meets twice a year, in June and December. The National Council meeting, held once a year in February, is attended by members of the National Board, BCA committee representatives, ministers, and temple representatives.
The Executive Committee meets as deemed necessary. It comprises the following offices and ministerial representatives:
Shocho (Bishop)
Ministerial Representative
President
Vice President (1)
Vice president (2)
Secretary
Treasurer
The following groups are also organized on the national level and are represented at National Council meetings:
California Young Adult Buddhist Association (CaABA)
Federation of Buddhist Women’s Associations (FBWA)
Federation of Dharma School Teachers League (FDSTL)
Western Adult Buddhist League (WABL)
Coast District Adult Buddhist Association (CDABA)
Western Young Buddhist League (WYBL)
There are also over two dozen committees (see the current BCA Directory for a listing).
BCA Southern District
Southern District (SD) consists of fifteen temples:
Guadalupe Buddhist Church
Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church
Buddhist Church of Santa Barbara
Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
The main organizations at this district level are the Southern District Ministers’ Association and the Southern District Council. The Council is a lay organization which meets quarterly, usually at the temple of the Council Chairperson. Each temple is typically represented by its President and President-Elect or Vice President, along with its minister; however, other interested temple members may attend.
The Council comprises these cabinet offices:
Chairperson
Chairperson-Elect
Vice Chairperson
Corresponding Secretary
Recording Secretary
Treasurer
Past Chairperson
Lay Advisors
BCA Representatives
The following groups are also organized on the SD level and are represented at SD Council meetings:
Southern District Buddhist Education Committee (SDBEC)
Southern District Buddhist Women’s Association (SDBWA)
Southern District Dharma School Teachers League (SDDSTL)
Southern District Junior Young Buddhist League (SDJYBL)
Southern District Young Buddhist League (SDYBL)
San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
The SFVHBT is governed by a Board of Directors elected by members at the Annual General Meeting usually held in February of each year. The Board of Directors elect officers including a president, vice presidents, a secretary and treasurer who administrate the day to day matters of the Temple.
Temple groups and services are
Organizations
Buddhist Women’s Association (BWA)
Dharma School
Jr. YBA
Sangha Teens
H.O.T. Adult Assn.
Gatha Group and Musicians
Committees
Audio Visual
Buddhist Education
Obon
Repairs and Maintenance
Toban
Services
Bookstore
Membership
Newsletter
Recycling
Sources
Buddhist Churches of America. 2006. 2006-2007 Directory.
Hongwanji International Center. 2004 (3rd printing). Jodo Shinshu: A Guide. Kyoto: Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha. 99‑100, 105.
San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. 2005 (October). Temple Times. 3
BUDDHIST CHURCHES OF AMERICA (BCA)
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
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