Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministry (CJMM)
You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. (Isaiah 58:12b)
National Call-In Day: Tell Your Governor to say "NO to Prison Privatization": On April 18 join GBCS and other Methodists in calling to request a public commitment by June 1, from State Governors to decline CCA's offer to privatize prisons. Learn more and sign up for reminders here.
We are excited to announce the development of the Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministry Team of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. The team consists of two people from each region.
Our purpose is to promote ministry to persons of all genders and ages who are in prison or returning from prison and their families, and the victims of crime and their families, and to advocate for prison concerns.
Our tasks:
- Train churches in the Healing Community Curriculum
- Identify existing programs
- Promote criminal justice ministries
- Serve as a resource and connection link with local churches, general programs and agencies
The work of this team is described in the Social Principles, in the Political Community paragraph 164(H) on Criminal and Restorative Justice:
Most criminal justice systems around the world are retributive. These retributive justice systems profess to hold the offender accountable. In contrast, restorative justice seeks to hold the offender accountable to the victimized person, and the disrupted community. Through God’s transforming power, restorative justice seeks to repair the damage, right the wrong, and bring healing to all involved, including the victim, the offender, the families and the community. The church is transformed when it responds to the claims of discipleship by becoming an agent of healing and systemic change.
The hope of the team is to bring healing and wholeness to individuals, families, churches and communities.
If you would like to be involved or would like to provide information about your church's prison ministry, use the appropriate form below:
- Sign up to be involved or to have your church trained in the Healing Communities Curriculum
- Provide information about your church's prison ministry
For further information, please contact:
Sandy Ferguson, BWC Director of Social Justice Ministries - 410-309-3431
Sonia L. King, Co-chair, CJMM - 410-320-3482
Brian Jackson, Co-chair, CJMM - 301-396-0375
