Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    I would have a hard time going into a prison to visit. I know that I
    should...but...frankly the idea of being in a prison seems "hard" to
    do.
    
    I commend your work Alfred....
    
    Marc H.

I've visited someone in jail before.

It's not an easy accomplishment.  The jail is not centrally located.  It's
not even on the bus route (a situation which, I believe, discriminates against
the poor).

The visiting hours are not terribly convenient.

You cannot visit just anybody.  You must know the person you're visiting.

If you want to conduct some sort of jail ministry you must submit to
a lengthy application and review process.

You must not wear certain articles of clothing, no jackets, etc..  You must
put your belongings into a locker.

Nobody but immediate family can have what is called a "contact" visit.
A contact visit is one without barriers.  All others must visit through a
telephone set while peering though a wire mesh and glass window.

Letters to prisoners are a whole lot easier.

Richard

    >It's not an easy accomplishment.  The jail is not centrally located.  It's
>not even on the bus route (a situation which, I believe, discriminates against
>the poor).

    Mass transit doesn't even exist around here. Our jail is some what
    centrally located though. It's right next to the county offices and
    the county retirement home.

    >The visiting hours are not terribly convenient.

    What are they there? Here they are something until 9:00. I don't know
    what the week end hours are. Sentenced prisoners have week end
    visiting hours while pre-trial prisoners are visited during the week.

>You cannot visit just anybody.  You must know the person you're visiting.
>
>If you want to conduct some sort of jail ministry you must submit to
>a lengthy application and review process.

    This is as much for the prisoners protection as anything. People have
    been known to take advantage of people in jail.

    >Letters to prisoners are a whole lot easier.

    Agreed. And I don't think it's as important what the contact is as long
    as it exists. Many prisoners do not get any visitors and get very
    depressed at that situation. Letters, however, do go a long way. And
    they can be saved and re-read which is a plus. What does bother me are
    the churches and family that will have nothing to do with a prisoner.
    This is not right. 

    			Alfred

Note 702.3

>    >The visiting hours are not terribly convenient.

>    What are they there?

It's been a while.  I don't recall the visiting hours exactly.  I know
that if your last name started with A through L, you could visit only on
Mondays and Wednesdays, the rest on Tuesdays and Fridays.  My friend in jail
had a hyphenated name like mine.  They kept changing his visitation days
because part of his name started with an S and the other part started with
an F.

>    What does bother me are
>    the churches and family that will have nothing to do with a prisoner.
>    This is not right. 

No argument here.

Richard

Re: 702.0 Alfred

Alfred,
	I agree that we're told to visit those in jail.  I guess for me, it
would depend on why they were in jail, whether or not they were a member of the
church beforehand, and whether or not what they did was immoral.  We're told
that we have a responsibility to visit those in jail, we're told that we're
not to separate ourselves from non-christians who are immoral, but we are
to separate ourselves from unrepentent christians, at least that is how I
read I Cor 5.  The reasons for not associating with unrepentent christians
is: 1) God's name isn't sullied, 2) the church isn't leavened, and 3) for
the unrepentent christian's sake, so that they can be restored.  A lot has
to do with the individual's attitude.

	How do you see the intersection of the two imperatives?

-- 
---
Paul		ferwerda@loptsn.nuo.dec.com
Gordon		ferwerda@databs.enet.dec.com
Loptson		databs::ferwerda
Ferwerda	Tel (603) 884 1317



			
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