Jesus calls his followers to continue the work of reconciliation including seeking justice for the poor, imprisoned, and oppressed. Today’s resources look at places where work is being done through our denomination (Presbyterian Church, USA) to ensure that people are not improperly imprisoned or oppressed within our criminal justice system.
The first resource, PCUSA Bailout Curriculum, shares statements the national governing body of the denomination (General Assembly) has made about mass incarceration and the cash bail system. The resource also provides places you can learn more and get involved.
The second resource, Report on Drug Policy Reform: Putting Healing Before Punishment, is from the PC(USA) Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy. The report advocates for using the resources of science, compassion and human rights to determine drug policies.
Presbyterian Response
Resources from PCUSA
“The reconciliation of humankind through Jesus Christ makes it plain that enslaving poverty in a world of abundance is an intolerable violation of God’s good creation. Because Jesus identified himself with the needy and exploited, the cause of the world’s poor is the cause of his disciples. The church cannot condone poverty, whether it is the product of unjust social structures, exploitation of the defenseless, lack of national resources, absence of technological understanding, or rapid expansion of populations. The church calls all people to use their abilities, their possessions, and the fruits of technology as gifts entrusted to them by God for the maintenance of their families and the advancement of the common welfare. It encourages those forces in human society that raise hopes for better conditions and provide people with opportunity for a decent living. A church that is indifferent to poverty, or evades responsibility in economic affairs, or is open to one social class only, or expects gratitude for its beneficence makes a mockery of reconciliation and offers no acceptable worship to God.”
– The Confession of 1967 (Inclusive Language Version), Book of Confessions, 9.46