Greetings, My Brothers, and Sisters
I am appreciative of the privilege you have given me to service as your president. My prayer for us to move into this new age in correctional chaplaincy with the same goals, same vision, having the courage to listen and the wisdom to act.
ACCA and ACA started out together 151 years ago. We need to work to continue this relationship for another century. Matthews Gospel chapter 25:40, tells us that Jesus teaches the value of all persons-not just those who share
his ethnicity, culture, and religion. “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”. NIV
As correctional chaplains we serve in unique environments such that our patients, clients, and congregation members are with us from 30 days to the rest of their lives. We serve those who are in hospitals, in hospice, on death row, in jails, those who are juveniles and those who are mentally ill. In addition, we serve correctional officers, corrections staff, security, and all of God’s children no matter their ethnicity, gender, age, cultures, or religion. We are held legally responsible for our services.
Once again, I thank you and thank God for your confidence in my ability to ad this organization.The objectives for this season are as follows:
· Attend Regional meetings
· Communicate with Agency Superintendents, Commissioners, and religious services administrators
· Bring back the COP Award (to be presented at the Prayer Breakfast Summer 2022)
· Continue to attend ACA’s Performance-Based Standards and Expected Practices meetings
· Continue the relationship with COMISS
· Attend the Association of Religious Endorser conference (date TBA)
· Maintain affiliate membership with COMMIS, Association of Religious Endorsers (AREB),
· Support National Pastoral Care Week (many of our correctional agency celebrate correctional officer and nurses at the same time; our request would be to include the Chaplains division.)
To support ACA by:
· Serving on committees and/or partnering with committees to bring training and workshops to conferences with attendees to receive CEU and/or agency training hours
· Submitting articles for publication in Corrections Today (an article can be a collaboration between chaplaincy, security, mental health, medical, etc.)
· Suggesting topics/ideas for articles in Corrections Today (perhaps a robust article regarding RLUIPA)
· Suggesting topics/ideas for workshops to be presented at the ACA Winter Conference,
January 6-9, 2022 (perhaps a workshop on RLUIPA, a collaboration between Legal Issues Committee and ACCA; or perhaps a workshop on volunteers in prison presented by Prison Fellowship)
Projected Calendar:
September 14,2021 7:00 p.m. Central time Executive Committee via zoom
ACA Winter Conference, Phoenix, AZ, Thursday to Sunday, January 6-9, 2022.
ACCA Prayer Breakfast Friday January 7, 2022
ACCA Executive Council Friday January 7, 2022; time and place TBA
ACCA Fellowship Dinner Saturday January 8, 2022
ACCA worship Service Sunday, January 9, 2022; Time TBA