Source: (2002) Paper presented at the 9th Annual Restorative Justice Conference, Fresno, California. October 26,2002.
Duane Ruth-Heffelbower begins his reflections on the restorative faith community with acknowledgment of the many ways in which faith communities themselves are damaged and fractured by wrongdoing and broken relationships. Often faith communities do not know how to work at broken relationships both within their own community and in the world outside their community. Against this background, Heffelbower offers the Peacemaking Model – developed for victim-offender reconciliation in Fresno, California – as a tool that can be used in every type of situation where broken relationships leave feelings of injustice. If restorative justice is a natural fit for faith communities, how then can restorative faith communities be built? Heffelbower explores this question by drawing on his observations of Indonesia’s experience in dealing with diversity and conflict.
Your donation helps Prison Fellowship International repair the harm caused by crime by emphasizing accountability, forgiveness, and making amends for prisoners and those affected by their actions. When victims, offenders, and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results are transformational.
Donate Now