Rideau Park United Church

 

SA&O Information Bulletin

Social Action and Outreach Committee
Rideau Park United Church
November, 2005

The Church Council on Justice and Corrections

The Church Council on Justice and Corrections is a national faith-based coalition of eleven founding churches, created in 1974, to promote a restorative approach to Justice with an emphasis on addressing the needs of victims and offenders, mutual respect, healing, individual accountability, community involvement and crime prevention.

They believe there can be no criminal justice without social justice; we can only deal with crime by building a peaceful, safe and just society. The foundation of building healthy relationships in our communities is a focus on the common good rather than satisfying our individual needs and desires.

When crime happens, we need to name and struggle with the harm done to people and attend to healing for people on all sides. This expression of restorative/transformative justice focuses on the needs of victims, on meaningful accountability and help for offenders, and the involvement of citizens in creating healthier, safer communities. Community members are accountable and committed to one another and the community as a whole.

The Council’s motto is “pushing the edge”.  We want to hold up the human dimension of justice. We never want to forgot those on the edge of society and our communities, those marginalized and too readily forgotten. In the Christian tradition, the edges are also holy ground where Jesus preached and lived.

It is primarily by education, advocacy and community development initiatives that we try to foster healthier communities and crime prevention through social responsibility.

Since 1974, The Church Council has demonstrated in publications, pilot projects and numerous other initiatives how to strengthen community through its understanding that real justice requires the pursuit of wholeness for all.

• As representatives of faith communities, we believe that together we can be a voice for healing justice.
• We believe in being Christ’s witness to justice, adopting his example of love, mercy and forgiveness.
• We believe in a vision of peace, caring for one another with understanding and compassion, as we would care for ourselves.
• We affirm each person’s dignity and worth through fairness, equity and trust. Each one of us has inherited the presence of God within.
• We believe in non-violent conflict resolution that is person-centered.
• We believe we can help guide all communities responding to the effects of crime and thereby contribute to a healing process by:
  • naming the harm done;
  • attending to the healing of all parties involved;
  • encouraging social responsibility;
  • developing and exploring resources for all communities.
• We believe healthy communities reduce and prevent crime. We encourage local involvement through volunteerism and networking.

For additional information please call 563-1688 or email ccjc@ccjc.ca

“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?”     Micah 6:8