We are grateful for the guidance of past and present ministers

Current Resident Minister

Note from Midwest Buddhist Temple: Rev. Tsuchiya has resigned as resident minister to return to Minneapolis. Rev. Ron Miyamura (recently retired) has graciously agreed to help MBT on a part time basis as we await a permanent replacement for Rev. Todd. We thank Rev. Todd for his service and wish him and his wife Connie all the best. We also thank Rev. Ron for giving some of his well earned personal time in service to MBT.

Our Founding Minister

Our founder, Rev. Gyodo Kono, served our temple from 1944 until his death in 1975. Born on April 5, 1911, in Sakamachi, Hiroshima, he was the first of eight children of the Rev. and Mrs. Gyojo Kono. Young Rev. Kono received his degree in Shin Buddhism from the Ryukoku University in Japan, making him the 24th generation of ministers in his family.

Rev. Kono arrived in the United States on April 9, 1937. His first temple assignment was in Hanford, Calif. During WWII, he was sent to the Fresno Assembly Center in 1942 and then to Jerome and Rohwer, Arkansas Relocation Centers.

Upon his release from Rohwer in 1943, Rev. Kono moved to Chicago and founded the Midwest Buddhist Church (the original name for the Midwest Buddhist Temple) on July 10, 1944. Following the death of his father, he was asked to return to Japan to take over the Sairinji Temple, but chose instead to remain in Chicago and lead the Midwest Buddhist Temple. His longevity at one location is a testimonial in the ministerial field.

On Sept. 30, 1945, Rev. Kono married Grace Fumiko Nishi of Hanford, Calif., and their son, Ronald Tets Kono was born in Chicago in January 1953.

In 1964, Rev. Kono spearheaded the campaign to build our new temple. Seven years later, on Nov. 7, 1971, he proudly officiated the dedication ceremony of our Temple of Enlightenment. Rev. Kono personally selected the beautiful naijin (altar) that was subsequently enshrined on Nov. 26, 1972.

We lost our compassionate teacher, leader and friend on Dec. 30, 1975.

Recently Retired

Rev. Ron Miyamura retired in November 2023 after 50 years of ministerial service to the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA), the BCA Eastern District Temples and to the Midwest Buddhist Temple. Rev. Miyamura served as the minister of the Midwest Buddhist Temple from 1973-1981 and 2010-2023. We are grateful for his dedication to our temple and wish him well in his retirement.

Full List of MBT Ministers

Rev. Gyodo Kono 1944–1975
Rev. Bunyu Fujimura 1945–1946
Rev. Masami Fujitani 1952–1957
Rev. Kenji Itahara 1957–1959
Rev. Kakuyei Tada 1959–1963
Rev. Tetsunen Hirota 1963–1966
Rev. Shinei Shigefuji 1967–1972
Rev. Ron Miyamura 1973–1981
Rev. Masaaki Yamamoto 1976–1981
Rev. Eijun Kujo 1981–1988
Rev. Shinshi Ohseki 1986–1991
Rev. Koshin Ogui 1992–2004
 
Rev. Bryan Siebuhr 2004–2010
Rev. Ron Miyamura 2010–2023
Rev. Todd Tsuchiya 2023-2025