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leadership structure

Soto Zen North America is governed by a board of directors, guiding kyoshi, and denominational council.  These three will establish committees as required by the bylaws and as needed to fulfill the aims of the denomination.
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Guiding kyoshi

The guiding kyoshi is the overall leader and the internal and external face of the denomination, working closely with the denominational council to support and guide the organization in accordance with its mission and goals.  The guiding kyoshi is selected by the denominational council from candidates put forward by the Soto Zen N. A. members who make up the Guiding Kyoshi Nomination Committee.  They serve a five year term with a possible two year extension at the discretion of the denominational council.  In addition to other duties, the guiding kyoshi holds a seat on both the board of directors and the denominational council.

​
Koun Franz  (Guiding Kyoshi)
Thousand Harbors Zen
Halifax, Nova Scotia
lineage of 
Kosoku Honda

​More from the installation of our first guiding kyoshi

Board of Directors

The board of directors makes decisions and facilitates implementation concerning the day-to-day operations of the denomination.  Directors are elected by the full membership and any Soto Zen N. A. member may serve.  Officers are chosen by the board from among the directors.
Hoko Karnegis  (President)
​Sanshin Zen Community
Bloomington, IN
lineage of Shohaku Okumura

Kotoku Crivello (Treasurer) 
Zen Center of Pittsburgh
lineage of Gengo Akiba

​Kenzan Seidenberg (Secretary)
Shao Shan Temple
East Calais, VT
lineage of Taihaku Priest


Doshin Johnson
Zenshuji
​Los Angeles, CA
lineage of Ryotetsu Senjo

Koun Franz  (Ex officio, Guiding Kyoshi)
Thousand Harbors Zen
Halifax, Nova Scotia
lineage of 
Kosoku Honda

Soto Zen North America
​Org Chart

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Click image for larger view.

Denominational council

The denominational council provides overall guidance and leadership to the organization with the aim of fulfilling its stated mission.  In this role, it considers and makes decisions concerning the broad, long-term goals and interests of the association such as priest formation, regulations, and the selection of the guiding kyoshi.  The council is elected by membership from among supervising kyoshi.  There is a seat on the council for the guiding kyoshi and for the director of the North American office of Sotoshu. ​
Eido Frances Carney
Olympia Zen Center
Olympia, WA
lineage of 
Niho Tetsumei 

Konjin Godwin
Houston Zen Center
Houston, TX
Director of the International Division of Soto Zen, North America
lineage of Tenshin Anderson

​Shumyo Kojima
Zenshuji
Los Angeles, CA

Ejo McMullen 
Buddha Eye Zen Community Temple
Eugene, OR
Assistant director of the North American Office
of Sotoshu
lineage of Joshin Kiera

Teijo Munnich
Great Tree Zen Women's Temple
Asheville, NC

lineage of Dainin Katagiri

Koun Franz  (Guiding Kyoshi)
Thousand Harbors Zen
Halifax, Nova Scotia
lineage of 
Kosoku Honda

Supervising kyoshi at large

Shosan Austin
San Francisco Zen Center
San Francisco, CA
lineage of Shunryu Suzuki

Daijaku Kinst
Ocean Gate Dharma Center
Capitola, CA
lineage of Sojun Weitsman

Tonen O'Connor
Milwaukee Zen Center
Milwaukee, WI
lineage of Tozen Akiyama


Shinshu Roberts
Ocean Gate Dharma Center
Capitola, CA
lineage of Sojun Weitsman
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  • Home
  • Membership
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  • Leadership
  • Departures
  • FAQ
  • Soto Zen N. A. News
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