Amida Trust general membership is to be reconfigured as membership of an association to be called Amida-kai. When Amida Trust was formed in 1996 it was not initially envisaged as a membership organisation. However, as soon as it was in existence, people were asking to join and there was no reason to refuse, so a category of geneal membership whereby individuals joined the Trust on payment of a subscription came into being. In 1998, the first steps were taken in creating a structure of religious commitment within the Trust. This led to the ratification of the Amida Order in 2002 and the emergence of Amida-shu in 2006. This successful growth of the religious sangha has established Amida Pureland Buddhism and gven the Amid Trust a stable and committed core community. However, it also pushed "general membership" into a relatively more peripheral position In May 2007, therefore, a restructuring took place. Amida-kai has been established alongside Amida-shu to restore balance to the organisation as a whole and to provide a platform for those Trust members who are not currently following Amida Pureland Buddhism as their practice or primary affiliation, as well as for those who are.
• Membership of Amida Trust is now by membership of either Amida-shu or Amida-kai
• Membership of Amida-kai is by subscription - see application form
• Membership of Amida-shu is by invitation
• An individual can belong to both the Shu and the Kai
• The Kai will primarily focus upon non-liturgical activities - classes, seminars, meetings, workshops, interest groups, campaigns, social and cultural activities, and the support of Amida Trust projects
• Involvement in Amida Trust projects will be open to Shu and Kai members alike.
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