NEWS & STORIES

In May and June of this year, several parishioners at Christ the King participated in a book study of “The Sun Does Shine”, written by Anthony Ray Hinton. Hinton tells the story of his wrongful conviction for murder in Alabama, and his subsequent 30 years on death row until lawyers secured his release and exoneration. This book study is part of the diocesan Commission on Prison Ministry work to enlighten our church members on the sometimes cruel results of our nation’s just

Each Sunday, members of the St. Mark’s Episcopal Jail Ministry Team visit inmates at the Pike County jail. All members of St. Marks are welcome to participate in the ministry and over the years at least forty members or friends of St. Marks have attended services at the jail. Through the weekly presence of two or three members of the jail team we share the light and love of Jesus to men whose lives are disrupted through incarceration. Each inmate who joins in the service may

The members of the Diocesan Commission on Prison Ministry recognize that the death penalty is a very difficult issue in our nation. To assist congregations in discussing this aspect of our justice system, they have developing a Three Book Bible Study series. The series is an examination of scripture through the medium of three books, each one about men who have been on Alabama's death row. The first book is "The Sun Does Shine" by Anthony Ray Hinton. This inspirational auto

Over two million people in the United States are currently in prison, more than any other country in the world. A major factor in this large population is the high rate of recidivism – approximately 75% of former inmates will return to prison. Some go back because they are career criminals, but most cases of recidivism occur because released inmates face a nearly impossible process of returning to society – especially if they are a minority, low-income, poorly educated, or ha

I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Matthew 25:36 As a member of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast Commission on Prison Ministry, I have learned the importance of the above verse. The first time I was approved (a process that took six weeks to complete) to visit the Northwest Florida Reception Center and Annex at Chipley, Florida for a Kairos reunion, I jokingly asked my church to pray that I would