The focus on prison ministry was first initiated in 1984 when the General Conference adopted a mandate to coordinate this ministry. In 1988, General Conference reaffirmed the mandate, and it was continued and expanded in 1992.
The 1992 General Conference adopted Calendar Item 208 on page 237 of the Daily Christian Advocate which continued the ongoing consultation among general program boards in order to receive progress reports on work related to prison ministry/prison reform. This legislation called for an interagency committee, under the direction of GCOM, to build awareness and provide resources to local churches and annual conferences. The General Council on Ministries was asked to convene an interagency committee for oversight, planning, and program implementation for this area of ministry. The mandate also called upon this interagency group, the Council of Bishops, and the General Council on Ministries to build an awareness by providing leadership and advocating the development of effective prison ministries.
Process
In order to implement this General Conference mandate, the General Council on Ministries contacted each general secretary of the four program boards to identify one staff representative to serve on the interagency committee. Once the four boards named a representative, a GCOM member and GCOM staff person convened the interagency committee, and the planning process began.
First, a comprehensive prison ministry booklet was updated for general distribution to bishops, districts superintendents, annual conference council directors, annual conference prison ministry programs, and other interested individuals seeking resourcing on how to develop and enhance prison ministry programs.
The interagency committee then set out to develop a four-year holistic plan for building awareness and resourcing the denomination. This planning process reflected both the ongoing work of each agency in this area of ministry, plus specific assignments which were made to general boards and GCOM by the 1992 General Conference. At each yearly meeting of the interagency committee, the program boards reported on their agency's work and outreach in prison ministry.
Early in the planning process, the interagency committee determined the need to develop the study guide. This committee also decided to continue the distribution of a resource packet. The study guide was made available at the end of the 1993-96 quadrennium.
During the previous quadrennium, annual conference cabinets were asked to record their visits to jails and prisons. During the current quadrennium, bishops were asked to identify outstanding prison ministry/ prison reform ministries within their conferences. The interagency committee determined this was an effective way to build an awareness of the work already under way. Sixty-five outstanding prison ministry programs were identified by bishops. GCOM provided certificates of recognition to honor these projects and persons within annual conferences.
A primary way that awareness was stimulated was through the consultative services of the Criminal Justice Mercy Ministries Office, under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Jerry Murray. Dr. Murray, a member of the interagency committee, made himself available to annual conferences and local congregations for planning, organizational development, and training. Dr. Murray made frequent reports to the interagency committee on the development of prison ministry programs and evolving ministry opportunities and needs of constituents. Also, Dr. Murray provided education for members of the interagency committee. Each member of the interagency committee provided an opportunity to learn about existing United Methodist and ecumenical programs related to prison ministry.
The committee continued discussions with the General Board of Publications and other agencies of the general church regarding effective distribution of surplus materials for use by chaplains and prison ministries.
In every general board, there has been increased attention to programs and issues related to prison ministry/prison reform.
The committee was made aware, through the work of the General Board of Higher Education and the General Board of Global Ministries, of the increase in awareness and involvement in prison ministry within the central conferences.
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry held its second prison chaplains consultation early in the 1993-96 quadrennium. Information and insights from this event were shared with the interagency committee. The GBHEM provided expertise in the creation of prison ministry in central Russia and continuing support for prison ministry in Germany.
The General Board of Church and Society offered input and information on the Human Relations Day and outreach services for communities in crisis and prison work. The board, through its focus on "Peace with Justice," raised awareness and provided study resources to congregations. Their work with Police and Community Relations provided an important component for the emerging work in annual conferences. This board's ministry with Saving Stations offered opportunities for proactive involvement in justice ministries.
The General Board of Discipleship offers the "Covenant Discipleship in Prisons." This board was instrumental in the development of a churchwide resource packet on prison ministry, with over 5,000 packets having been distributed. In addition, the board prepared and distributed the Prison Ministries Action and Study Guide.
The General Board of Global Ministries offered many services. The United Methodist Women developed and implemented programs of learning, services and support for prisoners, crime victims and their families. The work of the Communities of Shalom, Church and Community workers, the Substance Abuse and Related Violence Program are several ways the board has enabled the committee to plan and to be proactive. The National Program Division's focus on Combating Violence Against Women and Children enabled the committee to share resources with constituents who want to assist women and their families. The committee acknowledges the work performed by this board as foundational and pioneering. Other denominations and many local churches have been empowered through the effective models and ministries initiated and ongoing by this board. The World Division has been responsive to requests from central conferences for assistance in the development in prison ministry.
The General Commission on Communication has been supportive in providing coverage of the interagency committee's action and plans.
The General Council on Ministries has provided coordination, support, and guidance for the work of this interagency committee.
Theological Statement
We are a covenant people--but we are marked in many ways by having broken the covenant. The Biblical story reflects God's relationship with us--creating us, accompanying us, always calling us back into right relationship with God and God's creation.
We are mandated by Christ to be in ministry by "proclaiming freedom to the captives," and we are all summoned to "remember those in prison as if you were their fellow captives" (Hebrews 13:3). The ministry of the global church affirms that "we no longer see anyone from a human point of view" (citation), but rather through the eyes of Christ we see the world of prisoners, crime victims and their families as an arena of God's grace and the place of our ministry.
Jesus identified himself as being the one who was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, a prisoner--and invites us to ministries of nurture, outreach, and witness. We respond to this invitation and commit ourselves to justice-making.
We understand that justice-making is restorative rather than retributive, seeks to create wholeness rather than merely isolate blame, cares for both victim and offender, and seeks the ultimate restoration of right relationships among God, persons, and people until we see peace (shalom) restored in the community.
We understand that our ministry is to prisoners, crime victims and their families. This includes a concern for the entire criminal justice system, including persons who are employed within the structures of that system, such as law enforcement, judicial, correction officers. Our ministry is both pastoral and prophetic, seeking both to heal those who have been wounded and to transform those structures which inflict those wounds.
We believe that the following recommendations represent the significant and essential next steps in establishing channels through which The United Methodist Church shall respond to this commitment.
Recommendations
Recommendation #1
We recommend the formation of a "Global Prison Ministry Resource and Training Institute." A global coordinating committee shall give guidance to the operation of this Institute. The global coordinating committee will be composed of fourteen persons: two members and one staff person from each of the program agencies (12); and one Council member and one staff person from GCOM. The agencies will provide funding for their representatives to this global coordinating committee. The Council of Bishops will name one episcopal consultant from the central conferences, and one episcopal consultant from the United States (at the expense of the Council of Bishops). The bishops will convene the first meeting of the global coordinating committee in the spring of 1997, in advance of the meeting of the General Board of Global Ministries, in order to include input from other members of the central conferences. The General Board of Global Ministries will be requested to provide linkage and access to these leaders and their expertise in the global context.
The purpose of this committee is to give leadership to the Church through the Institute for enhancement, coordination, and enablement of effective prison ministry programs around the world.
The purpose of the first meeting of the committee will be to engage in a holistic planning process to determine strategies, identify resources, and develop nurture, outreach and witness ministries in relating to prisoners, victims of crimes, and their families in the global community. This may include the areas of:
Evangelism
Discipleship
Education and motivation of congregations in criminal justice and mercy ministries
Social justice theology for prison ministries
Celebrating United Methodist involvement in Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries
Sharing effective Models through networking people and programs
Coordinating services and programs
Developing cross cultural models
Facilitating the use of the Study Guide within annual conferences and local churches around the world
Working with central conferences in the development on resources and study tools which are context specific
Developing biblical and theological resources
Dialogue on the creation of a "Prison Ministries Action and Study Guide"
Also, at the first meeting consideration will be given to identifying a site location and accountability structure for the Global Prison Ministry Resource & Training Institute.
Recommendation #2
We further recommend that the United Methodist Women give consideration to the integration of prison ministry/justice ministries within the Schools of Christian Mission as they develop study curricula. We recommend that the United Methodist Women give consider- ation to creating units with jails and prisons for women.
Recommendation #3
We encourage the General Board of Global Ministries to give consideration to naming missionaries in the field of prison ministry.
Recommendation #4
That central conferences and annual conferences within the United States be linked through E-Mail so that frequent communication can enhance the planning process of the Institute.
Recommendation #5
That the General Board of Discipleship be responsible for training of local churches and annual conference leaders to utilize study processes such as "Disciple Bible Study," "Covenant Discipleship," and to provide mentoring.
Recommendation #6
We recommend that the United Methodist Men give consideration to starting units within jails and prisons and create study guides and tools to promote Christian disciplemaking.
Recommendation #7
We recommend an evaluation of existing programs and resources to assess their applicability and effectiveness in ministries to victims, families and those incarcerated.
Recommendation #8
We recommend that the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the General Board of Discipleship consider the development of a certification process for those providing ministries to prisoners, crime victims, and their families.
Members of Interagency Committee
Rev. Patricia Barrett--General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
Rev. Kinmoth Jefferson and Ms. Peggy Halsey --General Board of Global Ministries
Rev. Dr. Jerry Murray--Director of the Criminal Justice Mercy Ministries
Ms. Pamela Crosby--General Commission on Communications
Mr. Hillary Shelton--General Board of Church and Society
Ms. Alyne JoAnn Eslinger--General Board of Discipleship
Chaplain Joseph Errington--South Central Regional Federal Bureau of Prisons
Ms. Anita Fenstermacher--General Council on Ministries
Resource Persons: Rev. Dr. William Appleby--Program Consultant
Ms. Jody Moxley--Member of GCOM
GCOM Staff: Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed (Through August 15, 1995)
Staff Consultant: Linda Bales (Beginning September 19, 1995)
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21681-GJ-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference