Spiritual Leadership
Council
The Spiritual Leadership Council is a group of senior teachers that determine and direct all matters regarding spiritual practice, liturgy, and teaching. The Council’s function and composition are described in Article VII of the ZCO bylaws. Three members of the Spiritual Leadership Council serve as members on ZCO Board to ensure that governance properly aligns to the organizations spiritual foundations. The Council ensures the continuity of spiritual leadership of the sangha as the current generation of leaders age.
Jan Chozen Bays Roshi
Co-Abbot
Since 1985 Chozen Roshi has been the teacher for Zen Community of Oregon. In 2002 she helped to found Great Vow Zen Monastery and is co-abbot. In 2011 she also helped found Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple in Portland, Oregon. She has written books on mindfulness and mindful eating, and written articles published in Buddhadharma and Shambhala Sun.
Hogen Bays Roshi
Co-Abbot
Hogen Bays, Roshi began practicing Zen in 1968 with Philip Kapleau, Roshi doing residential training at Zen Center of Rochester and eventually at Zen Center of Los Angeles with Taizan Maezumi Roshi. He has been teaching since 1985 and has continued his Zen studies with Shodo Harada Roshi in Japan and on Whidbey Island from 1990 – 2015.
Larry Fuho Trussell
Lay Zen Teacher
Larry Fuho Trussell has been practicing Zen since 1976, and received Lay Transmission from Chozen and Hogen Roshi in 2015. Fuho is the lead teacher on Sunday mornings at Heart of Wisdom. He is one of the sesshin leaders in ZCO. He works as a research scientist and is married with one grown son.
Nancy Kodo Conover
Lay Zen Teacher
Nancy Kodo Conover has been practicing Zen since 2000 and received Lay Transmission from Chozen and Hogen Roshi in 2015, ordained as a temple priest in 2021 and received Dharma Transmission and Preceptor authorization in 2023. Kodo retired from a career as a vocational rehabilitation counselor to help establish Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple and is the Temple Manager since 2010.