Conference Committee
Prison Reform/Death Penalty
Ministries of Faith in Action
DSC Prison Reform Sub-Committee
At the 28th Session of Annual Conference, resolution 21.10 Mass Incarceration and Restorative Justice was passed. It was resolved that the Bishop appoint a committee of 5 to 7 people to join in the efforts with other United Methodists and the General Board of Church and Society to end mass incarceration by becoming actively involved throughout our Annual Conference by educating members and becoming involved in ministries and opportunities for:
- Sentencing Reform
- Ending Prison Privatization
- Developing Just Re-Entry Programs
- Increasing Participation and Opportunities for In-Prison Ministry
Questioning the Death Penalty
The United Methodist Church’s General Board on Church & Society has made the statement that “We believe the death penalty denies the power of Christ to redeem, restore, and transform all human beings.” They go on to say, “When governments implement the death penalty (capital punishment), then the life of the convicted person is devalued and all possibility of change in that person’s life ends.” The death of anyone, especially the victim of a crime, is tragic; but a second tragedy does nothing to remedy the first.
In this season of repentance, the Desert Southwest Conference Prison Reform task force is hosting a post-Easter video series (via Zoom) on “Questioning the Death Penalty”, featuring Sister Helen Prejean – author of “Dead Man Walking”, “The Death of Innocents”, and “Where Justice and Mercy Meet.”
This series occurs at 6:30 PM on Thursdays, April 28-May26. Click HERE to Download the Fact Sheet.
News & Events
Halt Arizona’s Death March to Executions
By Paul Bullis, Chair of Desert Southwest Conference Prison Reform Ministry WE NEED TO HALT ARIZONA’S DEATH MARCH TO EXECUTING PRISONERS The State of Arizona is poised to resume executing its death row prisoners. We must act now to halt Arizona’s death march to...
Join the Webinar on Private Prisons
“Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured” (Hebrews 13:3) For-profit private prisons are a multi-billion dollar industry in this country. The industry’s sole...
Not My Problem. But As Christians, It Is.
On May 11, AZ Central published the following article: 74 Cases in Arizona Prisons The Arizona Department of Corrections' online dashboard said 74 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Friday. The cases are at these five facilities: 53 in Florence, nine...
Prison Reform and COVID-19
PRISONERS AND THE CORONAVIRUS Paul Bullis, Co-Chair DSC Prison Reform Task Force Jails and prisons, with so many people packed into small spaces, have been referred to as “incubators” and “amplifiers” of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. What should be done to...
Not Interested in Prison Ministry
Not sure if prison ministry is your thing? Just show up and talk with someone. No skills required. “I was in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25:36)
How can your church increase vitality by touring the Maricopa Re-entry Center (MRC) on January 16th?
In case you missed the May invitation. Here's the event details with a donation list added. Contact Dean Richardson if you have questions.
RSVP for an evening with Khalil Rushdan
RSVP to hear the details of Khalil’s journey and about the work he does now as a mentor and resource for formerly incarcerated individuals, as well as his work as a leader who brings solutions to the community empowering others by helping to rebuild their lives upon release from incarceration.
Prison Reform Team Presents
RSVP to attend in-person or participate online as Khalil Rushdan shares his story as a wrongfully accused prisoner, and his work as a mentor and resource for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Injustice in the Justice System
Did you know the United States makes up about 5% of the world’s population and has 21% of the world’s prisoners? Find out more about the need for Prison/Criminal Justice Reform at the Church and Society presentation at Dove of the Desert UMC, 7201 W Beardsley Rd, Glendale, AZ 85308, on Sunday, January 13 2:30-4:30 PM.
An Evening with Khalil Rushdan
RSVP to hear the details of Khalil’s journey and about the work he does now as a mentor and resource for formerly incarcerated individuals, as well as his work as a leader who brings solutions to the community empowering others by helping to rebuild their lives upon release from incarceration.
Contact
Paul Bullis
Chair
Billie Fidlin
Director of Outreach & Justice
Team Members
Jim Ek
Patty Ek
Steve Harvey
Bethany Lambrecht
Rae Lathrop
Sabrina Ayers Fisher
“Questioning the Death Penalty” Series
Episode 1
Click the link to view the first session of “Questioning the Death Penalty”.
Episode 2
Click the link to view the second session of “Questioning the Death Penalty”.
Episode 3
Click the link to view the third session of “Questioning the Death Penalty”.
Episode 4
Click here to view the fourth session of “Questioning the Death Penalty”.
Episode 5
Click here to view the fifth session of “Questioning the Death Penalty”.
Watch Previous Prison Reform Talks
Problems with Private Prisons
Click here to view the whole video.
Prison Reform Talk #1
Click here to view the whole video.
Prison Reform Talk #2
Click here to view the whole video.
Prison Reform Talk #3
Click here to view the whole video.
An Evening with Khalil
Click here to view the whole video.
Prison Reform Presentation - Discussion #1
Content here.
Death Penalty Fact Sheet
Content here.
