19th century engraving
CHRISTIAN ZEN TEACHERS
A List in Progress
Draft update April 5, 2025
There are an increasing number of people who are living within a meeting of Zen and Christianity. What this means is far from clear. But at the same time it is a living reality.
A lot, perhaps most participants are doing this in informal ways. A powerful example is my friend Robert Jonas, known as Jonas to his friends. He has managed to avoid various ordinations along the way, but is a highly respected spiritual director within the Christian tradition. And at the same time has undertaken years of practice in shakuhachi as a Zen discipline, as well as with more conventionally understood Zen practice. The list of these academics, spiritual directors, and others continues to grow.
And, among these, some have more formal backgrounds and authorizations.
The following is a list of people who I have identified at least tentatively, as authorized Zen teachers in some generally acknowledged lineage who also in some significant way consider themselves Christian.
I am soliciting corrections and additions to this list, as well as for a somewhat larger list of those like Jonas who are important in this liminal moment.
In addition to deletions and additions, I hope for birth dates and if appropriate death dates, as well as what Christian denomination they may be affiliated with, if any, and if they’re clergy noting that, as well. Where they teach is also helpful. I also have some gaps in the names from whom they received authorizations. Any help will be deeply appreciated
Thank you
James Ishmael Ford
Abels, Gregory Hosho – Robert Kennedy 2006 US
Abels, Janet Jiryu – Robert Kennedy n.d. US
Achatz, Francesca Koysen Bodaiga – Stephan Bauberger 2008
Averbeck, Marcus Hozan – Patrick Eastman 2014 UK
Bachman, Carl Genjo – Robert Kennedy 2010 US
Barragato, Margaret – Mui Barragato n.d. US
Battung Rosario B Jochi-an – 1943, RC, Helen Macinnes n.d. Philippines
Bauberger, Stephan – 1960, RC Society of Jesus Ama Samy 2004, Germany
Beneate, Joe – Ruben Habito n.d. US
Birx, Charles Shinkai – 1944, RC ordained Deacon, Robert Kennedy 1998/2014 US
Birx, Ellen Jikai – 1950, Lutheran, Robert Kennedy 1998/2014 US
Blackman, Bruce Seiryu – 1942, Janet Richardson n.d. US
Boutselis, Mary – Dai-en Bennage n.d.
Brantschen, Niklaus Goun-Ken Jinshu – 1937, RC, Society of Jesus, Koun Yamada 1999/Bernard Glassman nd Switzerland
Burgess-Michak, Courtney Gessho – Judy Weintraub n.d.
Butler, Tim Tomei – Robert Kennedy 2015 US
Cabotaje, Alice – 1960, Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) minister, Greg Mayers 2019, US
Carlsten, Thorbjörn – Evert Sundien n.d. Sweden
Cicetti, Raymond Ruzan – 1950, Robert Kennedy 2004 US
Collande, Cornelius – Willigis Jaeger
Collingwood, Chris Ryushin – Patrick Eastman 2016
Cortes, Helen – Ruben Habito 2006, US
Craig, Barbara Shoshin – 1932, RC Religious Sisters of Mercy, Janet Richardson n.d. US
Daniels, Michele Keido – Raymond Cicetti 2018 US
Dietrich, William Ji An – 1949, Quaker, Rose Mary. Dougherty 2015, US
Dougherty, Rose Mary Myoan – 1939-2019, RC School Sisters of Notre Dame, Janet Richardson 2006, US
Drosten, Rolf – Protestant minister, Robert Aikten, Germany
Eastman, Patrick Kundo – Anglican priest later RC priest, Robert Kennedy 2009/2014 UK
Efird, Susan KoDo – Lutheran, Robert Kennedy 2018 US
Enomiya-Lassalle, Hugo Makibi Aiun-ken – 1898-1990, RC Society of Jesus, Koun Yamada n.d. Japan
Ericsson, Gustav – Lutheran pastor, Gudo Nishijima
Falcone, Anthony Hoetsu – 1949, Janet Richardson/Barbara Craig 2016, US
Fischer, Johannes Bodhi Ken – former Jesuit, Ama Samy 2013
Ford, James Ishmael Zeno Myoun – 1948, Unitarian minister, Jiyu Kennett/John Tarrant 1971/2005, US
Forstman, Valerie Meiko-an – Yamada Ryoun n.d. US
Gallagher, Patrick – RC, Elaine MacInnes
Gamma, Anna Myoan Kanzeon Maria – Pia Gyger/Brantschen n.d. Switzerland
Gates, Mary Keido Sho’un – 1954, Episcopal priest, Douglas Phillips 2022 US
Gunn, Robert Kaku – died 2020, UCC minister, Enkyo O’Hara
Gyger, Pia Ichido Jinji – 1940-2014, RC, Robert Aitken/Bernard Glassman 1996/1999 Switzerland
Habito, Ruben L. F. Keiun-Ken – 1947, RC former Jesuit, Koun Yamada n.d. US
Hawk, Patrick Seisho Shin’un – 1942-2012, RC Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, Robert Aitken 1989, US
Healy, Miriam Yukan – Robert Kennedy 2014 Ireland
Hebb, John Joho – 1952, Janet Richardson/Barbara Craig 2016, US
Hencke, Jan Jinrin – 1961, Ellen & Charles Birx 2021
Holleran, Michael Koryu – RC priest, former Carthusian, Robert Kennedy 2009 US
Hooper, Carl Bodhi Ken – 1943, Ama Samy 2013, Australia
Hunt, Kevin Jiyun – 1933, RC Trappist, Robert Kennedy 2004US
Jaeger, Willigis Koun-Ken – 1925, Koun Yamada n.d. Germany
James, ZhiSin Pollyann – Barbara Craig n.d.
Kadowaki, Kakichi – RC, Society of Jesus, Omori Sogen n.d.
Kennedy, Robert Jinsen – 1933, RC Society of Jesus, Bernard Glassman 1991/1997 US
Laheen, Mary Soshin – Robert Kennedy 2019 US?
Langdell, Tim – Independent Catholic, Paul Lynch/Seth Dennis/Al Rapaport/Daiho Hilbert US
Lee, Lola McDowell — Henry Chikuen Kugai Platov US
Liesenfeld, Bruno – RC priest, Klaus von Wansleben
Lüderitz, Gert – Ama Samy 2016, Germany?
Macinnes, Elaine Koun-an – RC nun, 1924, Koun Yamada n.d., Canada
Maher, Carl Chimon – Robert Kennedy n.d. US?
Maher, Monica Prajnatara – UCC minister, Robert Kennedy 2018 Equador
Marcel, Leonard – 1942, Patrick Hawk 2001, US
Marinello, Genjo – Buddhist-Quaker, Eido Shimano n.d. US
Matthias, Stefan – 1955, Protestant pastor Stephan Bauberger 2009
Mathew, Cyril Jnana Bodhi Ken – RC Society of Jesus, Ama Samy 2004, India
Mayers, Greg – RC, priest, Willigis Jaeger 2010
McQuaide, Rosalie Jishin – RC Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, Janet Richardson n.d. US
Meyer, Gundula Zuiun-an – 1937, Protestant minister, Koun Yamada N.d. Germany
Michel, Russell Kaishin – 1948, Episcopal, Robert Kennedy 2021
Migaku, Sato – 1948, Ji’un Kubota
Montecel, Maria “Cuca” Kosen Robledo – Robert Kennedy 2015/2020 US?
Nail, Lee Ann Kanren-an – Ruben Habito 2012, US
Neudecker, Rene – Willigis Jaeger n.d., Germany?
Palmiter, Martine Taikai – 1958, active lay member, UCC, RoseMary Dougherty 2019, US
Parks, David – UCC minister, John Tarrant n.d. US
Paszkiewicz, Joshua Sunyananda – Independent Catholic, Al Rapaport 2019 US
Perlas, Antonio – 1938-2002, Helen Macinnes n.d. Philippines
Pineda, Maria Teresa Myoun-An – 1942 Helena Macinnes n.d. Philippines
Pliske, Angela – 1937, Ama Samy 2009, Czech Republic
Potz, Alice Denko – Robert Kennedy 2021
Reis-Habito, Maria Getsu’un-an –
Rieck, Joan – one time Maryknoll Sister
Richardson, Janet Jinne – RC Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, Robert Kennedy 1994/1997 US
St Onge, Timothy Mangetsu – 1952, RC?, Kevin Hunt 2018 US
Samy, Ama Genun-Ken – 1936, RC Society of Jesus, Koun Yamada? N.d., India
Schubert, Paul Seiko – Robert Kennedy 2007 US
Semmler-Koddenbrock, Winfried – RC priest
Seul, Jeff Kogen – 1962, Kevin Hunt 2018
Snela, Bogdan Hi’shin-ken – Willigis Jaeger n.d., Germany?
Strelcyk, Olaf Muyo-ju Bodhi Ken – Ama Samy 2019
Strong, Nona – Greg Mayers 2019
Sullivan, Edward Sangetsu – 1951, Janet Richardson/Barbara Craig 2014, US
Sundien, Evert
Taberner, Cynthia Kin Ryu – Kevin Hunt 2017 US
Tackitt, Tony – Greg Mayers 2019
Tacy, Madeleine Seikai – RC Order of Preachers (Dominican) nun, Kevin Hunt 2018
Tamayo-Moraga, Sarita – Darlene Cohen
Viggiani, Carl Chimon – Robert Kennedy n.d.
Wagner, Ann Ankai – 1940, Catholic? Ordained? Paul Genki Kahn n.d. US
Walter, Wolfgang E’un-ken – Willigis Jaeger n.d., Germany?
Wansleben, Klaus – Willigis Jaeger n.d., Germany
Weimar, Susan – Patrick Hawk n.d., US
Weintraub, Judy Dong Jen – Barbara Craig
Wobeser-Hopfner, Inge Eigen von – Robert Kennedy 2008
Wolbert, Randy – Greg Mayers 2021
Woodcock, Jeremy Ryokan – Patrick Eastman 2015 UK
Yee, Amy Enhai – Robert Kennedy 2019
Zölls, Doris Myoen-an – Willigis Jaeger n.d., Germany
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