|
|
|
|
|
Christian Churches Together
May 6, 2014
|
|
Criminal Justice Ministries
Since CCT's gathered in Newark last February, the issue of Criminal justice and mass incarceration in our country has been in the spotlight of our political discussions. During the current legislative session, the US Congress is discussing the Smarter Sentencing Act. S. 1410/H.R. 3382. The Smarter Sentencing Act is an incremental approach to reducing the mandatory minimum sentences for people convicted of low-level and non-violent drug offenses. Many advocates of criminal justice reform believe this legislation heads us in the right direction.
One other issue that has captivated the attention of the country is the execution by the state of Oklahoma of death-row inmate Clayton Lockett. Even though the topic of the death penalty was not part of the conversations at the CCT Annual Convocation, and there are different perspectives among the church leaders on this issue, we can't brush away the relationship of capital punishment to issues of race and poverty.
Many of the participant communions in CCT are related to a variety of ministries working in the area of criminal justice, below are some samples of those ministries. We don't directly endorse or support these ministries, but they offer a variety of alternatives and opportunities for individuals and congregations.
|
Invitation to Support the Smarter Sentencing Act
Smarter Sentencing Act Interfaith Letter for Clergy and Faith Leaders
Scripture commands "Justice, and only justice shall you pursue." (Deuteronomy 16:20) For too long Congress has ignored the consequences of the harsh sentencing policies it approved during the 1980s and the disproportionate harm it has caused people of color and those convicted of low-level offenses.
The Smarter Sentencing Act is a step towards addressing racial injustice as well as reducing mass incarceration that characterizes our current justice system. We welcome all clergy and faith leaders to join the call to Congress to act justly by supporting the Smarter Sentencing Act.
This invitation is sponsored by the General Board of Church and Society of the united Methodist Church and other churches and religious bodies.
Link to sign up page HERE |
|
Through the Door
A convergence of cooperation is emerging around the issue of prisons. Political parties recognize that the recidivism rate is too high and that prison costs are breaking budgets. Churches and faith-based organizations are working together in dynamic ways inside and outside prisons, helping returning citizens productively re-enter society. Faith makes a difference.
Through the Door tells stories of what goodwill Christians are doing in Indiana, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
To go to website and order video click HERE
The approach of this video can be very effective with churches in the Evangelical/Pentecostal family of CCT.
|
Would Jesus Support the Death Penalty?
Scripture seems to back most Americans' view that he would oppose capital punishment-but that hasn't translated into widespread opposition.
by
"On the death penalty, do what you think Jesus would have you do."
These were the words my friend and anti-death-penalty activist Shane Claiborne told Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam in a chance encounter outside the Nashville War Memorial last week. Heavily populated by Christians, Tennessee is also on the verge of a death-penalty revival. State officials approved a new lethal-injection drug during Holy Week-the week Christians reflect on Jesus's execution-legislators passed a bill to reinstate the electric chair.*
Claiborne's advice to Haslam was not original. He was riffing on the late Mother Teresa, who at the behest of Father John Dear urged California Governor George Deukmejian in 1990 to grant clemency to an inmate waiting for execution on San Quentin's death row. "Do what Jesus would do," she advised him.
A judge issued a stay a few days later. But a new governor, Pete Wilson, took office two years later and set a new execution date. Mother Teresa phoned the state again and repeated her message. But like another government official two millennia earlier, Wilson washed his hands of the matter. Robert Harris was executed.
Are Claiborne and Mother Teresa right? Would Jesus Christ oppose the death penalty if he were present today? According to a recent Barna poll, most Americans think so. Only five percent of Americans believe Jesus would support the government's ability to execute the worst criminals. This includes 2 percent of Catholics, 8 percent of Protestants, and 10 percent of all practicing Christians. Christian leaders, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, have also been some of the most outspoken opponents of executions. But overall, a majority of Americans back the death penalty. (Continues on original posting)
(Note: CCT has not addressed the issue of death penalty. This article is shared here because of its thoughtful approach. Sharing of the article in no way reflect CCT's collective view on this issue. C.Malave)
Read the Full article HERE
|
 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY a non-fiction film commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail." No longer will the Letter from Birmingham Jail be in the SHADOW of the "I Have a Dream" speech. The film stars community leaders of Columbus, Ohio and educators and leaders of The Ohio State University. The Letter from Birmingham Jail is an open letter written on April 16, 1963, by Martin Luther King, Jr. The letter defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racial discrimination, arguing that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws. After an early setback, it enjoyed widespread publication and became a key text for the American civil rights movement of the early 1960s. |
News of Interest
Update from Mennonite Church USA regarding the experience at CCT's Annual Convocation.
Mennonite Church USA executive director, Ervin Stutzman, and interchurch relations staff, Andre Gingerich Stoner and Joanna Shenk, were grateful for our experience at the CCT Annual Meeting in Newark, NJ. The focus on mass incarceration was encouraging, instructive and challenging.
Already a number of Mennonites are involved in seeking justice related to incarceration, whether due to the mistreatment of recent immigrants or those who are affected by what Michelle Alexander calls "the new Jim Crow." In 2013, the Mennonite Church USA biennial convention, held in Phoenix, Ariz., focused on immigration. The convention programming included trips to the border and to a detention center, as well as much input about the broken immigration system. Learning about for-profit detention centers, can lead to deeper learning about the for-profit prison industry overall.
Interchurch staff time at Mennonite Church USA is being given to building connections with historic Black and Hispanic churches who are giving attention to issues of mass incarceration, as well as connecting with Mennonites already engaged in prison justice advocacy. The CCT meeting in Newark was a meaningful opportunity to deepen ecumenical connections, as well as develop new relationships. The meeting has also spurred us on toward working with Mennonite prison justice advocates to move the conversation forward within Mennonite Church USA about the importance of ending mass incarceration in all its forms.
Shrinking Majority of Americans Support Death Penalty
According to a 2013 Pew Research Center survey, 55% of U.S. adults say they favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. A significant minority (37%) oppose the practice.
While a majority of U.S. adults still support the death penalty, public opinion in favor of capital punishment has seen a modest decline since November 2011, the last time Pew Research asked the question. In 2011, fully six-in-ten U.S. adults (62%) favored the death penalty for murder convictions, and 31% opposed it.
Full article HERE
Record Profits, Income Inequality, Global Poverty, and a New Jubilee? - An Interview with Eric LeCompte
Eric LeCompte is the Executive Director of Jubilee USA, where he represents a diverse coalition of faith communities in the common cause of eradicating extreme poverty and building an economy that serves, protects and promotes participation of the most vulnerable.
Jubilee USA is well-known for its non-partisan approach to financial issues. How are global financial reform and debt relief something that folks of all stripes can get behind?
Positions Available - Bread for the World
Regional Organizer -Southern Hub
Position Title: Regional Organizer -Southern Hub
Department: Organizing
Location: Mississippi
Reports To: Deputy Director of Organizing
Primary Objective: Lead the engagement and management of local African American churches in Mississippi. Also build, organize and strengthen a regional grassroots network to help Bread for the World accomplish its legislative goals toward ending hunger and poverty in the United States and internationally.
If you are interested in applying, please send a cover letter and resume to LaMarco Cable at lcable@bread.org. Or visit the webpage at: http://www.bread.org/about-us/jobs/
Organizing and Grassroots Capacity Building
Department: Organizing and Grassroots Capacity Building
Reports To: Director of Organizing and Grassroots Capacity Building
Primary Objective: Spearhead Bread for the World's election's work in designated congressional district(s) for 2014 and future elections; initial work will be based in Virginia; future work will likely require overnight travel and/or relocation. This is a new position and is important to Bread's goal of ending hunger by 2030. Initial funding is for 2 to 3 years.
If you are interested in applying, please send a cover letter and resume to LaVida Davis at ldavis@bread.org. Or visit the webpage at: http://www.bread.org/about-us/jobs/
|
 CCT 2015 Annual Convocation
February 10-13 Houston, TX Immigrant Faith Communities and the Future of the Church in the USA |
Support the work of Christian Churches Together
|
For more information on Christian Churches Together in the USA
contact our Executive Director, Rev. Carlos L. Malavé at
email
or call 502.509.5168
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
