Christian Action Updates Synod on Mass Incarceration Actions

On Monday, the Commission on Christian Action (CCA) reported back on mass incarceration-related recommendations approved by last year’s synod. 

On Monday, the Commission on Christian Action (CCA) reported back on mass incarceration-related recommendations approved by last year’s synod.

“This is a growing movement to fight the criminalization of people of color, end the ‘school to prison’ pipeline, and stand up for the dignity and human rights of all people,” the CCA report states.

The CCA, together with the Commissions on Christian Unity, on Race and Ethnicity, and for Women, formed teams to tackle synod’s 2014 recommendations. They:

• Worked with Christian Churches Together to develop guiding principles for the church related to issues of mass incarceration. 
• Worked with the Christian Reformed Church in North America to compile resources for congregations that want to engage in advocacy related to mass incarceration.
• Identified areas that the commission’s 2014 report on mass incarceration did not address: the Native American population and the voice of youth, and resourcing and learning from RCA prison chaplains. The coalition identified a number of next steps they will take to address these areas.
• Explored how fatherlessness is related to incarceration and generated ideas for churches that want to address this issue. 

“We have just touched the tip of the iceberg on this critical social issue, and we have more to accomplish,” said Salome Ryew, a member of the commission.

The commissions will continue work around mass incarceration and will bring reports to General Synod each of the next three years. Future steps will focus on the consequences of mass incarceration and theological implications.