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Our nation is currently debating whether the union of two persons of the same sex may be called a marriage. Who has the right to say? Some Shinshu ministers in America have been marrying couples of the same sex when asked. These "Gay Marriages" have been solemnized by Jodo Shinshu minsiter for more than twenty years. Of course, not all BCA ministers perform such ceremonies when asked. I have never solemnized a same-sex marriage only because I have never been asked.
The Oregon Buddhist Temple board of Trustees is currently considering whether I should be authorized to use the temple as a venue for such non-traditional unions if I should be aked to marry a "Gay" couple. The temple members have a right to say what goes on in their temple. They should listen to the minister's opinion, but needn't always comply with our wishes. I expect the BCA Ministerial Association to debate this issue this summer. Although non-heterosexual unions have been solemnized by some of us for two decades or more, an official position has never been taken by the Bishop or the Ministerial Association.
I would be amazed if the situation were not that such unions will be officially considered proper once the topic comes to open discussion. Even so, some temple members may have the feeling that this is all just too different. You, again, have the right to say what sorts of activities take place at your temple. A Minister has the right to say what he is willing to do in terms of ceremonies. When I served in Southern Caliofrnia, I got referrals from the Orange County and West LA temples when someone wanted a "house blessing". This is just too different a request for many BCA ministers to meet. I simply re-define it as a "house dedication". I'm comfortable. My friends who move here from Hawaii and want a ritualized Buddhist dedication of their homes are happy. Why fight over a word like "blessing" or "dedication" or "marriage"?
If Gay people seem a bit different to you,...aren't we all? One of my favorite children's books is titled, "We are All the Same, We are All Different." No truer words have ever been spoken. I'm married to a woman of a different generation, from a different country, nurtured by a totally different culture. There's more different about my marriage than there is about most same-sex partnerships. I hope we can all learn to be tolerant of those a bit different from ourselves. After all, when we perceive people as different from ourselves, we are different from them too, aren't we? I saw a bumper sticker recently that read, "Real Doctors Treat More Than One Species." I figure the driver was a veterinarian. Perhaps I should get a bumper sticker that says, "Real Ministers Marry More Than One Gender Grouping." In any case, let's try to remember what my son has understood since he was only two years old, - We are all the same, we are all different.
Do you need to schedule a memorial service? The Temple schedule shows which weekends Rev. Gibbs will be here. He is available to perform memorial services on these weekends, schedule permitting. Please contact Mike Iseri, Randy Kameshige, or David Mizuta to coordinate reservations for memorial services. Thanks!
Many Thanks to our Temple Members! At the risk of leaving someone out, we thought it appropriate to acknowledge the many people who have given their time and energies to help maintain our service schedule. We apologize for any omissions. We are thankful that we have so many that have accepted invitations to help out. Facility Duties, opening up/locking up, heating, altar flowers/obuppan - Hid and Ruth Harada. Organist, choir and refreshments - Jeanne Ozawa. Adult Study Group - Kathy Chatterton. Dharma School Service - Mary Ann Shimojima, Lois Saito, Karen Hata, and Sandy Belknap. Fujinkai Ladies - for all you do. Rev. Gibbs and the Oregon Buddhist Temple.
All of our Temple members, and others attending service, thank you for your suport and attendance. So far, after 16 services, we have had a different chairman for each service. This is in an effort to involve as many people as possible in holding our Sunday Service. We always welcome volunteers for chairman. Please consider being a chairman for one of our services and give Mike Iseri a call to be added to the list. Or, when you receive a call inviting your participation, please think twice before saying no. Thank you to all!
Ann is traveling around the country, so we'll have to catch up with her next time!
March 7th: Chairman Grant Saito with Rev. Gregory Gibbs giving the Dharma talk.
March 14th: Chairman Mary Ann Shimojima with George Gledhill giving the Dharma talk.
March 21st: Dharma School cancelled due to spring break with many children, parents and teachers gone.
March 28th: Chairman Sandy Belknap and also giving the Dharma talk.
Hanamatsuri is April 11th with a combined service at 11:00 a.m. The guest minister is Reverend LaVern Sasaki. Be sure to bring a fresh flower to put on the Hanamido. This is the birth of the Buddha, so lets all turn out for this celebration. There will be lunch and a program.
No Dharma School on May 2, due to the teachers attending the Federation of Dharma School Teachers League Workshop in San Jose.
Idaho Oregon Buddhist Temple
286 SE 4th Directions
PO Box 397 (mailing address)
Ontario, Oregon 97914
541-889-8562 (office)
541-889-8662 (fax)
10:00 am - IOBT Choir Practice
10:30 am - Adult Study
10:30 am - Dharma School Service
11:00 am - Adult Service
11:00 am - Dharma School Class
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