FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP HAROLD DEAN TRULEAR
Ministering to Imprisoned Families
home. While professional help in some of these areas is invaluable, lay people can make a significant difference simply by being understanding and available. Third, congregations can help families visit their loved ones, something that can be extremely difficult for those with loved ones incarcerated at a distance. The church can offer (or pay for) For some time, I have been using this transportation to the prison; benevolence space to talk about prisoner reentry and support for an overnight stay near the the role of churches. What Progressive prison is another way to bless those National Baptist Convention (PNBC) whose loved ones are imprisoned far Vice President Dr. James Perkins calls from home. Another option is “video “the civil rights issue of the 21st century” visitation,” which New Canaan is also a family issue. Most congregations International Church of Richmond,Va., in America have members whose lives provides area residents whose family are affected by the incarceration of a members are incarcerated a seven-hour loved one. With record numbers of men drive away at Wallens Ridge State Prison. and women returning from incarcera- Every Saturday, families come to the tion, it is essential that every church be church, where video conferencing equipcommitted to serving these citizens and ment allows them to have a conversation their families.While some services, such in real time with their loved ones. “It’s as providing housing or employment for about keeping families together,” says returning citizens, require a certain capac- New Canaan pastor Dr. Owen Cardwell, ity for program development, others can who works in conjunction with the state be provided by any congregation with department of corrections. Fourth, congregations can supply vola heart for ministry and mission. Congregations can start by identi- unteers for life-skill development profying those among them (both in the grams behind bars. “I have a waiting list church and in the local community) with of churches that want to do worship an incarcerated family member. While services,” declares one longtime prison some will be reluctant to admit to such chaplain in Ohio, “but what I need are a situation, others will welcome the volunteers to help with life skills—how church’s understanding of their special to balance a checkbook, get a driver’s needs and concerns.These include finan- license, read a bus schedule. I need tutors cial stresses, anger towards the incarcer- to help with reading and writing, and ated individual over the shame and mentors for good parenting skills. Church changes imposed on the family, and people can do this—and when an inmate deep trauma among children who are asks why they keep coming to help, then forced to deal with the sudden absence they can share Jesus.” Fifth, congregations can familiarize of their parent (especially if their mother goes to prison). In a very real sense, themselves with resources available for when a person goes to prison, his or returning citizens, identifying which local organizations provide housing, employher family is imprisoned, too. Second, congregations can provide ment and/or training, and healthcare emotional/spiritual support for families, assistance, for example, if they want to such as counseling, support groups, and facilitate successful reentry. Finally, congregations should familpreparation for the inevitable shift in family dynamics when a prisoner comes iarize themselves with the Second Chance PRISM 2007
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Act of 2007, a major federal legislative initiative that enjoys significant bipartisan support. Cosponsored by Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), the act would provide federal money for implementation of prisoner reentry programs at the state level. States would apply for funds after submitting a plan for reentry programs constructed by a task force including representation from community and nonprofit organizations. Congregations should make their voices heard and fight to see their communities’ interests reflected. Prison ministry and prisoner reentry programs are really part of a continuum of care. Good prison ministry always helps prepare inmates to return to society. Good prisoner reentry programs begin at sentencing—building relationships with prisoners and their families. The PNBC is working with the Annie E. Casey Foundation in their prison ministry initiative. The country’s leading foundation for supporting “kids in disadvantaged communities,” Casey has developed an initiative known as “Healing Communities,” mining the capacity of the faith community to provide networks of support for the formerly incarcerated and their families and to advocate in their communities for a more welcoming response to returning citizens. “When we preach on Matthew 25,” the PNBC’s Dr. Perkins points out, “we always talk about ministering to the sick but never about ministering to the prisoner. This is a mandate from Christ. Prison ministry should be as natural to us as ministering to the sick. Those are our family members. They are us. ■ Harold Dean Trulear is associate professor of applied theology at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C.; convener of Prison Ministry and Theological Education at Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio; and consultant for the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Faith and Families Portfolio.