About Me
John is an interfaith chaplain with Providence Regional Medical Centers. He was raised in the American Baptist denomination as his father and grandfather were American Baptist ministers. His mother was on the cradle roll of Seattle First Baptist. John also became interested in Zen Buddhism after visiting South Asia in 1990. Without ever leaving his Christian foundation, he has studied and practiced Buddhism for many years before becoming an ordained Buddhist minister in the Vietnamese Zen tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh in 2017.
John completed the Upaya Zen Center’s Socially-Engaged Buddhist Chaplaincy program in 2019, attended the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University for two years, and graduated from Claremont School of Theology with a Masters of Divinity in 2023, including a concentration in Interfaith Chaplaincy.
John is a longtime member of SFBC, with his partner, Heidi. He’s also a member of the Mindfulness Community of Puget Sound (Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism), and active with Interfaith Community Sanctuary.
John was ordained as an American Baptist Churches - USA minister on January 18th, 2026. He may be one of the few active Buddhist clergy to be ordained as a Baptist minister.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your role?
As an interfaith chaplain, I provide spiritual support in healthcare settings and the community.
Who do you serve?
What services do you offer?
How can I contact you?
What is your background?
I support individuals from diverse spiritual backgrounds in Seattle's healthcare and community sectors.
I have extensive experience in providing compassionate care to individuals, regardless of their faith or beliefs.
I offer interfaith spiritual guidance and support to individuals and families experiencing health challenges.
You can reach me via the contact form on my website.