The Community Renewal Society, a Chicago based social justice organization hosted a Faith Summit October 5th, 2008. This short, but sweet meeting provided an opportunity for those interested in social justice issues to discuss and collaborate, and importantly provided encouragement . . . encouragement in our mission, in our causes and in the rightness of our efforts. This was an ecumenical perspective with many faiths represented on the formal agenda and prayers offered from Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders. This was an informative and spirit filled event.
Covering subjects from dealing with Long-Term Prisoner issues, Victims issues, the need to move to Restorative Justice, and Alternatives to Incarceration, to Grandparents Rights and Barriers to Reentry, this was an opportunity to broaden our perspectives.
For me, I have been wrestling with an inmate's desire to set up a reconciliation event for perpetrators and victims at one of the prisons in Illinois. Honestly I have had a hard time trying to figure out an approach that would get the support needed by the prison warden. I was blessed to meet Rev. Robert Spicer at the Summit, a Pastor and Restorative Justice Trainer, actively involved in the Community Justice for Youth Initiative. Our initial discussions were extremely positive and we will be working together to make the reconciliation event a reality. I will be reporting progress as we work to move this forward.
For everyone in attendance this was an opportunity for people of faith to gather the information needed to begin to address a broad range of justice issues. From what I could tell it was a wonderful success.
One important form of support available to anyone reading this blog is to become a signatory on the Statement of People of Faith on the Transformation of the Illinois Criminal Justice System. Please, if you believe, as I do, that true justice will never exist in Illinois (or the broader USA) without proactive involvement of our faith based institutions and concerned citizens, take the step and sign on by clicking here: Statement of People of Faith.
The statement begins as follows: "As people of faith, we are committed to the transformation of the causes and impact of crime in our communities and the transformation of our criminal justice system. The reality of the United States system of criminal justice often stands in stark contrast to the shared and deeply held values of our diverse religious traditions and our shared civic traditions of democracy."
Until next time, God bless you.
Daryle
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