About Us

Supervising Minister, Buddhist Temple of Marin and Berkeley Buddhist Temple

Rev. Kiyo Kuwahara

Rev. Kuwahara (he/him) has served as the supervising minister of the Buddhist Temple of Marin since December 2020, while also supporting the Berkeley Buddhist Temple. In addition to his temple leadership, he is the program director for the Jodo Shinshu International Office. Previously, he co-directed the BCA Center for Buddhist Education and taught as adjunct faculty at the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS). Earlier in his career, he worked with the Hongwanji office as a program director and staff member.

Rev. Kuwahara earned his BA in English Education from Hiroshima University and an MA in Jodo Shinshu Studies from both the IBS and Ryukoku University. He has also completed doctoral coursework at Ryukoku. Born the eldest son of a temple family in Kure City, Hiroshima, he now makes his home in the U.S. with his wife and their three sons.

Assisting Kyōshi Minister, Buddhist Temple of Marin and Berkeley Buddhist Temple

Rev. CJ Dunford

Rev. CJ (they/them) was born and raised in southwestern Virginia, but moved to the SF Bay Area in 2007. They have been part of the Jōdo Shinshū and other Buddhist communities since 2014. Receiving ordination from our mother temple, Hongwanji in Kyoto, in 2019 as well as Dharma teacher certification (Kyōshi) in 2022, they have also earned an MA in Buddhist Studies and Certificate of Buddhist Chaplaincy from the Institute of Buddhist Studies and Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley in 2020 along with a Doctor of Ministry from the Pacific School of Religion in 2025. The title of their MA thesis is: "Radical Acceptance as a Shin Buddhist Theology of Liberation for LGBTQ+ Peoples,” and their DMin capstone portfolio is entitled: “Building the Pure Land: an Anti-Imperialist Project for Jōdo Shinshū Buddhists.”

 Rev. CJ has also served as minister at the Buddhist Temple of Marin since 2020 and at the Berkeley Buddhist Temple since 2023. As part of their ministry, they offer one-on-one or small group/family spiritual care and counseling sessions.