BCA Rolls Out the ‘Red Carpet’ for Its Members

Participants Get Insightful Look at Organization, Meet Other Nembutsu Followers

Sixteen BCA members gathered with staff and volunteers at the Jodo Shinshu Center (JSC) in Berkeley, California, on July 11-13 for the “BCA Members Red Carpet Weekend,” the first event of its kind.  

Designed to give members an orientation to the national organization as well as an opportunity to meet fellow Nembutsu followers from other parts of the country, members came from the Northwest, Northern California, Bay, Central California, Coast and Southern districts for this special event. 

Thanks to generous grants from the Dharma Forward campaign, the BCA Executive Committee Bloomquist Education Endowment and the Bishop’s Expansion Fund, this event was free for all the participants.

Upon arrival, each member received a gift bag containing a Monto Shikisho specially selected for this event and a personalized, signed copy of “Discovering Buddhism in Everyday Life” by Bishop Rev. Marvin Harada.  Everyone also received a Gohonzon of Amida Buddha and one of the Nembutsu (written by Shinran Shonin).  We all gathered in the JSC Community Room for a delicious dinner catered by North Beach Pizza.

The event began with a Dharma Service officiated by Rev. Harada and Rev. Michael Endo. Rev. Harada’s Dharma message reflected on the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, noting that these three elements, together, form our greatest treasure.

Friday evening’s session on July 11 focused on “Getting to Know You.” In a spirit of fun and fellowship, Koichi Mizushima, Center for Buddhist Education (CBE) Youth Programs Coordinator, led everyone in icebreaker activities, which quickly allowed us to see what we have in common with each other and how we differ.  

The members, BCA staff and volunteers each shared an experience that played an important part in helping them arrive where they are today in their Nembutsu journey with BCA. 

For many, this was an especially meaningful part of the Red Carpet weekend.  When asked in the event survey, “Which sessions or moments stood out to you?” one member responded, “Moments when other participants shared some deep personal feelings and memories.”  

Another member said, “‘The Getting to Know You’ session was the moment that stood out the most to me and sharing why and what brought people to BCA personally.” Others said they appreciated getting to know the BCA staff.

Saturday morning on July 12 focused on “Getting to Know BCA.” We began with an overview of the national organization structure, how it operates, and how members fit into BCA’s big picture.  

Immediate past President Terri Omori recounted with candor and humor the path that led her from temple member to BCA national leadership. The members watched the video “The Value and Significance of BCA” by Glen Tao, Film and Video Committee Chairperson of the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and narrated by Michiko Inanaga, BCA Endowment Foundation Development Director.  

We took the group by chartered bus to the Buddhist Church of San Francisco (BCSF). Resident Minister Rev. Melissa Opel described the history of BCSF and its significance in BCA as Busshari Hoto, “The Sacred Tower of the Holy Relics.” 

She noted that its construction was funded jointly by BCSF and BCA members — therefore, all BCA members can regard BCSF as their home temple along with their local temples. Rev. Opel escorted the group to the roof to view the Holy Relics.

On the way back to the JSC, we stopped at the Bishop Matsukage Memorial at the Japanese Cemetery in Colma. Rev. Endo conducted a brief service and shared the background of why and how the memorial was created. At the JSC, volunteers Ford and Terri Omori prepared a taco salad bar lunch.

The afternoon sessions included an explanation of the Onaijin and guidance on setting up a home altar (Obutsudan) by Rev. Endo, Bob Matsueda teaching us about the connection between Buddhism and yoga and leading us through yoga exercises, and an overview of BCA’s role in the worldwide Jodo Shinshu community.  

Darlene Bagshaw, BCA Secretary and Co-Chairperson of the BCA Committee on Development, gave a moving presentation on the impact BCA has made locally, nationally and internationally with the many generous donations it has received.

The afternoon concluded with a round table session moderated by Rev. Harada in which members asked him a broad range of insightful questions. 

One member said, “He was so kind and thoughtful in his responses. He is so accessible, which was very refreshing.” Another individual said, “Having the Bishop present was important and stressed how the Red Carpet was valuable to BCA.”

Following dinner catered by Berkeley restaurant Musashi, the group enjoyed dancing at Berkeley Buddhist Temple’s Obon festival, adjacent to the JSC. For some, it was their first time attending an Obon festival.

We reconvened at the JSC to conclude the evening with activities. The members broke out into small groups to share what they envisioned as the next steps on their Nembutsu journeys that they reflected on at the start of the weekend. The members contributed their thoughts to the “My Wish for BCA” Bodhi Leaf project and completed an event survey.

Sunday’s closing service on July 13 provided a unique musical program arranged by Rev. Harada. It was an opportunity to receive the Dharma teachings through music.  

Rev. Endo awed everyone with his performance of “Kawa no nagare no yo ni” (originally sung by Japanese artist Misora Hibari). We also enjoyed the extraordinary talent of Jessica Foutz, a certified sound healing therapist and Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha member. Foutz performed a beautiful song she had composed just the day before, inspired by her visit to the California redwood trees. She used multiple crystal singing bowls and played a flute designed with three chambers that was custom made for her.

The event concluded with Rev. Harada conducting a Kieshiki Affirmation Ceremony for Denise Marie of the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church. 

All of the members gave the Red Carpet weekend experience the highest rating of “Excellent” and all indicated that the event helped them to feel more connected to the BCA community.  

“I enjoyed connecting with the Sangha, feeling our deep interconnectedness, talking with the Bishop and getting to know my extended Dharma family,”  one member said. Another member put it this way, “Y’all knocked it out of the park!”

The inspiration for BCA Members Red Carpet Weekend came to me when I asked myself, “How do members become acquainted with BCA, the national organization?” I am gratified that we not only educated our members about BCA, but that we also gave them the “red carpet” treatment they truly deserve.

The next BCA Members Red Carpet Weekend will be on Aug. 28-30, 2026, at the JSC.