Moving Into Prison Ministry: An Introduction to the Prison Industrial Complex

Religious freedom for people living in systems of mass incarceration is protected by the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution. Yet exploring and practicing a wide breadth of spiritual and religious views can be challenging. Prisons are dominated by largely fundamentalist teachings and resources.

This conference will help people interested in prison ministry who offer alternative perspectives and can support the unmet religious and spiritual needs of those who are incarcerated. Prison ministry is an expansive term that can include such activities as becoming a pen pal, making regular in-person visits, hosting classes or worship services in prison, advocating, and more.

Learning about the realities of the prison industrial complex will help you engage in both prison ministry and justice work.

This event is hosted by the Worthy Now Prison Ministry Network (a program of the Church of the Larger Fellowship), in partnership with the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati.

Agenda

Saturday Programming:

2:00 - 4:00 Viewing of the movie and discussion of 13th

4:00   15 min break

4:15-6:00 Programming

6:00-7:00 Dinner break

7:00-9:00 Programming

Sunday:

10:00 First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati

Coffee and conversation following the morning talk

This event is co-sponsored by The First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati and The Church of the Larger Fellowship Worthy Now Prison Ministry.

This conference is for Unitarian Universalists and anyone who connects to our ministry and asserts that all are worthy of love and justice.

The suggested cost is $25 for existing CLF members or those who only want to watch the movie and experience the discussion, and $50 for non-CLF members to attend the workshop. There is no cost for people who were formerly incarcerated. A very limited number of scholarships are available; please email [email protected] to apply for a scholarship.

All donations and registration proceeds will directly support the over 1000 UU members of the Church of the Larger Fellowship living in prisons across the country.