Rev. Melissa Opel
Rev. Melissa Opel was born and raised in Western Washington State and moved to Eastern Washington to attend college on a partial music scholarship. While in the Spokane area, Rev. Opel earned a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on English and Music and later completed an MFA in Creative Writing. After a number of life events that included coming out as part of the LGBTQ community, Rev. Opel left the faith of her upbringing and after a time away from all spiritual practices, began looking into Buddhism. Eventually she made her way to the Spokane Buddhist Temple and never left. In 2019 Rev. Opel received her Tokudo Ordination and then in 2022 her Kyoshi Certification. Rev Opel is set to graduate from the Institute of Buddhist Studies in the Spring of 2024 upon completing her thesis. She and her wife Becca have been together for 19 years and enjoy spending time with close friends, their three dogs (Bodhi, Chewbacca and Ollie), watching sports and attending a good trivia night at a local brewery.
Rev. Keisuke Lee-Miyaki
Keisuke is a Kyoshi ordained priest and a BCSF Minister Assistant. He shares his dharma message in Japanese services. He was born and raised in Tokyo, as an heir of Kyōnenji in Hiroshima, then moved to SF in 2012 to explore hospital chaplaincy, and LGBTQ & Buddhism. He is currently working at Zuckerberg San Francisco General as a chaplain since 2020.
日本語の法座をお勤めしています。広島教念寺の跡取りとして東京で生まれ育ちましたが、ホスピタルチャプレンとなるため、そしてLGBTQと仏教のつながりを求め、2012年に単身サンフランシスコへ参りました。現在はサンフランシスコ総合病院でチャプレンとして勤務しています。
Rev. Elaine Donlin
Elaine is a Tokudo ordained priest and a BCSF Minister Assistant. She has taught the Essentials of Buddhism since 2008, serves as Buddhist Community Clergy for several SF Hospitals, and provides Meditation and Buddhist teachings in the SF County Jails. She serves as president of JARF (Japanese American Religious Foundation), a consortium of churches and temples in the SF Japantown area. She’s also a founding member of the BCSF LGBTQ+ group. Elaine is grateful to work as a Night Minister for the San Francisco Night Ministry.
Jack Dairiki
Jack is an Honorary BCSF Assistant in recognition for his many years of helping with the BCSF Sunday Dharma School program. He continues to be a leader in the Hiroshima Hibakusha (Atomic bomb survivors) organization.