Saskatoon Community Chaplaincy

March 1 Update

2007-03-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

The last week has been crazy, as my wife has been gone to Florida visiting her mom. Work has gone well though this stretch. I preached on Sunday, and kept my other appointments afloat. RPC was good, and there is a guy getting out in a while who I have got to know over the last year. He's out this summer.
I also had the chance today to meeting with the Citizen's Advisory Committee for PRC. They are a group of community volunteers that keep the institution accountable and the public aware of what is happening in the world of CSC. They are a great group of people from all walks of life, within and without Corrections.
I will be doing a presentation at Massey Place Community Church on Sunday on Chaplaincy. A group of women from the church have made some blankets for ex-offenders that they want to present to the chaplaincy. I'm also going to speak for a bit and sing.

News Report on Sex Offenders

2007-02-09T20:23:00.000-08:00

This report brings up a very touchy subject for most people. When have sex offenders payed their dues? I work with sex offenders every week. This report takes a different approach than most others, and I would encourage you to watch it and think about it.

Febuary 6th Update

2007-02-06T20:36:00.000-08:00

Hi to all of you...even if there are only a few. Things are humming along a the chaplaincy office. Here's a summary

I continue to deal with the domsestic abuse case I've mentioned before. The woman involved lost her baby yesterday, and is taking it very hard. It is difficult to know what to do, and the problems there are over my head. I have tried todirect her in some way, but she is drinking heavily. Pray for her.

I had the chance to meet with a couple of potential volunteers this week. Both are good people, one with much experience in socially difficult issues, and one who is just dipping her toe in the water. It is cool to see God leading people to be involved with people on the margins in some way.

I also have been invited to speak at a CAC lunch next month. The Citizen's Advisory Committee is a group of volunteers that works to speak for the community regarding issues surrounding federal institutions. Each institution has it's own committee, and I have been in contact with the head of the group for the Regional Psych. Center in Saskatoon for quite some time. I am looking forward to learning as well as teaching.

The Saskatoon Community Chaplaincy is planning another fundraising event for April 26th. It will be held at the Best Western Hotel in S'toon, and we will be featuring some musical talent as the main focus. Feel free to email me for details.

The Forward Step group continues to go well. A number of the guys involved are going through some difficulties, especially in regards to housing. There is little in the way of good housing that is affordable for people on welfare. The Bary Hotel, which is located in the middle of the not-so-good part of the city, is where a lot of these people end up, and the conditions are deplorable. I honestly don't know how they do it. Housing is always a major issue, but all the more when you know people who are affected by it.

I've been hanging out more at the office whenever possible. There are a good group of people working at MCC, a lot of laughter and some good discussion.

That's all for tonight. I hope to post again before the end of the week.

Serial child molester gets 150 years in U.S. prison

2007-01-29T14:59:00.000-08:00

This is a brutal and sad story for all involved.

January 29th Update

2007-01-29T14:00:00.000-08:00

Hi to you all. Hope your Monday is going well. Just an update on what I've been up to in the world of chaplaincy.

Some of my time in the last two weeks has been taken by dealing with the couple I wrote of earlier. They are still connecting with each other, and both of them are connecting with me quite often. The guy is in jail, but because of the corrections strike, the rules in the provincial institutions have been set aside somewhat. The RCMP are doing their best, but are not familiar with all the rules, so the inmates have much more time and freedom. The guy I know there spends his time either on the phone or waiting to use the phone from 7AM until 10:30PM. This is not good for people whose numbers he knows, including mine. I have talked to the officers in his unit a couple of times, and they are working to keep him as limited as possible on the phone. He phones his girlfriend dozens of times each day, and has called the police and ambulance enough times to get her kicked out of her apartment (I understand that she has received a one month reprieve, and now needs to be out at the end of February.)

The girlfriend, on the other hand, is having a difficult time letting go. She has had some good contact and good advice from the women of a local church, as well as from people at Family Services and myself. She feels a lot of guilt and has become a mother-figure in this man's life. This makes it tough for her to let go and move on, even though her health and life have been in danger in the past. This saga is ongoing, and I don't know what my part in it will be in the future. I feel I am at the end of the line, as both of them have heard and agreed with what I have said, but still choose to go in a very different direction.

I have also had a chance to connect with a few ex-inmates, including one who is living in Calgary right now and doing quite well. This is ALWAYS encouraging to see. I have also had news about three other men who are back in the community and who I have worked/am working with. All three have jobs and are doing what they can to gain independence and build a new life.

I meet weekly with a group of people from my former church in a loose accountability group. We discuss church life, chaplaincy life, and many other things. It is always good to see them.

Others I've had a chance to talk to in the last week are Helmut Isaac and Fr. Ted Hughes. Helmut runs the P2P organization, and we meet every Monday with "Forward Step" as well as chatting on the phone or in person at least three times a week.
Although I don't have as much contact as that with Fr. Ted, it is always good to talk to him listen to stories of his life in corrections and other experiences. As I write, he is sitting on the beach in the Dominican Republic (I think??), so we all need to feel sorry for him (...pause...) NOT!!

Although I am not in the office as much as I would like to be, it is always good to be there. I've had the chance for a few coffees and lunches there in the last 10 days or so, and managed to do a little reading, design some new business cards, and make use of the prayer room, which is right across the hall from my office.

I am currently involved in two different church movements. One is Lakewood Baptist Church, where I continue to preach about twice a month. I find that the work I do with chaplaincy carries over strongly into my approach to preaching. The love and grace of God is so needed with all of us, not just those who are on the fringes of society. I am thankful for the chance I have to continue to do this.

I am also involves in a church plant through the Free Methodist Church in Canada. The idea for Church of the Exiles was born about a year ago, and we have been meeting every week since then, getting ready for our official start in the next few weeks. This venture came out of our desire to reach out to people who either are not interested in church, or who are held out by more traditional churches. I am excited to see how God will work here, and how chaplaincy and the Exiles Church can work together.

Another person that I connect often with is Jordon Cooper. Along with being the driving force behind Exiles, he works at the Salvation Army halfway house, so we have a lot in common and know a lot of the same people from there. Our conversation always drifts back to "So...how's Jimmy doing?". "He's back in for another three months." "Yeah, I thought so."

In between all this, I try and read a little, although that usually happens after the rest of the family is in bed.

Thanks to all of you who read this. Pass the link along to someone who you think would be interested. Take care.

January 15th Update

2007-01-15T07:38:00.000-08:00

The last week has been crazy, and the weather sure didn't help. The blizzard last week put a stop to lots of plans for all of us, but that's what I don't mind about nasty winter weather; it forces everyone to slow down, which I know I need to do more.
It was also a crazy week for other reasons, at lest for me. I was able to see "Frank", one of the guys I've been meeting with for a while, on Monday. He showed up unexpectedly at the Forward Step group. He has been on the run since an assault on a gentleman just before Christmas. It turns out that on Wednesday he was picked up by the police, and was in court Friday morning. I went to the courthouse on Friday with his "girlfriend" (i.e. - the one he's assaulted a couple of times). Although I wasn't able to stay around until his name came up, I found out later that he got 4 months.
Over supper that evening I got two nasty calls from him, as he seems to think there is something going on between myself and his girlfriend. I also got 5 phone messages on Sunday with the same general message. So I called Saskatoon Corrections and told the what was going on. The guy I spoke to was very helpful and friendly, and I think we've got it sorted out, but the whole incident freaked me out a little, as it involved a message to my wife and a conversation between "Frank" and my son. This is definitely the downside of chaplaincy in general, but something that is part of the job.
I would appreciate your prayers for "Frank" and for my family, that they will be calm and safe.
Other than that, my time at RPC has been changing. We have had an "open chapel" for the last two Fridays, and it looks like this might be a permanent change. This means that the Forward Step group will have to move to a different day, most likely Thursday afternoons.
Thanks to the board for your support. It means a lot.

January 4th Update

2007-01-04T11:19:00.000-08:00

I was unsuccessful in connecting with the guy I asked prayer for the other day. He did not call to tell me where we could meet. Helmut Isaac had talked to him as well, but he was nowhere to be found.

We had a good time last night at Helmut's place with a Christmas party for the guys from Forward step. There were 9 of us there altogether, and we ate well and played games until 10:30. There were a few faces we didn't see, but that is the usual.

Today and tomorrow morning I will be gearing up for the first Forward Step meeting in PC. It will have a different, more openly spiritual feel to it than the outside one does, and I am looking forward to that. Hope all is well with all of you. Drop me a line if you feel like it.

Happy New Year!!

2007-01-02T13:42:00.000-08:00

Hi to all

Just wanted to let you know that I am climbing back into the saddle and shaking off the Christmas cobwebs. Today is my first day back in the office, and it's a little slow. I hope to get a few appointments organized for the rest of the week, as well as having a Christmas party for the Forward Step group at Helmut's tomorrow night (Wed.). Office work will include updating and reworking my powerpoint presentation for the chaplaincy and catching up on a bit of reading.

Tomorrow I have appointments with three clients, and I would appreciate your prayers, as one of them have been on the run since before Christmas. Pray for guidance and safety, not only for me,. but for the people that this man comes into comtact with until he is apprehended.

If you have any comments, you can leave them here, or if they are of a more confidential nature, just email me. Thanks.

Chaplaincy Update - December 2006

2006-12-21T07:02:00.000-08:00

HI to All.
Here is the chaplaincy blog. There is a place for comments at the bottom of this entry, but remember that all your comments can be viewed by anyone on the net. There is an option for making this a "private blog", where only people we choose would have access to this blog. But that's for another day. Leave a comment if you've been here and read this, and then we'll know if everything's working. Have a great day.

April 5 Update

2006-04-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

It's been way too long. Here we go.

Chaplaincy is going well. I feel more and more at home in the role. and there are good things coming out of that. One is that I am working on starting a group called "Forward Step". It is essentially a weekly "AA" style group for ex-offenders. It is in the early stages of planning, so I'll keep you posted.

I also had the chance a couple of weeks ago to sit in on a conference with the prairie regional chaplains and some people from CSC regional and national. Thgere was some good information, but uit was also easy to see the tension that is created by the coming together of church and state. It is an uneasy relationship at the best of times, and no side is more at fault than the other.

I also had the chance to go inot the max unit at Sask Pen last week. Quite a different feel than anything else I had experienced up til now. It is closed in and bare, and the attitudes run rampant within those walls. I couldn't spend too much time in there.

That's all for now. Email me if you have any questions or would like more informnation on what I talk about here. I'll give you as much as I can.

Feb. 5th Update

2006-02-06T11:57:00.000-08:00

My apologies to all who read this blog. It's been a month since I last updated, and that's way too long. Here's what's been happening.

I spent a day last week in PA at Sask Pen and Riverbend. It was good to connect with a few guys that I hadn't seen in a while, some of which will be getting out in the next couple of months. I also met a couple of new guys that I'll be connecting with. It's amazing how those inside have a different concept of time. One guy I talked to mentioned that he'll be out in "only 16 months". I guess that if you've been for 20+ years, 16 months isn't that long, but it seems long to me. Besides, there's not a lot else to look forward to.

On Jan 13th I was deputy returning officer for the early date election in RPC. It was a very interesting day, as I got to meet a lot of guys (and women)in that institution that I hadn't met before. Also, the government doesn't pay too badly for election work, so that was a nice bonus.

Yesterday (Feb. 5th) I was "officially" installed as Community Chaplain. The crowd was small. but it was a good afternoon. Brent Cooper, my board chairperson, gave a powerpoint presentation that helpd a lot of people understand what a chaplain does. I even learned some things. Thanks to my parents, my wife and kids, the board members, and my friends who either came or phoned. Your support means the world to me, and I could not do it on my own.

I'll be on holidays starting this Thursday for a week, so I'll not post til I get back. Thanks for listening.

issues and questions

2005-12-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

As we prepare to elect a new federal government, we consider how faith informs our view of current issues. The following issues and questions are offered by MCC Canada for your consideration, based on MCC’s programs, education, and advocacy for justice and peace.

1. Canada’s commitment to refugees is most clearly demonstrated by the annual immigration levels. The 2006 levels for all immigrant categories has been increased to 250,000 but there is no mention of an increase for refugees sponsored or resettled from abroad, which has fallen far below the level of a decade ago. In addition, the signing of a new border agreement with the US last December (the Safe Third Country Agreement) has reduced the number of refugees admitted directly at our borders by 25 percent. In order to make up for these decreases, advocates recommend that the target for refugees resettled from abroad should be increased to make up for the decrease at the border. In light of the increasing overall immigration levels, how will the parties ensure that refugee numbers increase correspondingly?

2. A home is much more than a physical dwelling. It can also be a place of security, of welcome, and a first step in getting other elements of life under control. Yet 1.7 million Canadians were unable to find shelter that is adequate, suitable, and affordable. Those most affected include refugees, people who have been incarcerated, people living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, those living with mental health concerns, Aboriginal people, and low income Canadians. What measures will your candidates take to help ensure that these groups can access appropriate housing?

3. What should Justice mean to our politicians? Current policy discussions around crime advocate higher levels of incarceration and new laws, with little or no consideration for ubstantive victim and community needs. With fewer than 50 percent of victims of abuse, assault, or theft reporting their victimization to the police and only $2 million dedicated to meeting victim needs, what can be done by the Canadian government to meet the needs of victims? In comparison, how could the $10 billion we spend be used more effectively?

4. International Development continues to be a crucial issue. Some two billion people live in severe poverty. An estimated 30,000 die unnecessarily every day. In the year 2000, virtually all heads of governments committed themselves to reaching eight “Millennium Development Goals” by 2015. If this is to succeed, industrialized countries will have to increase aid, provide more debt relief, and do more to promote justice in international trade. In 1994, Canada cut its budget on foreign aid substantially. Recently, Canada has committed itself to a gradual increase but, according to this new plan, Canada’s aid will still not reach the widely accepted goal of .7 percent of gross national income by 2015. On debt relief, Canada has been somewhat of a leader since the 1980s, but more needs to be done. Many countries suffer from terrible debt loads because of changes in international interest rates and uneven international commodity prices, and also from bad management of their economies. African governments have made deep cuts in expenditures on education, health and other basic needs just to service their debts. A strong voice from Canada is needed in multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

On justice in trade, Canada has also taken positive steps but, again, much more is needed. A key problem is that in trade negotiations, poor countries are pressured to open their markets to products from richer countries, which in many cases, are heavily subsidized. A recent UN report says that donor countries “spend $1 billion a year aiding agriculture in developing countries and $1 billion a day on domestic subsidies that undermine the world’s poorest farmers.”

What do the parties envision as Canada’s role in international development? In line with the “Make Poverty History” campaign, what will Canada’s political parties do to increase aid, provide more debt relief to hard-pressed developing nations, and promote justice in international trade?

5. Work on issues of international peace is also urgent.
On nuclear weapons, the threat of a nuclear war no longer manifests itself as it did in the Cold War years. Nuclear disarmament is, however, stalled and the number of countries with nuclear weapons is increasing. This should be addressed and the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty, which Canada has always supported, should not be allowed to collapse.
On small arms, (which claim 500,000 lives each year, most of them in Africa) Canada should make every effort to ensure the success of the 2006 UN conference to review and strengthen the 2001 “Programme of Action” to control these “instruments of death”.
On Canada’s arms exports, which rank as the sixth largest in the world, Canada should review its 1986 export regulations to ensure that export decisions are made, not only as trade issues, but also in light of our foreign policy ideals. Further, to limit proliferation in the developing world, Canada should press for an international treaty on the transfer of conventional weapons.
On security spending, Canada spends four times more on defense than on development aid. Smaller still is our spending on diplomacy, even though it can do much in terms of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. What are the most effective ways of promoting our own security and that of our sisters and brothers the world over?

6. Water is life. Its multiple uses offer us spiritual, physical, economic, and social sustenance. Perhaps because of its importance in so many aspects of our lives, water is often the subject of conflict. How can the use of Canada’s waterways balance indigenous uses of land and water with the demands for hydroelectricity? How can we ensure good quality drinking water for all Canadians? How will Canada’s rich water resources be managed as the market for water continues to grow? How should we respond to the needs around the world for safe and accessible water? Ask your candidates what concerns him or her about water in Canada and around the world.

A Prayer for Election Time

2005-12-22T10:10:00.000-08:00

Almighty God,
All of life is in your embrace—
Even the political life of our country.
We give you thanks for Canada, our home.
We give you thanks for a political system that invites our participation.

Saviour Jesus,
You cared for those who were poor, physically challenged, social outcasts.
You called all people to practice love, peace and reconciliation.
Empower us to hear the voices of the marginalized.
Move our hearts to seek the common good, rather than our own gain.

Holy Spirit,
You enliven us as Christians to be salt and light in this world.
Increase in us conversation, vigilance and prayer about this election.
Guide candidates to campaign fairly and present their viewpoints honestly.
Guide voters as they listen and assess the positions of the different parties.
May all of us speak and act in ways that bear witness to you. Amen.

—Adapted from a prayer by Carol Penner

Missing the point on the Stanley Williams execution

2005-12-15T19:44:00.000-08:00

Missing the point on the Stanley Williams execution (from Soho.net)
by Jake Nyberg
SojoMail 12-15-2005

Stanley "Tookie" Williams, 51, was executed just after midnight Tuesday. Many who were arguing against Williams' execution were taking the approach that Williams was a changed man - a man who had devoted his life behind bars to ending the cycle of gang violence - and that a changed person should not be executed. While I certainly cannot argue with the observation that the Williams who was killed today was not the same man who entered prison a quarter-century ago, I believe even Williams' supporters were missing the point.

Killing Stanley Williams was wrong because killing is wrong. Whether a death row inmate has a change of heart, shows remorse, or is exonerated by DNA evidence is irrelevant. Even if Williams had remained the same, his death would still have accomplished nothing. All of us - from victims' families to kids who turn to gangs for a sense of community - were denied a glimpse at the healing, redemptive power of grace.

Am I saying that Williams should have been allowed to walk free? No. What I am saying is that we missed a teachable moment - a moment in which we could have come together to show that revenge solves nothing.

We could have spared Tookie Williams, but we didn't. We can, however, still spare others (even those who haven't changed their ways), thereby demonstrating that the old way of "an eye for an eye" is no longer relevant. Perhaps we didn't hear Jesus the first time when he turned that teaching on its head, telling us to give our enemies what they really deserve - not bullets, injections, or a noose, but love -reckless and relentless love.

Jake Nyberg is a Minnesota-based writer and speaker.

Clarion Journal - Another Nifty Geeklog Site

2005-11-28T11:05:00.000-08:00

Clarion Journal - Another Nifty Geeklog Site

Actually, this site focuses on Justice from a Charistian perspective. Good information to be found, and it originates in B.C.

Tyndale Pastors and Leaders Conference

2005-11-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

Revive Your Soul! March 13-15, 2006.

Among the many conferences on leadership, where does a Christian leader go for personal spiritual renewal?

Revive Your Soul is just such an opportunity for church and ministry leaders to explore the importance of spiritual health to life in ministry and to experience renewal in the context of speakers and leaders we trust.

From corporate worship to the more intimate peer learning groups, we will seek to build into our lives insights and lessons learned from our gifted speakers and each other.

Speakers include: Dallas Willard, Gordon McDonald, Larry Crabb

Truthtellers and Peacemakers Conference - March 2006

2005-11-28T08:47:00.000-08:00

Street Level 2006 will be an event like no other in all of Canada, and it is our hope that this site can be a resource to you as the excitement builds.

In an era of tremendous national wealth, a staggering number of children, youth and adults are homeless – and many, many more are at risk.

In March 2006, hundreds of people, from across Canada, who are passionately engaged in finding solutions to these issues will come together in Ottawa for a unique time of training, inspiration and encouragement – STREET LEVEL!

Truthtellers and Peacemakers is our conference theme; a call, an invitation, a vision for who and how we want to be as we address the overwhelming issues of homelessness, in small towns and large cities, all across Canada.

This is NOT “just a conference”. We believe this important event could be a national turning point, leading us to understand and act in new ways on our capacity to change the course of Canada – and perhaps other nations as well – regarding homelessness.

On behalf of the Street Level conference committee – we encourage you to set these important conference dates aside, make plans to attend, and visit this site regularly, so that you can share in the great anticipation and excitement of Street Level 2006.”

Here is a list of the speakers that are confirmed as of today.

Steve Bell
Music and worship Leader

Sister Sue Mosteller
Devotional and Reflections Leader

Tim Huff
Plenaries Facilitator

Rick Tobias
Plenary Leader

Pierre Allard
Plenary Leader

Greg Paul
Plenary Leader

Christine MacMillan
Plenary Leader

Pat Nixon
Plenary Leader

Ray Aldred
Plenary Leader

Dion Oxford
Workshop Leader

John Mohan
Worksop Leader

Irene Pfeiffer
Workshop Leader

Del Bannerman
Workshop Leader

Floyd Perras
Workshop Leader

Dr. Stephan Hwang
Workshop Leader

Alan Beattie
Workshop Leader

Steve Martin
Workshop Leader

Thea Prescod
Workshop Leader

Cherie Tetz
Workshop Leader

David Adcock
Workshop Leader

Ken MacLaren
Workshop Leader

John Wilkinson
Workshop Leader

Gordon Russell
Workshop Leader

Notes from Pierre Allard (former head of Canadian Chaplaincy)

2005-11-21T21:07:00.000-08:00

“Building a Community of Hope” - Rev. Dr. Pierre Allard

“If you want to judge a society, enter it's prisons”. - Dostoyevsky

The hope for corrections is that no one gets out alone.
Ex-prisoners need not be alone in suffering, prayer, service, joy, and mission.

1.Suffering – Rm. 5:3-5
- suffering—perseverance—character—hope
- ex-prisoners look for blessing and do not find it
- each person has a story/journey
- each story is soaked with suffering and pain
- they need people alongside them

2.Prayer – Lk. 22:40
- at times the pain seems too much for one person to bear
- “when I pray honestly, I can handle the worst of times. When I don't pray, I can't handle it” quote from ex-prisoner
- community chaplaincy started n Moncton in mid 70's; there is a group that has been praying for community chaplains on the third Monday of every month for 25 years

3.Service – James 2
- how do you measure success in working with ex-prisoners?
- Need to have no expectations of prisoners that may not be real
- need to take the long view in dealing with all people

4.Joy – Rm. 12:12
- you will not survive working in corrections without throwing a lot of parties

5.Mission – 2 Cor. 5
- the action of participating in reconciliation comes before the words of reconciliation
- we do not have to defend God; we only have to bring the message to people

Caring for Ex-Offenders - Nov. 19

2005-11-17T22:33:00.000-08:00

I'll be attending a conference in Calgary on Saturday, Nov. 19. It is put on by Alpha and is focused on how churches can properly show care to people getting out of prison. David Milgaard and Pierre Allard are the keynote speakers. I'll give you some details when I get back.

2005-11-08T18:50:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Chapel

2005-11-08T18:30:00.000-08:00

You have found the weblog of the Saskatoon Community Chaplaincy. My hope is to keep the readers up to date with what's happening in my world, as well as the larger pcture of corrections and national penitentiary commentary.