HARD TIME VIRGINIA Volume 1, Number 5

The following items come from various inmates with whom I correspond:

INSIDE VIRGINIA'S ONLY PRIVATE PRISON An anonymous inmate who served eight years at Lawrenceville Correctional Center claims that many of the men there were robbed by gang members upon their arrival. He also reports gangs essentially controlling the prison while he was there, that ruthless members extorted other inmates wanting to use the microwaves, showers, phones, etc., and that illegal cell phones, drugs and prostitution were rampant. He also said that if gang members learned that an inmate was a sexual offender, they extorted protection money from them.  He concludes with, "The correctional officers and staff are not trained by Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC), but are trained and paid through Geo Group, which like other private companies, are more about making money and cutting costs than about inmate well-being or rehabilitation." LOCKDOWNS IMPACT THE THE GUILTY AND INNOCENT ALIKE "We were placed on lockdown status last month due to multiple gang fights. I do not understand why our housing units continue to be placed on lockdown when events occur in other units while we are at work. Our two units house Administration, Kitchen, Laundry, Medical, Segregation, Trash, VCE workers and Inmate Advisors, all of whom are essential for the orderly operation of the facility." ONE INMATE'S TAKE ON JUSTICE "In March 1981, John Hinckley shot three federal employees, including former President Ronald Reagan. What is bizarre is that he had been going home on furlough for years and now, after 35 years, Mr. Hinckley has been released. Thank God for second chances!" HARD WORKING AND AGING PRISONERS ARE STILL BEING DENIED PAROLE  Mr. Nathaniel Painter has been behind bars for over 20 years and has earned an impressive work record both prior to and during his incarceration. He has gained the respect of everyone who knows him but has been denied parole 13 times. Mr. Robert Davis Fitchett, Jr., committed a crime in 1979 at age 16 and received two life sentences plus 21 years. He is currently housed in an Honor Pod and has worked in profit-making Virginia Correctional Enterprises for over twenty years, but continues to be denied parole. Mr. Charles Zellers, Sr., was incarcerated in 1993 based on a plea deal in which he was assured would be granted early parole based on good behavior. Not only has he been a model inmate, he is a trusted supervisor in a Virginia Correctional Enterprise Sheet Metal Shop and has taken multiple classes to better himself. In spite of that, he has been denied parole 8 times. Mr. John Clinton Wright turns 89 in October and has been incarcerated for 39 years. He has been a model inmate throughout his time in prison and has been eligible for geriatric release since age 65. Mr. Minor Junior Smith has been incarcerated 45 consecutive years and has been eligible for parole release since 1986. He is a 70 year old model inmate who has been legally blind since age four, and reports having been sexually abused numerous times during his incarceration. He has been a long time and valued worker in his prison's food service.  A poet, Minor recently sent me the following piece about his life: "Birth of a Criminal" From the over-crowded prison behind blind eyes, my autobiography must unfold. Many actualities pertaining to my past were doubted; many other ones were untold. Incarcerated in Craigsville, Virginia, I am haunted by events from age three. But first, I'll reveal bits of information about my parents and who delivered me. Since my parents enjoyed farming, in 1940, they bought and moved on a fond one. For the sake of characterization, father's name will appear as: Richard Johnson. In 1943, his and mother's baby daughter perished in a tragic house fire up there. Rena was born in a barn in 1944, while a new house was being built for the pair. May 3rd, 1946, father's stepmother delivered me; I was mother's only real son. Our small home in Montgomery County, Virginia was beside the rocky top of Dark Run. Those pictures of me, when I was a baby, proved that I was in excellent health. And I was sufficiently provided for by my father, who possessed a normal wealth. I never did find out why mother had chosen to separate from father, to this day. Yet, future comments about it would make me think that I was the one who had to pay. With $200, mother took my two sisters and me to West Virginia when I was three. Then, in some way, twelve-year-old Loretta parted from five-year-old Rena and me. While we stayed there with mother's relatives, I did not see a cow or a churn. I stood too closely to a stove, and each leg became inflicted by a serious burn. The next thing I remember knowing was that ride in Uncle Henry Johnson's car. Although he took mother, Rena and me back up Dark Run Hollow, he did not go far. A black man's house squatted between two roads, which led into Poor Mountain. His and Uncle Kelvin's family shared the same spring, their only water fountain. We stopped before the black man's abode after Uncle Henry had spoken to mother. "You kids go to your granny's," she said, "Henry doesn't want to go any further." Rena and I passed three farms on the hollow's left-hand road to begin a new life. Mother had said that daddy would take us to live with Ole Elsa Pratt, his new wife. For our little feet and legs, a trip to Granny Johnson's cabin was a long way. Our sister had drawn spring water that morning was one thing granny had to say. Having eaten gravy and bread, we rode in daddy's truck that was big and black. He took us all home after he had picked up Loretta at his daddy's nearby shack. Mother had taken half of the money daddy had saved in a post of their bedstead. Maybe that was why I had to share a contemptuous and disturbed step mama instead. In the kitchen, I quoted mother by calling her: "Ole Elsa Pratt!" when was met. Mama would label her former pediatrician, "a horse doctor," a slang title for a vet. I would be hearing complaints about an agonizing hysterectomy she'd gone through. However, she began by setting forth good principles for us to follow that she knew. To my belief, the results of the surgery caused other people and me much harm. Occasionally, when we three Johnson children played, it would set off her alarm. Her usual irrational behavior patten was almost entirely influenced by spite. This one factor would cause my mind to be compelled by--envy; fear; lust; strife! Daddy earned $250 per week in the early 50's, but he was still meek and mild. Two of his seven daughters had perished in infancy, and I was his youngest child. He handed Rena and me each a pet after he had returned home in his big truck. Immediately, mama drowned Rena's baby chick, having first drowned my baby duck. Loretta cared for me, cleaned our house or chopped wood and probably a thistle. I couldn't understand why mama had put hot water in Loretta's yellow bird whistle. Mama didn't like Loretta's looks, so daddy returned her to granddaddy's shack. Our sister visited Rena and me a few times, but afterwards, she never came back. She would be shifted from one welfare home to another throughout several years. Even if she was, at least she no longer had to cope with mama's abusive jeers. Eventually, in Fishersville, Virginia, Loretta would become a practical nurse. As for Rena and me, our tormented lives around mama varied from better to worse. http://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2015/08/are-we-not-men-amnesty-for-aging-inmates.html

The Bible Speaks Less About Heaven As A Future Destination And More As A Source Of Divine Direction

A nice pair of Jehovah's Witnesses came to our door some time ago and asked, "Where do you expect to live forever after you die?"

It was clear they expected me to say "heaven", but having done some recent reflecting on the subject, I responded with, "I hope to live here, on a renewed and restored earth."

On that point we found some surprising common ground. We agreed that according the last chapters in the book of Revelation, multitudes of God's people will come down from God's heaven, like a radiant bride (represented as a grand city of light, pure as gold) to live as God had first intended when the first heavens (atmosphere, sky) and earth were created, as described in Genesis.

And the eternal God will be their source of light, according to John's vision in the Apocalypse, and God will live among them forever.

I'm the first to recognize, of course, that everything about the future is shrouded in mystery, as something beyond what mortals can fully comprehend.

However, what is clear in scripture is that heaven is first and foremost God's throne room, God's headquarters, where the eternal God, together with beings both human and heavenly, reigns supreme over creation.

Thus in the Bible, heaven is first and foremost a supreme source of direction for the living, and less about a final destination for the dying. And in fact, God's eternal plan for humanity may be to have us live on a planet just like this one, only one free of deprivation, death, violence and evil.

In this way, God's original plan for creation is perfected and fulfilled. It was never destined to fail.

Meanwhile, we submit ourselves to a voice greater than our own, a rule that supersedes all the governments and institutions of our own making. Beginning now, we see ourselves as worldwide citizens of a God-governed, justice-ruled, love-lavished, wisdom-based universe, as a part of the supreme Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven.

The two terms are always used interchangeably in scripture.

So this is our daily prayer, "May your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

This means living on the basis of an entirely different reality, today and every day. If we do that now, God will take good care of our future.

Here's a link to some other thoughts about the after life:
http://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2014/09/why-does-jesus-preach-so-much-about-hell.html

Ending Binary Thinking--The Power Of AND

The Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai once wrote:

From the place where we are right

flowers will never grow 

in the spring. 

The place where we are right 

is hard and trampled 

like a yard. 

But doubts and loves 

dig up the world like a mole, 

a plow. 

So much of our national conversation has degenerated into highly polarizing either-or debates. We fail to realize how much better it is to do more both-and thinking.

For example:

Can we defend the right of people to own firearms for legitimate purposes
AND
support reasonable regulations on their purchase and use?

Can we respect and support police officers
AND
hold those strictly accountable who behave unjustly?

Can we recognize the legitimacy of the "Black Lives Matter" movement
AND
recognize and affirm the value of all lives everywhere?

Can we be strong advocates for the victims of crime
AND
be strong supporters of release for offenders who are willing to take every step possible to rectify their wrongs?

Can hold an ideal of marriage as between a man and a woman
AND
show compassion and care for people who are born with a different gender orientation from our own?

Can we love America for all of the ideals represented in its founding documents
AND
call the nation to accountability when it does not fully live up to its core values?

Can we be staunchly pro-life
AND
show compassion toward women dealing with an agonizing decision regarding a pregnancy?

Can we support the right of the state of Israel to exist as a free, democratic and safe nation
AND
call it to task for its denial of those same rights to fellow Palestinians?

The list could go on. What would you add to it?

Local Jail Concerns Well Received By The Community Criminal Justice Board

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Recommendations for jail reforms presented by members of the Valley Justice Coalition, a a group of concerned local residents, were given a sympathetic hearing at yesterday's meeting of the CCJB. 

In addition, there were the following encouraging developments:

1. The new chair, William Kyger, who represents the 4th District on the Board of Supervisors, announced there will be regular quarterly meetings of the Community Criminal Justice Board starting in January, 2017. Its last session had been in September of last year.

2. A study committee headed by retiring Judge John Paul, which gave its first report to the CCJB yesterday, is to take recommendations made by his own group, by the Richmond-based Moseley Architects firm (as received two years ago), and by the Valley Criminal Justice Coalition and others present yesterday, and to come up with a plan in which working sub-groups made up of members of the CCJB and local residents will study and work on improving our criminal justice system.

3. In the open comment time Harrisonburg Mayor Chris Jones and others urged the CCJB to move ahead with all deliberate speed to implement proposals to reduce incarceration and implement improvements in jail health care and other jail-related issues.

4. Two local women shared moving personal accounts of mistreatment and lack of proper medical care experienced by loved ones in our local jails.

The following recommendations were presented by the Valley Justice Coalition:

A. Improve Conditions of Confinement

• No one should be confined to the holding area for more than 12 hours without being provided    with a blanket and mattress while waiting to be placed in a regular cell.

• No one should be confined to a segregation cell or placed on lockdown for long periods of time without opportunities for regular physical exercise and mental stimulation.

• Non-violent offenders should be able to come the visitation area to talk with family members without being in handcuffs  and prison garb.

• All inmates should be able to wear ordinary civilian clothes to court appearances.
• Families of inmates should not have to bear the burden of paying an arbitrary $1 per day in jail “rent” ($3 for MRRJ) before their family members can purchase commissary items.

• Commissary items and phone service should be provided at reasonable cost and not for profit.

• Quality health and dental care should be provided for all inmates regardless of their ability to pay, and those on prescribed medications should be able to continue them without interruption.

• Suicidally depressed inmates should not be placed in a restraint chair or confined to the isolated padded cell due to the lack of sufficient mental health personnel.

• Well vetted local mental health professionals should be solicited—on a voluntary basis if necessary—to provide crisis intervention if a CSB worker is not available.

B. Review and Update Procedures for Inmate Grievances

Both staff and inmates benefit from cogent, documented policies which articulate the methods to question and receive responses from administrators. In that regard, the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) of 1996, a solid, non-discriminatory grievance procedure is viewed as an element of positive correctional management which assists in creating safe, institutional environments.

Additionally, as the intent of PLRA was to significantly impact on the number of frivolous lawsuits clogging federal court dockets, the language of the statute dictates that inmates must “exhaust all administrative remedies” prior to filing lawsuits.

All correctional facilities should appoint an “Inmate Ombudsman” who maintains accountability and equality in grievance procedures. He or she constantly should review the processes to insure that timeliness, fairness, and rational responses are inherent in the processes. Further, as relevant, modifications and improvements should be initiated to maintain positive and fluid communication between personnel and the justice-involved.

At intake, a resident handbook should be distribute which contains a clear, concise grievance mechanism which is delineated in two distinct sections: policy and procedures. 

Policy must define allowable categories for submitting complaints. Procedures must be instructional as to the steps of the process, forms, identities of the arbiters, anticipated timeframe, and appeal process. The latter supports the credibility, while offering each individual the opportunity to further receive information and, perhaps, reconsideration.

Fair and objective inmate grievance procedures are critical in every correctional facility to insure that all voices are heard. Integrity in the process provides all incarcerated persons, without reprisal or retaliation, access to information, ability to question management, and express concerns regarding the conditions of confinement. Further, an element of participation in their life situation is empowering and humane to those who have no control over their daily existence.

C. Adopt Best Practices That Help Reduce Recidivism

      • Have a Community Oversight and Accountability Board appointed for each local jail.

• Provide more pre-and post-release vocational training and educational programs to help     inmates become gainfully employed.

• Eliminate laws and policies that serve as obstacles to the successful reintegration of former inmates into the communities (such as limitations on getting a driver's licenses or trade licenses, the burden of fines with accumulated interest having been incurred while in prison, prohibitions against receiving social services such as food stamps, low income housing, etc

D. Begin Work on Jail Accreditation 

Accreditation improves public confidence in correctional facilities which meet accepted national standards designed to safeguard the life and health of personnel and offenders. It serves as a means to implement these standards in all aspects of offender management, conditions of confinement and delivery of health services. It reduces exposure to costly liability and recognizes an institution’s commitment to meeting quality goals and employing evidence-based practices.  

The accreditation process, typically completed within two years and costing less than $20,000, provides correctional institutions tools to fortify their policies and procedures consistent with nationally recognized standards and practices. Following a professionally assisted self-study, surveyors from the accrediting organizations conduct an extensive on-site review and bring years of experience and familiarity with national standards and best practices.  

The primary accrediting organizations, which establish the industry benchmarks, are the American Correctional Association (ACA) and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).  A number of local and regional jails across the Commonwealth are accredited by one or both organizations.

Benefits of accreditation include:         

                                                                                                   

~ Improvement of staff morale and promotion of professional excellence.                                                                   

~ Reduction in litigation relative to inmate health care and conditions of confinement.                                                                                                                                                                 

~ Establishment of good-faith efforts to improve management and operational policies.                                        

~ Justification for budget requests.                                                                                                                                      

~ Application of accepted national standards through facility self-governance.                                                                                                                                        

~ Development of institutional pride from completing a rigorous review process.

Recognizing that the accreditation process is less than perfect and may well not change the philosophies of individual correctional administrators, it nevertheless provides accountability, reduces liability and can be an effective catalyst for cultural shifts.

Therefore, The Valley Justice Coalition respectfully requests that the Community Criminal Justice Board recommend to the Harrisonburg City Council and the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors that both Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail and Middle River Regional Jail begin immediately to pursue national accreditation and that sufficient funds be allocated to support that process.

- prepared for the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Community Criminal Justice Board 8/29/16

*************************************

“The Valley Justice Coalition is made up of residents of Rockingham County, the City of Harrisonburg and adjacent areas who are concerned about justice reforms in our community and state. It actively promotes restorative justice and other alternatives to incarceration, advocates for just and humane treatment of offenders, collaborates with local officials in promoting best practices that result in reduced rates of recidivism, and advocates for a system of justice that can be a model for communities everywhere."

Cease Fire

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God is our refuge and strength

an ever present help in times of trouble…

God brings an end to war everywhere. 

God breaks bows into pieces, 

   snaps spears in two; 

   burns chariots in fire.

God cries, "Halt! Drop your weapons!

Acknowledge me as sovereign over all nations!”

- from Psalm 46 

We're accustomed to reading the words "Be still and know that I am God" in the above text as a call to quiet reflection. But it's clear from the context that it's really a command to pay attention to our commander-in-chief, to listen up and stop the bloody wars we're engaging in. 

The Hebrew word still (“rapa") means to "let down" or "cease", to stop whatever we're doing. In this case, to "Halt! Drop your weapons!"

In today's troubled world, nothing could be more urgent than having all nations lay down their arms rather than investing in ever more deadly ways of producing death and destruction.

Escalating conflicts set off by shock and awe invasions and iron-fisted dictatorships are exacting a terrible toll all over the Middle East, and it is the innocent who suffer most. In Syria alone there are 6.5 million internally displaced refugees, and over 4 million have fled to other countries. 

The world simply can't afford war anymore. We must declare it over, no matter what that costs us.

Because continuing on our present course, fighting evil with evil, will cost us even more, and result in unimaginable disaster.

God says, "Be still! Stop!”  

The whole world needs to listen, lest we all perish.

Latest Press Release On Restored Civil Rights

Commonwealth of Virginia

Office of Governor Terry McAuliffe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 22, 2016

Office of the Governor

Contact: Brian Coy

Email: brian.coy@governor.virginia.gov

Governor McAuliffe Announces Process for Case-by-Case Restoration of Former-Felons’ Civil Rights

~ Governor restores rights of nearly 13,000 Virginians who had previously registered to vote ~

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that he and his team have begun restoring the civil rights of former Virginia felons in compliance with an order by the Virginia Supreme Court.

Speaking at a press conference at the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial in Richmond, the Governor announced that he has already restored the rights of nearly 13,000 Virginians who had previously registered to vote before the court’s ruling stripped them of their rights.

The Governor also announced the detailed process he will use to evaluate the cases of individuals who may qualify to have their rights restored based on the objective criteria he has established.

“Restoring the rights of Virginians who have served their time and live, work and pay taxes in our communities is one of the pressing civil rights issues of our day,” said Governor McAuliffe. “I have met these men and women and know how sincerely they want to contribute to our society as full citizens again.

“The process I have announced today fully complies with the Virginia Supreme Court’s order and the precedent of governors before me. It also reflects the clear authority the Governor possesses to use his own discretion to restore rights of people who have served their time.

“The history of civil rights in Virginia has at times been a difficult one. Opponents have often succeeded in delaying or undermining efforts to move our Commonwealth forward – but in the end progress has always prevailed. This time will be no different.

“It is my hope that the approach we announced today marks the end of the partisan battles that have been waged over this issue so that every Virginian leader can play a role in welcoming these individuals back to society and building a Commonwealth of greater justice, equality and opportunity for every family.”

Today the administration launched a new web portal (www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/ror) for Virginians to access more information about the process and how it impacts them. 

The McAuliffe administration also shared the following memo with Commonwealth’s Attorneys, members of the Virginia General Assembly and local elections officials across the Commonwealth. That memo is below:

Governor McAuliffe’s Restoration of Rights Policy

August 22, 2016

Restoring the rights of individuals who have served their time and reentered society is the right thing to do. Virginia’s felon disenfranchisement policy is rooted in a tragic history of voter suppression and marginalization of minorities, and it needs to be overturned. While Virginians continue to wait for the General Assembly to pass a constitutional amendment to permanently repeal this policy, the Governor is committed to doing everything in his power to restore the rights of Virginians who have completed their sentences. 

The Constitution of Virginia grants the Governor the sole authority to restore the rights of individuals who have been convicted of a felony.  While it is our position that the Governor’s April 22nd action was clearly constitutional by any reasonable standard, he will proceed with individual restorations in accordance with the Virginia Supreme Court’s order and the precedent of governors before him.

Today, the Governor is announcing next steps to proceed with individually restoring the rights of persons who have served their time and completed supervised release.  This process is fair and transparent and fully complies with the restrictions outlined in the July 22nd Supreme Court decision. These actions stem from Governor McAuliffe’s belief in the power of second chances and his determination that our Commonwealth will no longer treat these individuals like second class citizens.

It is the Governor’s hope that this will be the last phase of this battle over the civil rights of these individuals, and that opponents of these actions will recognize his clear authority as well as the morality behind it. As we have seen, there are some in our society who believe people who commit felonies should lose their rights forever, despite having served the sentence that a judge and jury imposed for their crime. And there are others who believe a subjective evaluation of the severity of a person’s crime should determine whether that individual is worthy to have his or her rights restored. As his actions demonstrate, Governor McAuliffe has faith in our criminal justice system and its ability to impose different sentences on different individuals in relation to the particular nature and circumstances of their offenses. After offenders serve those sentences, he believes they should have equal access under the law to have their rights restored. If a person is judged to be safe to live in the community, he or she should have a full voice in its governance.

Any action of this size and historic nature is difficult to perform without some administrative error. As the information below demonstrates, identifying these individuals (some of whom have been disenfranchised for decades) and restoring their rights is a significant undertaking of numerous state agencies that maintain information in different ways. The process we designed includes a multi-step review to ensure that the individuals being considered for restoration fully meet the Governor’s criteria. However, it is possible that there will be discrepancies from time to time, and we will work to fix them as soon as they are identified. The difficulty of this administrative undertaking is not an excuse, however, for leaving hundreds of thousands of people disenfranchised.

The Governor’s process moving forward is outlined below.

STEP 1: Re-restoring the rights of individuals who had their voter registration canceled as a result of the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision: 

·         Following the July 22nd Supreme Court decision, the Department of Elections and Secretary of the Commonwealth (SOC) quickly complied with the Court’s order for the Secretary of the Commonwealth to delete from the records any individuals who had their rights restored under these orders, and for the Department of Elections to cancel the voter registration of any individual whose rights were restored under these orders.  All individuals who registered to vote pursuant to Governor McAuliffe’s April 22, May 31 and June 24 orders were mailed a cancellation notice from the Department of Elections.

·         Since then, the SOC led a thorough review of the individuals who had their voter registration canceled to determine whether each individual meets the Governor’s standards for restoration of rights and provided a recommendation to the Governor.

·         On August 15, Governor McAuliffe approved the restoration of rights of nearly 13,000 people.  Certain individual cases remain under review.

·         Individual restoration orders were printed with the Governor’s signature under the Seal of the Commonwealth and mailed on Friday, August 19, to those newly restored individuals.

·         Individuals whose rights were restored on or after August 15 have been updated in the SOC’s database and communicated to the Department of Elections to remove those individuals from the prohibited voter list. 

·         SOC will release the names of newly restored individuals monthly. The list will be made available by request. The full list will also be included in Senate Document 2 (SD2) as it has been historically.

STEP 2: Restoring the rights of other qualified individuals.

·         SOC is giving priority consideration to individuals who request restoration of their civil rights.  Those wishing to expedite restoration of their own rights may contact the SOC through the websitewww.commonwealth.virginia.gov/ror.

·         In addition, the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office has identified individuals who may meet the Governor’s standards for restoration: individuals who have been convicted of a felony and are no longer incarcerated or under active supervision by the Department of Corrections (DOC) or other state agency.

·         Prioritizing by date since release from supervision and starting with those who have been released from supervision the longest, SOC will conduct a thorough review of each of these individuals, checking their records with Virginia State Police, DOC, State Compensation Board, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Criminal Justice Service, and Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to ensure the individual meets the Governor’s standards for restoration of rights.

·         In addition to confirming completion of incarceration and supervised release, the SOC considers factors such as active warrants, pre-trial hold, and other concerns that may be flagged by law enforcement.  Individuals in these circumstances or any with concerns about the accuracy of information analyzed from law enforcement will be held from our streamlined consideration process for further review.

·         Upon completion of its review, SOC will make recommendations to the Governor to restore the rights of individuals who have been determined to meet his standards.

·         The Governor will review SOC’s analysis of each individual’s record and will make the final decision on proposed candidates for restoration of rights.

·         Upon the Governor’s approval, SOC will issue and mail personalized restoration orders.

·         SOC will release the names of newly restored individuals monthly. The list will be made available by request. The full list will also be included in Senate Document 2 (SD2) as it has been historically.

If you know of individuals who wish to have their rights restored, please have them submit a request on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/ror. Individuals without internet access can call the SOC at 804-692-0104 or mail-in a contact form.

###

To view the published release, please visit: http://bit.ly/2bg6Tc5

Elliot Meyer

Press Assistant

Office of Governor Terence R. McAuliffe

Direct: (804) 786-4401

General: (804) 786-2211

Note: Here's a link to send an email message to the Governor https://governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office to thank him and to encourage him to have the Parole Board grant discretionary and geriatric release to deserving inmates.

How Much Cash, Real Estate And Paid Staff Does It Take To Produce A Follower of Jesus?

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"No one can truly know Christ unless they follow him daily in life." 

- early Anabaptist Hans Denck

Most of us Mennonites operate from the conviction that we should do everything possible to pass on the faith to our children, no matter what the cost.

But have we focused too much on financially costly programs and institutions to accomplish this--and too little on things that are more costly in terms of personal sacrifice?

Consider the example of Jesus. His work of nurturing young disciples required almost zero financing, but cost him everything in terms of time, energy and his very life.

Today we tend to outsource many of those efforts to church professionals and parachurch institutions.

EXAMPLE A: Since the mid 20th century we have invested in more and more expensive real estate for our weekly worship services, Sunday school and other programs to nurture people in the faith, all of which tend to utilize a lot of building space (and are used for a very limited periods of time). More recently, it's become more common for congregations to hire paid Christian education persons and part time or full time youth and young adult pastors, all of whom use professionally produced Sunday School, Bible School and other study curricula.

Task A: Figure out how much of your church's budget goes for the above discipling efforts, including cost of building maintenance, curriculum and the amount going for staff salaries and support. Then figure what the approximate monetary cost is per youth and/or young adult benefiting from these programs.

EXAMPLE B: Mennonites appear to have more professionally run church-wide institutions dedicated to educating our young than do most denominations of our size. Among these are state-of-the-art church camps, Christian elementary and high schools, and Christian colleges and seminaries.  The unusual numbers of these great programs are partly due to the merger that created MCUSA, and the tendency of institutions, for better or for worse, to make every effort to preserve and perpetuate themselves.

Task B: Check your church's budget to determine your financial investment in para church organizations and institutions focused on nurturing and discipling our young. Compare that to the rate of giving designated for the church's mission beyond itself, and how that compares to past church budgets.

Finally, add up the total numbers and come up with an estimated average cost of raising one Mennonite follower of Jesus from childhood to adulthood in your congregation, including their attendance at Mennonite or other Christian educational institutions.

Next, compare that to the financial cost of discipling one young believer in the first century church, or one Anabaptist believer in the sixteenth century, or one Mennonite World Conference member in the Global South, or a young believer in an Old Order Amish or Mennonite community. *

Note: I'm not saying that spending some or all of this money is necessarily a bad thing, only that we consider how to best use our resources in ways that best demonstrate Jesus' approach to disciple making. The work of making disciples is always costly, and sometimes may indeed involve some substantial financial investment.

But are we overlooking other even more demanding and costly ways of raising Jesus-followers? For example, what impact would it have on our young if they observed us being engaged in some of the following:

- Congregational members demonstrating a radical commitment to reducing personal possessions and making huge investments in worldwide relief and service efforts.

- Paid staff members voluntarily living on lower salaries, and encouraging others to follow their example.

- The church, both locally and as a denomination, placing a moratorium on investing in more real estate or paid positions until the rest of a world in need catches up with our standard of living.

- Having a growing number of members embrace a lifestyle akin to those of people like St. Francis of Assissi or a Mother Teresa--or the lifestyle of Jesus and his apostles, who exhorted his disciples to leave all behind and follow in his steps.

Perhaps there is no more effective way of enlisting and training faithful Jesus followers than by our actually following in his steps, costly as that may be.

Which may make what we are doing now seem really cheap in comparison.

And sadly, too many of our teens and young adults don't seem to be especially impressed by what we're doing now.

* Footnote: The Amish, without any church buildings or paid staff, and with no overt efforts at evangelizing, are growing at a very rapid rate, and according to a recent Mennonite World Review article, will soon have four times as many members as MCUSA. Part of that is due to having larger families, but even more important is their 85% retention rate, well above our own.