photo - Guillermo Perales/istockphoto
Wendy Murchy, Terry Richardson and Arn Main have spent a lot of time in jail. Their experiences behind bars have had a profound impact on their lives – and on their faith.
But they are not inmates; they are three individuals who have been called to the ministry of prison chaplaincy. Rev. Terry Richardson is a Lutheran minister who is presently serving as the Director-General of Chaplaincy for Corrections Services Canada in Ottawa; Rev. Wendy Murchy is a Protestant (Pentecostal) chaplain in the Fraser Valley Institution for women in British Columbia; and Rev. Arn Main is a Protestant (Christian Missionary Alliance) chaplain in the Beaver Creek Institution outside of Gravenhurst, Ont.
Prison chaplaincy is a unique and historic form of ministry. On an almost daily basis, the chaplain confronts some of the great questions of our faith. What is the relationship between justice and forgiveness? What does it mean to be in relationship with a person who has committed truly heinous crimes? What roles do grace and mercy play in the face of anger and outrage? What does healing look like if there is nothing that can undo the damage? The greatest challenge, however, is to build trust.
Wendy Murchy
“Without trust, much of what goes on in the ministry of a chaplain will be hampered severely. Ritual and sacrament as well as various chapel program offerings can still be offered, but the establishment of a trust relationship between chaplain and offenders is critical. This involves clear understanding of pastoral identity as a chaplain, the ability to listen carefully with discernment for what is really going on, being a person of truth, and being able to maintain necessary boundaries with integrity,” says Richardson.
Murchy would echo that emphasis, “People in prison do not trust easily and it takes a lot of time to break down the walls and get them to a place where they see me as a 'safe' place to come. But the rewards are worth the time and effort. Each encounter I have challenges and changes me.”
Rev. Canon J.T.L. James in his A Living Tradition: Penitentiary Chaplaincy reveals that prison chaplains have been on the forefront of some of the most significant social issues in our country. These have included movements for human rights, care for the families and victims of offenders, calls for the abolition of capital punishment, and an emphasis on the importance of literacy.
The call to stay on the cutting edge of ministry continues into the modern age. Prison chaplains now serve in contexts in which sensitivity to interfaith and multi-faith issues is paramount. They are called upon to minister in deeply conflicted environments, building bridges of trust with both staff and offenders. They must maintain necessary boundaries while establishing relationships with often feared and marginalized people. They are leaders in the development of the principles of restorative justice, which offers a powerful alternative to more punitive visions of justice.
Prison chaplaincy, therefore, is a form of ministry in which the need for spiritual wholeness, for prophetic courage, and for social justice must constantly be balanced.
And they should not have to do this work alone. We all know the famous passage from Matthew 25 – “I was in prison, and you visited me.” As Arn Main states, “I believe it would be helpful if church communities were to prayerfully and thoughtfully take the time to explore their reply to Matthew 25:39. The passage rolls off the tongue nicely but where does the rubber meet the road in their concept of mission?”
Arn Main
His question is an important one. How many of us have ever actually visited a prison? How many of us would face an inmate with fear rather than with love? How many of us would willingly journey with an offender seeking to reintegrate into society at the end of their sentence?
The church can play a part in prison ministries. As well as praying for chaplains, inmates and victims, congregations should seek to be places of support and welcome both for victims and for offenders. Chaplains can be invited to address congregations and lead in worship. Missions committees can explore opportunities for church members to volunteer in prisons, work with the families of victims and offenders and participate in community-based chaplaincy initiatives. Richardson reminds us that “prisons, and prison ministry, are often 'out of sight and out of mind.'” Or, as Wendy Murchy states, “people don't have to come inside the gates of a prison to make a real difference in someone's life.”
One example of such a community-based initiative is the Circles of Support and Accountability which connects a small group of individuals with an offender during the first few years after their release from incarceration. Often, these COSAs work with individuals who display a high risk of re-offense but who have completed their prison sentences. While no programme can guarantee successful reintegration, it is interesting to note that these COSAs have a demonstrated record in reducing the recidivist rate (the chance of re-offense and re-incarceration). It is not always easy to journey with those who have committed terrible crimes – but the circle members make the journey seeking the humanity of the offender, and seeking to reduce the chance that such crimes ever occur again.
At the present time, the Presbyterian Church in Canada is woefully underrepresented in the ministry of prison chaplaincy. In part, this is because of a General Assembly mandate which discourages certain types of contractual agreements – which, unfortunately, are the types of agreements under which federal prison chaplains usually serve. But there is also a lack of encouragement for ministers to ponder prison chaplaincy as an important vocational option when seeking calls to new contexts for ministry.
So how should a person who feels a call to prison chaplaincy explore this ministry? Murchy encourages potential chaplains to speak with a chaplain, visit a prison, and “ask lots of questions and then pray that the Holy Spirit gives clear direction. This ministry is not for everyone but for those who are called, it is incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.”
For more information on chaplaincy work:
The Church Council for Justice and Corrections
www.ccjc.ca
On Chaplaincy in Corrections Services Canada
www.csc-scc.gc.ca
