Our Minister

Rev. Candice Shibata grew up in Stockton and attended the Buddhist Church of Stockton as a youth and young adult. She began her collegiate studies at San Joaquin Delta College and later transferred to California State University, Sacramento where she majored in psychology. After graduation, she was a case manager for children with special needs. In 2009, she obtained her first Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from the University of San Francisco. Following graduate school, she interned as a therapist at two elementary schools from 2009-2010.

In September 2012, she received Tokudo ordination in Kyoto and served as the minister’s assistant in Stockton. She graduated with a master’s degree in Buddhist studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies and Graduate Theological Union in May 2015. One month later, she returned to Japan to complete her Kyoshi certification.

Rev. Shibata’s ministerial assignments include the Berkeley Buddhist Temple and the Buddhist Church of Florin before her appointment at the Buddhist Church of Stockton on July 1, 2020.