What institutions and systems are broken near us? How will we participate in the repair, restoration, and healing of people, institutions, and systems?

I recently witnessed the Province VIII Deacons’ Association gather in Reno, Nevada to grapple with the call of the people of the Church to set the captive free.  They spent three days together in dialogue, working groups, and plenary sessions to develop a shared vision for this important liberating, loving and life giving work.  These Deacons recognized the criminal justice system is broken and that the oppression of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people runs counter to the justice of God.  Understanding that God came among us in Jesus because of the deep, divine longing to love and repair this world, they committed to transforming the systems, practices and policies that threaten the dignity, life and living of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. 

Will you join them in this work of expanding criminal justice ministries beyond traditional prison ministries to include policy advocacy and re-entry for formerly incarcerated women, men, girls and boys?

The Rev. Charles Allen Wynder, Jr.,  Program Staff Officer for Social Justice & Engagement