wfn.org | Criminal Justice Sunday Materials

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

17-December-1997 
97475 
 
    Criminal Justice Sunday Materials 
    Are Coming Off the Press 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Resource materials for 1998's Criminal Justice Sunday -- 
Feb. 8 -- were nearly ready as this issue of "NEWS BRIEFS" went to press. 
 
    The theme for 1998 is "Forgiveness and the Criminal Justice System, 
Part 1."  "Forgiveness, Part 2"  is the theme for 1999 (Feb. 14).  The 
materials for 1998 urge that materials for both years be ordered and used 
so the subject can be studied by congregations in more depth, according to 
the Rev. Kathy Lancaster, associate for criminal justice in the National 
Ministries Division here. 
 
    "Every year we make this request: `Tell us what you think. We welcome 
your feedback, and we use it as future Program Guides are prepared.  Send 
us a copy of your order of worship, sermon, other material,'" Lancaster 
writes in the 1998 guide.  "This year I urge you to go beyond that and send 
sermons, thoughts, liturgical material, first-person stories and more. ..." 
 
    The theme is intended to enable congregations to grapple with the 
question of forgiveness in the context of the United States criminal 
justice system.  The Program Guide explains: "[There are] so many words, 
articles, books about forgiveness -- and so many related to its vertical 
dimension, God's unmerited forgiveness of us through Christ's atoning 
sacrifice in his death and resurrection.  Fewer relate to the horizontal, 
person-to-person dimension of forgiveness.  And far fewer relate to the 
dynamics of forgiveness, sought or given, in the criminal justice system." 
 
    The Program Guide includes planning and action suggestions for 
congregations, resources for worship, background readings and resources, a 
suggested Minute for Mission and nomination information for the General 
Assembly's 1998 Restorative Justice Award (deadline for nominations is 
March 16, 1998). 
 
    More information about Criminal Justice Sunday and the Presbyterian 
Church's criminal justice program is obtainable by calling the Rev. Kathy 
Lancaster at (502) 569-5810.  

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 
  mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>  

--