Virginia, It’s Time For Some Real Parole Reform

(This was published in the February 5 issue of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

“Any discussion of potential reforms in Virginia’s parole system must start with the recognition that parole is a societal good. A decision to grant parole recognizes the successful rehabilitation of a prisoner. In other words, a parole grant is the result of the penal system functioning as we want it to.”                          - quote from a 2021 report by law professors Bruck, Donovan and Engle and the W&L University School of Law’s  “Parole Presentation Project”

Virginia is one of a minority of states that has abolished parole. The only exceptions it makes are for those incarcerated before 1995, when this was decided, and more recently for those who were sentenced as juveniles and for Fishback cases. But of the over 2500 individuals eligible, only 163 were granted parole last year, 53 of whom qualified for geriatric release.

One bill recently introduced, HB435, would require the unanimous vote of all five members of Youngkin’s newly appointed board to approve any release, which could virtually eliminate parole releases altogether. And our newly elected Attorney General has stated that no person with a life sentence should even be considered for parole

According to a February 17, 2021 Richmond Times Dispatch article, over 4000 Virginia inmates are currently serving life sentences, 1,628 are serving life without parole; and 1,326 are serving virtual life sentences of 50 years or more. In all, the number of Virginia inmates serving life has increased 90% from 1970 to 2020, according to the Times.

Are our current incarceration numbers really in our Commonwealth’s best interest? Should a parole board make it ever more difficult for deserving prisoners to be given a second chance to become productive, taxpaying workers if they have been infraction-free for decades and have demonstrated thoroughly changed lives? Should the (completely understandable) negative voices of victims and members of their families become a primary limiting factor, or should victims be a part of determining the kind of reparations repentant offenders should make, and where released persons might be relocated?

The non-profit and non-partisan Prison Policy Initiative, which does extensive research on the societal cost of mass incarceration, gives Virginia (and many other states, including California) a failing grade on its parole system. The very red and rural state of Wyoming earned its best rating, a B-, with Mississippi and Utah, along with two more urban states, Michigan and New Jersey, each earning C-’s. 

The states with at least passing grades do not use the “seriousness of the offense” as a sole reason for denying parole, although the Board may consider all the facts of a case. They mandate in-person, face-to-face parole hearings, and provide caseworkers to incarcerated individuals to help prepare them for their hearing. They allow incarcerated people access to the information the Board uses to determine whether to grant or deny, and allows them to question the accuracy of that information. They allow prison staff who have day-to-day perspectives on an individual’s character and growth to provide in-person testimony, and allow individuals on parole to reduce their length of supervision by accruing good time. To the best of my knowledge, none of these things have been true of Virginia’s parole system. Meanwhile, the grant rates the above states are as high as 65%, closer to that of Virginia’s prior to 1995, and with positive outcomes.

Today’s Virginia  release rates are well below 10%, and of those who are eligible, most have already been denied countless times, and are at the point of giving up hope. At nearby Augusta Correctional Center last year, for example, nearly 200 men, many with excellent behavior records and who had positive interviews by parole investigators, nevertheless were all denied release. Every one.

Having said that, our message to those behind bars should be clear. If you remain violent, anti-social and unrepentant you will remain incarcerated until you have served your time. But we are all better off having an active and engaged parole board that carries out its stated mission, “to grant parole or conditional release to those inmates whose release is compatible with public safety.” 

Not only will that improve the safety, security and morale of everyone in prison, but in light of the growing medical and other costs of incarcerating an ever greater number of elderly and infirm people behind bars, it will save us all a ton of money.

And maybe even result in our earning an A+ for having a Department of Correction that actually corrects.

Never In My Wildest Dreams: Some Of My Worst, Most Disturbing Nightmares

Here's a normal range of opinions on a given subject,
from people on the far left to those on the far right.

Born on the eve of World War II, I've seen my share of tragedies and troubles in my lifetime, including living through the turmoil of the Civil Rights and Vietnam War eras. But there are some recent developments I'm finding especially disturbing.

In a polarized society, the middle shrinks and people
tend to see each other as opposites and adversaries,
according to David Brubaker', in When The Center
Does Not Hold, Leading In An Age Of Polarization.

1. Citizens in general, members of churches included, have become so polarized that there is a serious lack of a collaborative majority of people in the middle. Instead of our differences appearing on a normal bell shaped curve as shown here, with the bulk of people holding positions somewhere between two extremes, we now have more and more people bunched up against each other on one side or the other of important issues, seeing each other as enemies to be vilified and defeated. Insurrections are justified and verbal and even physical attacks are becoming more commonplace. Middle ground has become a near no man's land.

2. As a distressing example, my friends and colleagues in my own chosen faith community, Anabaptist/Mennonite, have experienced an increasing number of church splits and division. As I've often lamented before, when I first became a part of the Virginia Mennonite Conference (VMC) in the 60's, there were only two other Mennonite communions in Rockingham County, those being two Old Order Mennonite groups who had separated from VMC and were now separated from each other. Today there are some 15 different varieties of Anabaptist congregations who are estranged from each other. I find this embarrassing and appalling.

3. An ever larger percentage of Americans, believers and unbelievers alike, seem to have become ever more untethered from normal ways of distinguishing truth from fiction. For instance, in spite of numerous recounts and multiple court cases verifying that the 2020 election results were accurate and that the electoral process was without significant flaws, a huge percentage of people are perpetrating what has become known as The Big Lie. No amount of just plain math applied in multiple and credible checks and rechecks can persuade them otherwise, leaving  me beyond baffled.

4. In the face of a pandemic that has taken more lives than have the nation's major wars, and in spite of the remarkable and near providential manufacture of an effective vaccine (thanks in part to the Trump administration), a significant percentage of the population steadfastly refuses to trust the science that has made it possible, and thus to avail themselves of the protection it offers themselves and others. They base their opinions on a blitz of media misinformation they have come to trust more than they do reputable sources like the Center for Disease Control or the Department of Health and Human Services. This is in stark contrast what happened when a vaccine for polio finally became available earlier in my lifetime, when people were all too grateful for the protection the Salk vaccine offered. 

5. While glaciers and ice caps are melting by the megatons every day, sea levels are rising measurably and ominously, large expanses of rainforests are being destroyed daily--all of which are accelerated by our wasteful and earth polluting ways--only a minority of legislators, preachers, or other leaders seem to be aroused to action by it. Not even alarming increases in drought and flood conditions and near apocalyptic wildfires, not even the desertification of large parts of sub Sahara Africa and the starvation of herds of animals and hundreds of human beings seem to motivate us to change our wasteful ways. Meanwhile our fragile and wonderful planet is heading toward a disaster that could have been prevented if we were willing to pay the price.

At age 82, I may or may not see my worst nightmares come to pass. But I fear what our children and grandchildren may have to face. 

A Psalm For Consumers Of Today's Screen Fare

How could this ancient Psalm influence our entertainment choices today?

Psalm 101 (A psalm of David.

1 I will sing of your love and justice, Lord.
    I will praise you with songs.

2 I will be careful to live a blameless life—
    when will you come to help me?

I will lead a life of integrity
    in my own home.

3 I will refuse to look at
    anything vile and vulgar.

I hate all who deal crookedly;
    I will have nothing to do with them.

4 I will reject perverse ideas
    and stay away from every evil.

5 I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors.
    I will not endure conceit and pride.

6 I will search for faithful people
    to be my companions.

Only those who are above reproach
    will be allowed to serve me.

7 I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house,
    and liars will not stay in my presence.

8 My daily task will be to ferret out the wicked
    and free the city of the Lord from their grip.

- New Living Translation

Could We Consume By Half, Give By Twice?

God's earth is suffering the effects of global climate change. God's children and God's creatures are in peril due to the unsustainable and exploitive practices of our greed-based industrialized economies. (World Vision photo)

For the love of God, let's respond with heart-felt, radical and life-changing love for our ever more needy neighbors around the world. The only way we can survive as fellow travelers on the God-given earth on which we live is if we all repent of our excesses and share in ways that bring about greater equity in the world. Our consuming by half and sharing by twice will not only help keep our neighbors from starving, but will help repair the fragile planet on which we all depend for our life. 

Consuming By Half

Downsizing by half, reducing our housing space and/or adding more persons per home

Lowering water heater temperatures, insulating well, wearing extra layers to reduce heating costs on cold days, reducing cooling costs in summer

Cutting eating out by half, drastically reducing consumption of desserts and junk foods, preparing simple meals

Reducing shopping trips and vacation travel by half

Cutting spending for new clothes, shoes, furniture, etc., by half (or way more) 

Limiting use of automatic washers, dryers, dishwashers to a minimum

Reducing the percentage of our congregational budgets spent on our own 'needs.'

Giving By Twice

Dedicating all money saved to reducing debt, practicing extravagant  giving

Increasing the number of simple meals shared with people in need of friendship and food

Doing twice as much carpooling, walking and/or using public transportation

Volunteering time to helping neighbors, supporting charitable causes.

Investing in Company of Heaven stock instead of the Mammon-driven market

Celebrating as we watch our Kingdom of Heaven assets grow!

We can start by investing here https://mcc.org/

Guest Post: Our Terrorist War On Afghanistan

A "war on terror" waged 7000 miles from the Pentagon left an already impoverished nation even more destitute.

The November/December issue of Hospitality published the following by one of my distant cousins, Weldon Nisly, a Washington state-based Mennonite minister who devotes himself to the work of Contemplative JustPeace and Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). According to the Hospitality editor, "His life is dedicated to the abolition of war. Weldon serves half time on the CPT Iraqi Kurdistan team and was on the CPT Palestine team in Hebron in September-October 2017 and August-September 2018."

I post the following excerpts of the article with his kind permission, including three of his seven laments in a "Litany of Lament for the Lies of War":

"... August saw an ignominious end to U.S. occupation. But it is no end to the war on terror, which by definition and design is forever war. Drone strikes, sanctions, arming other countries and political threats ensure forever war. It is delusional to believe that continuing military intervention for another year or ten years will achieve a different result.

"... I offer this litany of lament for the terror and trauma America's endless war inflicts on people of color, people who are poor, people of other faiths, people speaking other languages, people who are innocent.

"... I Lament that America, in its war on Afghanistan, hailed as the 'good war' to defeat terrorism,  refuses to see that terrorism cannot be defeated by military might any more than hate can be defeated by vengeance. 'Good war' blindness scorns comparisons between the U.S. war in Vietnam and Afghanistan. Now the Afghanistan Papers, like the Pentagon Papers a half-century ago, document 'good war' lies.  Will I see that lies of war never build peace?

    Jesus said, 'Blessed are your eyes, for they see.'

"... I Lament the monetary cost of war stealing trillions of dollars from taxpayers to pay for the war on Afghanistan and trillions more dollars wasted on the war on terror plus the incalculable cost of destroyed homes and homeland, farms and forests, polluting and exploiting God's creation. The real 'winners' of war are weapons makers and dealers who make a killing sacrificing human life for personal profit. Will I dare to see and imagine the good that could be done by spending millions of dollars on peace rather than war, human security rather than national security?

    Jesus said, 'Blessed are your eyes, for they see.'

"... I Lament that whistleblowers who tell the truth about the lies of war are persecuted and prosecuted as war criminals while political leaders who spout lies and commit war crimes are heroized and not held accountable. Colleen Rowley, former FBI agent and 9/11 whistleblower, recently said, 'When telling the truth to divulge lies of war becomes a crime, you know the criminals are in charge.' 

    Jesus said, 'Blessed are your eyes, for they see.'

"... Each lament sees the sacredness of all God's people and creation with the eyes of our heart."

Guest Post: A Reflection On Elders As Shepherds And Bridge Builders

Merle, shown here with his ram Boots, is both a shepherd of
sheep and an elder/shepherd in his congregation.

My nephew Merle Yoder, an elder in the Covenant Fellowship Church, an Anabaptist congregation south of Gladys, Virginia, shared with me the following meditation he shared at a December 12 service in which another relative, Steven Yoder, was installed as a part of their elder team.

In scripture Jesus is called the Good Shepherd and we are called sheep. After keeping sheep for several years now, I’m realizing that this isn’t much of a compliment. I’ve thought much and observed much as I’ve learned to take care of sheep; it’s been somewhat of a spiritual experience for me.

Many years before the time of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” That’s every one of us. 

Recently I was moving the sheep to a different pasture. I was walking along, the sheep following nicely, but some would trot faster than I was walking and would get a little ahead. Then they would stop, turn around and look at me as if to say, “Oh, let’s see, where are we going?” 

Doesn’t that remind you of us? But here is what blows my mind. Yes, Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are the sheep, but he calls some sheep to lead other sheep. How is this even possible? When elders are chosen, are they endowed with super powers of some kind? No, an elder is still a sheep. I can think of only one way this could possibly work. Only as “under shepherds” have a close relationship with the Chief Shepherd could they possibly lead in a good way. 

Let me tell you the story of Boots. Boots is one of our rams, almost two years old. He’s big and muscular and looks about half lion; his beard comes down to his knees. He’s a real specimen. But he knows how to follow.

Let me tell you why. Boots was an orphan, one of triplets whose mama died. He was bottle fed from the shepherd's hand several times a day, which created a bond that is still there to this day. Early on,

before our sheep had learned to follow well, Boots was an invaluable part of the flock. You see, all we

had to do is get Boot’s attention and he would come running. Then the rest of the flock would follow as well. 

There is a beautiful analogy here. Boots is a sheep leading sheep. How does he do so well? By being especially in tune with the voice of the shepherd.

In John 10, where Jesus talks about being the Good Shepherd, he says his sheep know his voice

and follow Him. I don’t like shouting, so I use this little horn. (Demonstrate.) 

Steven, for you to lead well the voice of the Shepherd needs to be constantly ringing in your ear.

I Peter 5:1-4 says that elders should “shepherd the flock of God”. This speaks volumes about the

“style” of leading. 

One thing I’ve found is that it is nearly impossible to chase sheep. We’ve tried it a

few times, it does not work. They squirt out in every direction. It is the same with people; it works much better to lead them. I’m afraid there is a lot of “sheep chasing” in our Anabaptist churches today. Steven, you are being called to “shepherd” your flock.

Once our pasture was low and I wanted to lead the sheep to a really nice pasture of recently sown grain, green and lush in the middle of the winter. But there was one little creek to cross. It was so small they

could have jumped over it with one bound. But they refused. 

I tried over and over, to no avail. I even grabbed Boots and pulled him on the other side. But no, this was one time no one followed. 

So what did I do? I built a bridge, put a culvert in the creek and built a little road over the top. The sheep followed me right over to the green pasture. Steven, you are being called to be a bridge-building shepherd, always leading the flock into greener pastures. A sheep leading sheep. 

May God’s blessing rest upon you!

The Terrible Price Of American Prosperity

This 16" x 20" wall hanging was given me by the manager of the EconoLodge at 1909 Harper Road Beckley, West Virginia. We've  become friends while staying there several times when visiting the state's Tamarack Arts and Crafts Market Place, the nearby New River Gorge National Park and the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, among other attractions.

I've placed the above photo on the wall above my desk as a daily reminder of the backbreaking and bone weary work of multitudes of hardworking people who have created our economy and have made our super comfortable and convenient lifestyles possible. The photo also reminds me of how a dirty fuel like coal largely powered the Industrial Revolution and in the process spewed billions of tons of toxic carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, wrapping a heat trapping blanket around the globe in the past century.

Meanwhile, we are seeing the American economy making an amazing recovery following the nation's prolonged battle with Covid, in spite of the risk of experiencing a rise of inflation and interest rates. But stocks in the S&P 500 have gone up 26% over the past year, and our financial markets are outperforming the world's by the biggest margins in the 21st century, according to Bloomberg News. In addition, the unemployment rate is down to 3.8%, and many are quitting lower paying jobs and finding positions with higher pay and better benefits.

But should we herald all of this as good news? Surely if our American economy doesn't help relieve worldwide poverty and primarily benefits the already privileged, if it continues to deplete, pollute and poison the planet, and if it fails to rectify the harm we have done to native Americans and to oppressed and enslaved black Americans, it is an economy doomed to fail.

See https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-demonic-trinity-of-evil-nationalism.html

Jesus, Menno Simons And The Great Omission

From 1965-1988 I was blessed to pastor a wonderful
congregation that met in this simple and stately structure. 

"Go into all the world and establish churches in all nations, training pastors and church leaders who can preach good sermons, lead inspiring worship services, raise large sums of money for church programs and facilities, and still have funds left over for other mission and relief efforts. And lo, all of these things shall be with you to the end of the age." 

- Matthew 28:19-20  (Reversed Standard Version)

Ever feel like some helpful instructions like these should have been included in the Bible, but are nowhere to be found? 

Why didn't someone like Mathias, for example, the apostle appointed to replace Jesus's treasurer, write up a set of church bylaws, some sample congregational budgets, a suggested pay and benefits scale for pastors and members of the church staff, and some blueprints of the kinds of accommodations necessary for a viable congregation?

Regrettably, we have nothing of the kind. Instead, we have statements like "silver and gold have I none," "where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them," "God does not live in buildings built with human hands" and "believers broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts."

What kind of real "church" would that be?

Then there are later church leaders like Menno Simons, a 16th century Anabaptist leader who wrote extensively about church-related subjects but didn't include any practical instructions about church buildings and organization in any of the over 1000 pages we have of his writings.

I did find two passing references to church buildings by Menno, as follows:

"I therefore let you judge whether they (members of the state-sponsored church in which Menno had been an ordained priest) believe from the heart (that)... Christ is the atoning sacrifice for their sin, who nevertheless seek and follow all kinds of idolatry...golden, silver and wooden saints... (and) stone churches..."  (Complete Writings of Menno Simons, p. 39)

And of fellow Protestant reformers who defended infant baptism Menno wrote:

"...our opponents have no more command to baptize children than Israel had to circumcise females, or to build churches, altars and places of worship on hills or in valleys..."   (CW p. 713)

What kind of radical church leader would say things like that?

Having said that, while I have been a member of a small house church congregation for over three decades, I am not opposed to congregations having meeting houses. I would, however, love to see them designed in such a way that, like other buildings in the community, they would be used for a variety of life giving purposes throughout the week.

Historically Anabaptists and other members of free churches, thousands of whom were persecuted, tortured and executed in Protestant and Catholic jurisdictions alike, met secretly in caves, barns or in each other's homes until they were later allowed to build simple meeting houses of their own. And in the second century some of the persecuted "followers of the Way" also began to adapt or construct special buildings as they were permitted to do so. 

I post this hoping to generate some some good conversation on church real estate.

Note: Here's some interesting history of how the Christian church developed what some called its "edifice complex." 

https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2018/06/from-mere-meeting-places-to-holy-spaces.html