Rev. Dr. David P. Kenat, Jr, Anglican Priest, Chaplain Instructor to the Billings, MT Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, and US Marshals Service.
Serves also as a Montana State Probation and Parole officer, assigned to the Montana 13th Judicial District STAR Drug Court Treatment team and adjunct instructor to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. Member of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
After completing the Buddhist studies program in 1994, I went to Cheongju City, South Korea and attended graduate school at Chungbuk National University in Korean philosophy. While in South Korea, I studied Korean Zen in several temples. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, I returned to the United States and became a deputy sheriff and later a probation and parole officer. In 2012, I ordained as an Anglican Priest with the Christian Episcopal Church. I was appointed vicar of the ST. John Anglican Mission and assigned to serve as police chaplain to the Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, and United States Marshals Service and curate to St. George Anglican Parish.
Buddha taught the world suffers due to ignorance and selfish desire. Jesus teaches there will be trials and tribulations. In my career, I learned much of the substance abuse is caused by people with substantial trauma backgrounds. As a parole officer working the drug court, I get to help offenders heal from their soul wounds and turn their lives around to find wholeness and contentment. One of the ways I get to help people heal is by teaching them to have a new structure in their lives, including lessons in Biblical meditation, Zen meditation, Vipassana, and Tai Chi Chuan.
I would encourage students to participate in the Buddhist studies program, even if you are not Buddhist. It was a wonderful program and you will learn a great deal about yourself and the world you live in.