On 27th November, following consultations in accordance with the Provisions for Structure, Continuity and Governance of Amida-shu, Dharmavidya, as Head of the Amida School and Order, enacted changes in the Amida Order Rule, being the precepts for ordained members of the Order, such as to create separate ordination options for celibate and non-celibate ordainees. Henceforth ordained members of the order shall have the option to take or not take precepts of celibacy. The effect will be to create the potential for there to be four categories of ordained persons, namely celibate ministers, non-celbate ministers, celibate amitaryas and non-celibate amitaryas. Only for celibate ordained persons shall the shaved head be obligatory. All ordained members of the Order may be addressed as 'Reverend' and referred to as priests, but celibates may alternatively be addressed as Venerable, or, in the case of women, Sister, and celibate amitaryas may be referred to as monks or nuns. In the case of ministers the option for celibacy or non-celibacy shall be made at initial ordination as a chaplain. In the case of amitaryas, the option shall not be made until after novitiate is completed. Novices shall be celibate during novitiate if they ordained as single persons and non-celibate if they ordained as a couple.
The full Rule in its new form complete with explanatory notes can be read on the Friends of Amida site (right column, bottom) or here: Amida Rule
