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MINISTERIAL TEAM

(Left-to-Right: Rev. Jon Turner; VBT MAs Julie Robertson, Tina Donisi, Judy Nakatomi, Rosalyn Dong, and Rev. Sterling Davenport; BCA Bishop Marvin Harada)

Vista Buddhist Temple is a member of the Buddhist Churches of America under the ministerial supervision of Orange County Buddhist Church.   Our services and dharma talks are conducted by a diverse team of Ministers from Orange County Buddhist Church and Minister's Assistants from Orange County Buddhist Church and Vista Buddhist Temple.

SUPERVISING MINISTER

Rev. Jon Turner

REVEREND JON TURNER

Reverend Jon Turner and his family first began attending Orange County Buddhist Church (OCBC) in 1999. Two years later he joined their Ministers’ Assistant Program (MAP). In 2010, Reverend Turner graduated from Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS) in Berkeley, California, with a master’s degree in Buddhist Studies, and received Tokudo ordination. In 2012, he was ordained as a Kyoshi minister. After retiring from a 35 year career as a computer programmer, Reverend Turner became a fully ordained Kaikyoshi minister at OCBC in 2017. He has been Vista Buddhist Temple's supervising minister since 2020.

Minister's Assistants (MA's)

  • Rev. Sterling Davenport - Tokudo Ordination

  • Judy Nakatomi - Certified Minister’s Assistant

  • Rosalyn Dong - Certified Minister’s Assistant

  • Tina Donisi -Certified Minister’s Assistant

  • Julie Robertson - Minister’s Assistant

Additional Teachers

Vista Buddhist Temple’s unique relationship with Orange County Buddhist Church also allows us to benefit from hearing additional voices through periodic visits from ministers and minister’s assistants.  We thank each of them for their deep commitment to sharing the Buddha-Dharma.

With deepest gratitude…

​…to our former Supervising and Resident Ministers for their contributions in sharing the Buddha-Dharma and sustaining our sangha.

​

  • Rev. Marvin Harada, Orange County Buddhist Church; Supervising Minister of VBT, 2009-2020

  • Rev. Lee Rosenthal, Resident Minister, 2000-2009

  • Rev. Tesshi Aoyama, Buddhist Temple of San Diego; Supervising Minister of VBT, 1998-2000

  • Rev. John Iwohara, Resident Minister, 1996-1998

  • Rev. Akio Miyaji, Buddhist Temple of San Diego; Supervising Minister of VBT, 1994-1996

  • Rev. Arthur Takemoto, Resident Minister, 1981-1995

  • Rev. Taitsu Imai, 1981

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