Restorative Justice Week 2009

Dear Pastors and Council members:

The week of November 13 to 20, 2011, has been designated as Restorative Justice Week. The theme for the week is "Re-visioning Justice."  A biblical understanding of justice includes reconciliation, restoration as God has reconciled us in Jesus Christ and provides us glimpses of Shalom. As a result, in all our relationships we are commanded to treat others with justice and we can expect to be treated the same. Obviously, this does not always occur.

Restorative Justice is about promoting and building healthy relationships in church and community and, if necessary, holds those who have harmed others accountable in ways which restore relationships, develop explicit relational practices in church and communities.  Everyone has a voice in the process.  As such power and control issues are mostly negated.

"Re-visioning Justice" encourages us to find ways in which restorative justice principles can best be applied to reduce injustice whether in the justice systems, correctional systems, health care issues, educational systems, religious structures, and areas of employment in both government and corporate entities. We are encouraged to use the restorative justice "lens" in order to review and examine current expressions and implementations of 'justice.'   

Correctional Services Canada, the originator of the Restorative Justice Week’s themes writes the following:

Imagine a holistic system where ‘justice’ was ‘re-visioned’ around people and the needs caused by injustice. Imagine a country where restorative justice values shaped our way of life. What would that look like? What would you do to make it happen?

If we are to 're-vision' justice in our church and its ministries, we are more ably to build healthy relationships, in which all who are marginalized and on the outskirts are brought back into congregational and community life. Then we can become proactive in healing harms done and ensure accountability for people’s actions. As a church we are urged to continually update our application of biblical justice to meet new and ever-changing forms of injustice present in society.

Restorative justice principles, or as some have termed it, restorative practices, are beginning to take root in the life of the denomination.  Some examples include,

• One Classis, Classis Alberta North, has formed a Restorative Justice Task Force. Several workshops for churches in Classis are being developed.
• Several Classes have invited Rev. John de Vries, Jr. to speak about the significance of using restorative practices within classes and congregations.
• One Restorative Congregation Pilot has been completed. Another pilot church is about to begin. Upon completion of the new pilot, we will share the process.
• A prison ministry training manual using restorative justice principles is available on our website for use by prison/jail ministry volunteers.

If you, your congregation or prison ministry group is involved in actively using restorative justice principles in your ministry, please let us know.  You can contact us, using the information listed below.

For litanies on justice and restoration, please go to the Restorative Justice component of the Office of Social Justice website of the Christian Reformed Church.  A six-panel flyer is available for printing and using as a bulletin insert on Sunday, November 13, 2011. 

Blessings to you and your congregations!

Rev. John H. Lamsma           
U.S. Restorative Justice Representative   

Rev. John de Vries, Jr.
Canadian Restorative Justice Representative