Announcing the Launch of the Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy Association (BECA)
In Spring of 2025, under the guidance of their teachers, alumni of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies’ Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy Training came together to form the Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy Association (BECA).
We’re thrilled to welcome you to the official BECA website!
BECA is a peer-led community of certified Buddhist Eco-Chaplains, spiritual caregivers rooted in Buddhist practice offering relational, embodied, and responsive care in a time of profound change and uncertainty.
Eco-chaplains hold space for grief, loss, and uncertainty, accompanying individuals and communities in exploring their own sense of meaning, identity, and purpose.
Read this article to learn more about eco-chaplaincy.
BECA exists to nurture the heart of eco-chaplaincy: attentive, embodied, and relational care that honors the interdependence of humans, the more-than-human world, and the Earth itself.
At its core, eco-chaplaincy is about presence with what is, witnessing suffering, offering compassion, and fostering connection that allows both people and the planet to be cared for.
What is BECA?
Our mission is two-fold.
First, we serve as a professional home for Buddhist eco-chaplains. BECA supports collaboration, mutual support and mentoring, and ongoing professional development and education within the field of eco-chaplaincy.
Second, we serve those seeking care. We connect individuals and communities with trained Buddhist eco-chaplains who are able to offer spiritual support. BECA also organizes collective offerings in service of all beings.
BECA currently operates as a sociocracy, a decentralized way of organizing that makes decision-making more equitable, efficient, and transparent.
What’s on the Horizon
BECA was founded to offer both support for caregivers and care seekers. As a brand new organization, BECA is launching with deep care and enthusiasm for our mission of supporting Buddhist Eco-chaplains and care seekers.
In the coming months and years ahead, some of our initiatives to look forward to include:
A Directory of Buddhist Eco-Chaplains: A searchable listing to help individuals, communities, and organizations connect with trained eco-chaplains.
BECA Offerings and Gatherings: Online and in-person spaces for practice, reflection, and connection.
Professional Development and Support: Ongoing education, peer consultation groups, and internal care offerings for current eco-chaplains
Ongoing Resources: Articles, recorded talks, and practical tools to support both practitioners and those seeking spiritual care.
And More!
Given the unfolding nature of this emerging field, BECA plans to continuously evolve to meet the needs of both caregivers and care seekers. Feel free to reach out if you have any ideas for us to consider.
Suggested Contemplative Practice
Find a sit spot outdoors and allow yourself to settle into stillness. Choose any amount of time, whether it’s perhaps 15 minutes or half an hour, and simply observe what unfolds around you.
Notice the movements, sounds, and subtle changes in the landscape, letting your attention rest gently on the living world. Rather than trying to interpret or analyze, practice being a receptive presence within the wider community of life.
This simple “sit spot” practice can be done any time of day, any day of the week. Try it out, and let us know how it goes!
Stay Connected
If you’re interested in staying connected to BECA, join our email newsletter and follow us on social media!
Contact us if you’re seeking care or want to be involved in BECA.
