GBS Leadership Council

Christopher Caldara

Christopher has been with GBS since 2009. He serves as a greeter and also as one of the facilitators of our Everyday Dharma gatherings on Sundays.

Ken Ireland

I began a Buddhist meditation practice on the early 70's while I was still a member of the Society of Jesus. As an openly gay man, I've studied and practiced with both Asian teachers and the first generation of western teachers who understand the practice needs of our community. I lived and practiced at the Hartford Street Zen Center during the last year's of Issan "Tommy" Dorsey's life, and served as the second director of Maitri Hospice. For the last 17 years I've been working with the koans under the direction of John Tarrant and David Weinstein at the Pacific Zen Institute.

I share a rich life with my partner, Ashish Gupta. Some of my writing can be found online on my blog, Buddha, S.J. My interests include exploring the connections between Mahayana Buddhism and western meditation traditions, poetry, and GLBT issues.

Frank Jernigan

I have lived an eclectic life. I have experienced life in small towns in Georgia, North Carolina and Oregon, in the country in Maine, in the suburbs of Boston, and in the cities of Boston and San Francisco. Professionally, I have been a chemistry grad student, a hippie, a country preacher, a college administrator, a professional potter, an encyclopedia salesperson, and a software engineer. I was married to a woman for 18 years, with two daughters, and have been an out and proud gay man for 22 years. I am married to a wonderful man I met in 2003. I have experienced living in poverty in the 70's, living with moderate means in the 80's and 90's, and living in wealth since 2005. I was a committed fundamentalist Christian, serving as an evangelist, a pastor, and a church founder, until I was asked to leave the church I founded when I came out in 1989. I started meditating a few years later and have been a committed Buddhist since 2002 after joining the Gay Buddhist Sangha.. 

Gregory John

Greg is an educator, writer, and poet. He has been a member of GBS since 2009. He is one of the facilitators of our Everyday Dharma program on Sundays. 

 Greg's blog can be found at

http://thepurplewalk.blogspot.com/. 

Albert Kaba

I have been a member of GBS since 2002. I've lived in San Francisco for over 30 years. I was born in Havana, Cuba. My father is Cuban; my mother was born in Virginia. My paternal grandfather was born in Syria; he emigrated to Cuba after World War I where he met my Cuban grandmother. I was raised bilingually in English-Spanish and, although I never learned Arabic, I was raised hearing Arabic and eating Arabic food (my favorite type of food). I have a partner of 18 years, and we have two dogs and three cats. I'm also the caretaker for a colony of five feral cats who I've given shelter in my back yard. My passions are photography, filmmaking, poetry, and animals. My website is  Kabavideo Cinematography.

I have an eclectic spiritual practice. I took refuge in the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism with the name "Karma Lodu";  however, my current Buddhist practice is in the Soto Zen tradition where I'm preparing for lay ordination (January 2012). I also have a practice in the Lucumi sect of the African Yoruba religion.

Stephen Schwichow

Stephen has practiced the Lotus Sutra in the Nichiren tradition since 1970. His practices include sitting and walking meditation, both sutra and mantra recitations, and study of the Pali Suttas and Mahayana Sutras. He always remembers the words of the Japanese Sage Nichiren that without study, there could be no Buddhism. In 2007 Stephen was officially recognized as a Dharma Teacher by the Japanese school, Rissho Kosei-kai. Living in San Francisco, he also supports the propagation efforts of the Nichiren School, towards the establishment of a temple in The City. Stephen also serves on the Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco and supports their services as a Worship Associate.

Jim Shalkham

My practice is in the Soto Zen tradition. I reside at Hartford Street Zen Center and study with Jeffrey Schneider and Myo Lahey. For many years, I hosted the GBS book group which was a great joy. Along with my colleagues in GBF, GBS and SFZC, we facilitate the Gay Buddhist Prison Network, so I'll probably ask you if you'd be willing to take a prison penpal. I also volunteer at Coming Home Hospice and the SFZC Library and am delighted to return to my role as the Treasurer for GBS.

Gregory Swanton

Gregory has been a member of GBS since 2001. He is the Tenzo* who takes care of our tea and cookies following our Everyday Dharma gathering on Sundays from 4:30 to 5.

 *Tenzo is a title given to the chef or head of the kitchen, the second most important position in a Zen monastery. The literal translation is Heavenly Monk.