B.C. Buddhist Convention hosted by female minister

The British Columbia Buddhist Convention, a gathering in Canada of Buddhists belonging to the Jodo Shinshu school, will be hosted by a woman for the first time. From The Richmond Review (via The Buddhist Channel):

As a minister, Masumi Kikuchi is breaking new ground.

The 35-year-old is the first female minister in the 100-year history of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in Canada, and this weekend is the host minister for the B.C. Buddhist Convention.

The Jodo Shinshu [浄土真宗] school is a Japanese branch of Pure Land Buddhism based on the teachings of Shinran Shonin [親鸞聖人]. One feature that sets this school of Buddhism apart from others is that it has ministers who can marry and have a family, instead of celibate monastics.

Furthermore, due to persecution of people of Japanese ancestry in North America in the decades around World War II, North American Jodo Shinshu Buddhists purposely adapted Christian-style terminology to better blend in with the Christian population. For example, Jodo Shinshu temples are called "churches" and hold weekly Sunday services and Sunday school for children.

Many Christian denominations are also struggling with the question of female ordination, and some have begun to accept women in roles traditionally reserved for men. I hope that Rev. Masumi Kikuchi's assignment is part of a larger trend towards female leadership in religion.

南無阿彌陀佛