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The Washington Chaplains Association

Spring 2007 Meeting

Grace Lutheran Church, Des Moines, WA

The meeting attendees gathered beginning at just after 8am for fellowship. Registration started at 8:30am and extended into the opening of the meeting. Chaplain Imo Smith and Chaplain Shannon O’Donnell handled the registration duties. Paid attendance: 29. Non-paying (no lunch) 2. Total: 31

Randy Schulz opened the meeting at 9:15am. There was an opening prayer.

From 9:20am to 10:30am Bob Jordan taught a Time Management seminar. The full notes are available on the website. The attendees were provided with a 5-page copy of the notes, courtesy of Chaplain Greg Garringer (the inmates at Cedar Creek participated in this). Some DOC chaplains had training papers signed for credit.

After the break Randy facilitated a “Best Practices” for the Chaplaincy. Tables were organized as teams, with four teams in operation. The audience had 35 minutes to consider the following general questions:

Have you been able to come to a place where you see God’s hand in the circumstances you currently find yourself in?

	We acknowledge we are called to service. We know that we can’t do everything and are not guilty in our minds about what we can’t do.
	Trusting that doing what you can do is important, even if you can’t do it all.
	We’ve seen God’s hand in many circumstances. Chaplain numbers have gone down and in spite of this God is still working.
	In the jails we see that inmates are rising up to do studies. Developing a church inside the jail. In DOC we consider “going back to the basics.” He who called us will perform the work, and recalling what that call is all about.

What adjustments have you had to make to maintain your sense of mission in your facility?

	Better time management. Being selective about what we take on.
	Learning how to be less rigid and more compassionate. Less “rule” oriented.
	Obedience to God is important in the midst of what the demands are of the role.
	Paying more attention to the kites, responding faster, making opportunity to be present with the inmates.

How have you involved others to fulfill the traditional “chaplain” opportunities at your facility?

	Facilitating volunteers to fulfill religious needs; offender needs.
	Volunteers! If we have more programs to facilitate, that means more paperwork but with more hands working more work can get done.
	Getting the volunteers involved; training them; orientating them; let them come along with us and as they grow they can go out on their own. Volunteers are key.

What have you found to be useful to reestablish order in the face of reduced (or absence of) paid help?

	Seeking out the use of “anchor” inmates – those with buy in toward the volunteers and are reliable. Real change has occurred. Using quality volunteer sponsors.
	Being organized – time, resources, people. Ask ourselves, “what is the main thing” and then do it.
	Volunteers and what they do.

What things are you attempting to achieve to provide for the best spiritual growth environment possible for the inmates? How?

	Chapel libraries, keeping them sound, getting books checked in.
	Helping the officers in their spiritual walk.
	Programs, remembering what we’re there for.
	Leaders bring in Bible studies, even in foreign languages.

What are your greatest challenges?

	Time and space – diminished support from DOC, professional chaplains replaced by volunteers. Some officers can be challenges.
	Having the energy to be compassionate when so much other administrative work has to be done. Less mutual support with the chaplains cut backs.
	Time and resources – understanding the volunteers and what they are teaching (are they getting it right).
	Time.

What are your greatest successes (where has God really surpassed your expectations)?

	Re-entry successes; connecting offender with the community. Knowing what you do helps to effect people’s lives.
	Building relationships with those of “other tribes.” We are forced to accept the differences of others and see others as a mutual equal.
	Seeing a former inmate coming in as a volunteer!

How have changes in your circumstances brought about your personal growth as a chaplain – as a person of faith?

	Rising to the challenge. Learning that success is not only doing what other’s need.
	Adversity builds us! Human nature makes us want it easy!

How can we pray for you?

	In the usual way!
	Fervently!

The teams had from 11am to 11:35 am to come up with their best practices. Randy shared that “only the called” will adjust and endure in the face of the drastic cutbacks that have affected the DOC chaplains. And what has emerged is the called have made adjustments and pursued their calling inside of the institutions.

Chaplain Dan Williams, Religious Programs Director for the Department of Corrections, Washington State, is retiring as of March 30, 2007 and will be relocating to Walla Walla. Dan was presented a beautifully framed Christian painting by Chaplain Howard Nason. The large painting had been Chaplain Nason’s for many years and he presented it to Chaplain Dan as a gift. All of the chaplains of the WCA wish Chaplain Dan the very best in his retirement (he may well end up pastoring in the Walla Walla area).

Gary Friedman discussed a State Bill going through regarding the (advisory board) ratio of inmates to chaplains and what Federal standards are. 24 to 16 chaplains in Washington State. 1 Chaplain per 250 inmates, and 1 more per 500. Federal guidelines applied to our state means we’d have 27 chaplains. See attachment.

1:10 – 1:40pm Business Meeting

Secretary’s Report: Bob summarized the report and it was motioned and approved. As always the minutes of the previous meeting is posted on the www.wca2000.org website.

Treasurer’s Report: Chaplain Imo Smith reported the following
Savings Account: $10

Checking Account $383.60

Today’s Receipts $435

Today’s Meals $400

Mailing Expense $100

Total Funds as of today $328.60

Motioned and approved.

Old Business: No old business to review.

New Business: Election of officers. DOC Chaplain Greg Garringer is elected Chairman. Chaplain Shannon O’Donnell is elected Treasurer. Randy Schulz remains on as Vice Chair and Bob Jordan remains on as Secretary (their offices will be up for nomination one year from now).

Art Mead (artmead@comcast.net) shared what Alpha is doing for the jail and prison community specific to re-entry. See www.ftemag.com, January issue, page 14.