First of all, each should be referred to as a temple in the Jodo Shinshu tradition, which is our denomination. "Church" was used to blend into the dominant culture in America after World War II and the discrimination that continued. Actually, if you go to the basics of Buddhism, you will find that there are two major divisions.

Theravada (the Way of the Elders), which is closest to the time of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, in practice, has changed little over the centuries. These are the monks and nuns and their places are not called "Temples." They are called "Wat" or "Vihara", for example. Each Monk or Nun keeps many, many precepts, or rules (over 200), and owns nothing!

Mahayana, or "The Great Vehicle", is the other, more diverse, major thread of Buddhism. Having begun to branch away from Theravada more than two thousand years ago, these may be Monks, Nuns, or Householder Priests. I am a "Householder Priest" and have a family, can "own" things, etc. So, I am neither Monk, Nun, nor Layperson.

Within that thread of Mahayana Buddhism, are so many different sects, denominations, and sub-sects, that it is impossible for me to know them all. Basically, though, there are about a dozen major divisions in Mahayana, with countless sub-divisions.

Most important to remember is that religion mutates to meet the needs of the people and further has within it the indigenous mysticism or earthiness that existed before the introduction of Buddhism and blends to create dominations that vary vastly in practice. The basic teachings, however, are standard and firm.