Procedures and References
Purpose. The purpose of our ministry is to bring healing, reformation, redemption, compassion, and spiritual uplift to those who are incarcerated (or otherwise prevented from having access to Christian Science resources) by sharing the truths about God and man as taught in the Bible and as illuminated in Christian Science. The purpose is not to proselytize but to bless all who are incarcerated and to support the work of the institutional staff and all other volunteers (including those of other faith traditions) who are working for the betterment of those who are incarcerated.
Inspiration. Both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible admonish all Christians to visit and help all who are down-trodden and outcast in ways that meet their needs both practically and spiritually. This is a major biblical theme. There are also specific directions to visit those in prison in Isaiah 42:6,7 and Matthew 5: 34-36. Mary Baker Eddy had a keen interest in bringing spiritual uplift to prisoners. You can read more about her interest in and encouragement of institutional ministry work on our website, LightinPrison.org. Our ministry is a prime example of activity that is at the heart and soul of Christian discipleship.
Activities. Our ministerial activities include:
- Christian Science worship services
- Volunteer chaplains who meet with individuals and groups
- Corresponding chaplains who correspond with incarcerated individuals
- Christian Science lectures (when sponsored by one or more Christian Science branch churches or societies)
- Distribution of Christian Science literature and Bibles in English and other languages
- Participation is some interfaith organizations related to our ministry
- Maintenance of a website devoted to our ministry.
Institutions. We seek to serve all institutions in California where people are involuntarily committed including:
- State prisons
- Federal prisons
- County jails
- Juvenile detention facilities
- Mental and VA hospitals
- Immigration detention centers
If you would like more information about becoming a visiting chaplain, please contact us at ca.state.co@gmail.
LOCAL COMMITTEES
Organization. Each local committee is composed of representatives appointed by the local Christian Science branch churches and societies within the local committee’s geographical area. Each local committee is a legally separate entity that creates its own bylaws and rules and elects its own officers. The State Committee recommends that each Christian Science branch church and society designate a representative (“rep”) to their local committee, and an alternate rep (to serve when the rep can’t), and that the local committee adopt bylaws that are democratic in nature.
Reporting to the State Committee. Local committees should keep the Executive Secretary of the State Committee informed of:
- The composition of the local committee—officers, reps, alternate reps, chaplains and chaplain assistants
- The contact information of the officers, reps, alternate reps, and chaplains (not chaplain assistants)
- All changes to the local committee bylaws
State Committee Liaison. Each local committee is assigned a State Committee Liaison. The Liaison is a member of the State Committee and should attend all local committee meetings, either in person or remotely, for the purpose of facilitating communications between the local committee and the State Committee and providing support and guidance to the local committee from the State Committee. The assigned Liaison should be copied on all significant local committee communications. Any questions or concerns about these Procedures or other matters pertaining to our ministry should be shared with the Liaison.
Duties of Representatives. Reps are first and foremost asked to pray to support our ministry. This prayer should be active and specific and change as challenges arise and conditions change. Reps represent their branch church or society on the local committee and are also expected to be the communication link between our ministry and their branch.
Reps should:
- Attend all local committee meetings either in person or remotely or arrange for their alternate to attend
- Vote on issues that come before the local committee
- Jointly supervise all ministry work that is performed by the chaplains and chaplain assistants of that local committee
- Subscribe to the emails from the State Committee website, LightinPrison.org
- Review the new content on the website at least once a month
- Read the monthly chaplain reports of the chaplains supervised by their local committee. If they are not otherwise received, access the “Members Only” section of LightinPrison.org (obtain a password from Gabriel Serafini at gserafini@gmail.com) in order to read the relevant chaplain reports, which are
published in that part of the website. - Actively share highlights and fruitage from local committee and State Committee meetings and the website with that rep’s church or society by, as appropriate
- Relating testimonies taken from chaplain reports or from the State Committee website at a testimony meeting or business meeting
- Inviting local chaplains to speak to the congregation
- Posting notices and information about our ministry
- Encouraging church members to subscribe to the emails from, and visit, the website
- Encouraging church members to attend State Committee online meetings and local committee meetings as a guest
- Encourage donations to both the State and local committees from their churches and from individuals in their churches
- Prayerfully and actively recruit church members who are qualified to be, and would make good, institutional workers (either chaplains or chaplain assistants)
All reps are encouraged to apply for and to become chaplain assistants but there is no requirement that they do so.
Local Committee Officers. Each local committee should elect at least a Chairperson and a Secretary. The duties of the Chairperson, Vice-Chair (if any) and Secretary will be described in the bylaws of the local committee. Usually the Chairperson presides at meetings, the Vice-Chair presides in the Chair’s absence, and the Secretary is responsible for the logistics of sending notices, taking and distributing minutes of meetings, and making the necessary reports to the State Committee. Minutes do not need to be lengthy.
Officers should also coordinate with the Liaison to reach out to churches and societies in their area that are not actively participating in the local committee or that have assigned a rep but the rep’s attendance is poor, to see if they can encourage greater participation.
Officers should also coordinate with the Liaison and reps to periodically contact local institutions that are not being served, to see if there is an opportunity for a Christian Science chaplain, services or literature for that institution.
Officers should direct every rep to have a copy of these Procedures, to have a password to LightinPrison.org, and to know how to visit the Members Only section of the website.
Local Committee Meetings. The State Committee has from time to time suggested format and contents for local committee meetings, but the content of local committee meetings is ultimately up to each local committee. The State Committee encourages all local committees to include, for all of its meetings, the option of attending online or via conference call in order to achieve the highest rate of participation and the least travel time for all concerned. Most local committee chairpersons or Secretaries send out an agenda in advance of the meeting. Meetings usually consist of readings, prayer, metaphysical sharing, chaplain reports or discussion with chaplains about their reports if the reports are read prior to the meeting, report by the State Committee Liaison, review of a page or two of these Procedures, selection of a metaphysical topic and date and time for the next meeting, old business, new business, interviews for any new chaplain or chaplain assistant applicants, and adjournment. Minutes should have a record of who attended and the main actions taken at the meeting. Local committees should meet at least quarterly. Most local committees meet every other month; some meet every month.
Fruitage Meetings. Fruitage meetings are an opportunity to share inspiration and progress with church members and others. Local committees can work with a host church or society to sponsor an in-person meeting, or they may be done online. The meetings can present verified healings where permission to share has been obtained (see Section III.E.). The host church should approve of any guest speaker. The meeting may be addressed to church members, or it could be, in appropriate cases, addressed to outside groups such as institution staff, other religious volunteers, or families of incarcerated individuals. Vouchers may be submitted for reimbursable expenses to the State Committee within three months. Reimbursement expenses include: musicians, venue, custodian, programs, invitations, advertising. Speakers may include chaplains, religious leaders, prison and VA personnel, and so forth. Maximum reimbursement from the State Committee for the speaker’s travel plus honorarium is $500.
CHAPLAIN ASSISTANTS
Duties and Limitations. Chaplain assistants help to conduct Christian Science services either as readers or in other capacities inside the institutions. They also may help in passing out literature and briefly responding to basic questions about Christian Science. They metaphysically support the services and the work of chaplains. They do not engage in one-on-one sessions with inmates/patients and they leave extensive discussions and individual Christian Science treatment to chaplains. Chaplain assistants should be familiar with the rules of the institution in which they serve and they should never agree to pass along messages or information from one inmate to another or to or from anyone outside the facility, nor agree to perform any act on behalf of an inmate other than those permitted by the rules of the institution.
Whenever a chaplain assistant is inside an institution in the company of a visiting chaplain, the chaplain assistant is under the supervision of the visiting chaplain and should obey any directions given by the visiting chaplain. Chaplain assistants may serve on more than one local committee. A chaplain assistant may also volunteer to provide clerical assistance to the staff chaplain of an institution.
Chaplain assistants should conform to all facility dress codes and also use common sense by dressing conservatively and speaking and acting with restraint. Chaplain assistants should also identify themselves as Christian Scientists (See Section III. H., above). Chaplain assistants are encouraged to attend their local committee meetings.
Minimum Qualifications. To become a chaplain assistant, a person must:
- Have a strong desire to help and bless those who are incarcerated
- Complete the current application form (found on LightInPrison.org)
- Be a member in good standing of a California branch church or society
- Be a member of The Mother Church
- Be sponsored for chaplain work by that person’s branch church or society
Application Procedure. Applicants should have read these Procedures and should also try to attend at least one or two local committee meetings and talk to existing chaplains or chaplain assistants prior to submitting an application. The applicant then submits the completed application to the local committee and the local committee and its State Committee liaison then interview the applicant. If the local committee and the liaison both approve, the applicant is accepted, and the State Committee is notified of the addition to the local committee’s list of chaplain assistants.
Christian Science Services. If a chaplain is present at a Christian Science church service inside an institution, then the chaplain is in charge of the service, and all chaplain assistants and others who may be present from the local committee are required to take directions from the chaplain (including officers of the local committee). Although most services conducted inside an institution will tend to resemble a Christian Science church service, institutional services are not church services governed by the Church Manual. They should be planned and conducted on the basis of prayer for what will be most effective for that particular service and those in attendance. Debate or argumentation should never be allowed to arise in a service. The Rule for Motives and Acts from the Manual is a good guide for those involved in planning and conducting these services.
CHAPLAINS
Minimum Qualifications. To become a chaplain, a person must:
- Have a strong desire to help and bless those who are incarcerated
- Complete the current application form (found on LightInPrison.org)
- Be a member in good standing of both a California branch church or society and of The Mother Church
- Be sponsored for chaplain work by that person’s branch church or society
- Be class taught by a Christian Science Teacher (CSB) who is (or, at the time of passing was) in good standing in that capacity with The Mother Church
Application Procedure. Applicants should have read these Procedures and should also try to attend at least one or two local committee meetings prior to submitting an application. When feasible, the applicant should also try to accompany an existing chaplain on a visit to an institution prior to applying as a chaplain. The applicant then submits the completed application to the local committee. The local committee and the State Committee liaison to that local committee interview the applicant. If the local committee and the liaison both approve the applicant, they sign the application and send it to the State Committee. The State Committee then votes whether to confirm the local committee recommendation and then informs the local committee and applicant of the outcome. Once a chaplain is approved by the State Committee, that status continues until the chaplain resigns or is removed for some cause by either the local committee or by the State Committee. Any local committee may create a process to periodically review and reappoint a chaplain if the local committee so desires, but there is no requirement to do so.
Multiple Roles. Whenever possible, chaplains should not be a rep or an officer. In smaller local committees, however, this separation of roles is not always
possible. A chaplain may also serve under more than one local committee as long as that is acceptable to the committees involved.
Video interviews. All chaplains are encouraged to share fruitage from their ministry not only with their local committees and branch churches, but possibly in articles for the periodicals and in videos for LightinPrison.org.
Permission to Share. It is important that chaplains be sensitive to and respect the privacy of those included in their ministry. Prior to sharing accounts of healing or of other situations experienced by an inmate, chaplains should obtain the inmate’s permission to share any personal or sensitive details, even if the inmate’s name is not used, unless that information has already become public knowledge through the inmate’s own actions. Prior permission from an inmate is essential if the inmate’s story is part of a video interview appearing on LightinPrison.org. It is a good practice for chaplains to get in the habit of asking for permission to share fairly early in their contacts with an inmate who is expressing sincere interest in Christian Science. Using prayer, sound judgment, and common sense, chaplains may report on matters shared by an inmate without prior permission when the chaplain has high confidence that the inmate would not object to such sharing.
Christian Science Treatment. It is the privilege of chaplains to give specific Christian Science treatment to inmates who request it. Such treatment should adhere to all the ethical and moral standards of Christian Science as taught in primary class and as contained in the Church Manual and in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. Treatment for a problem should not be given to someone who is receiving medical treatment for the same problem, although prayer in the form of seeing and affirming the spiritual nature of that individual and their unbroken connection with the source of all good is, of course, always appropriate.
Chaplain Cooperation. Sometimes two visiting chaplains will serve the same institution. In those situations, the chaplains should coordinate so that they are not both giving Christian Science treatment to the same individual at the same time. A visiting chaplain and a corresponding chaplain usually will not be in contact with the same inmate at the same time, with the following exception: A visiting chaplain should keep informed about the status of inmates that chaplain has been visiting and should ask any who are expecting to be transferred to an institution having no visiting chaplain or about to be released, if they would like to be assigned a corresponding chaplain. If an inmate asks for a corresponding chaplain to be assigned, the visiting chaplain should then inform the Executive Secretary. The corresponding chaplain assigned by the State Committee to the requesting inmate and the visiting chaplain who made the referral should then be in close contact to support the inmate during the transition. The visiting chaplain should cease to be involved once the inmate has left the facility.
Identification of Christian Science. In interactions with others, chaplains and chaplain assistants should identify themselves as Christian Scientists and explain that Christian Science is a Bible-based religion that is especially focused on the teachings and example of Christ Jesus. Christian Science services should be announced as such. In the event that a chaplain is asked to give a non-denominational service or talk, that is a welcome opportunity, but the talk or service should start with the chaplain identifying himself or herself as a Christian Science chaplain with a brief explanation of Christian Science. It is usually helpful to also make a short statement that clearly distinguishes Christian Science from Scientology since there is common confusion on that point.
Removal. A chaplain may be removed by vote of the local committee and agreement of the State Committee or by direct action by the State Committee. Any removal should be done only after the chaplain has been given ample opportunity to explain their conduct. Any removal should be done in the most considerate and loving manner feasible under the circumstances. Written notice of removal should be sent promptly by the local committee to any institutions formerly served by the chaplain.
Distinguishing Visiting Chaplains from Corresponding Chaplains. The qualifications and application procedures are the same for visiting chaplains and for corresponding chaplains, but the work they do is different. Visiting chaplains are assigned by their local committees to work in one or more specific institutions to make in-person visits to those who are incarcerated and to conduct Christian Science services. Corresponding chaplains do not enter institutions but are assigned by the State Committee to specific inmates/patients with whom they correspond. Generally, a chaplain is appointed to be either a visiting or a corresponding chaplain. A chaplain may move from one category to the other with the approval of the local committee, in which case the Executive Secretary should be informed. There may be rare instances in which it is appropriate for a chaplain to do both jobs at the same time (although not at the same institution), but this may not be done without the approval of both the local committee and the State Committee. Normally, an inmate in an institution that has a visiting chaplain will not be assigned a corresponding chaplain. However, if an institution permits church services held by a visiting chaplain, but does not permit on-on-one visits, then a corresponding chaplain (not the visiting chaplain) may correspond with inmates that the visiting chaplain has identified as desiring one-on-one visits. Those inmates may also attend the church services. A visiting chaplain in a State facility can write inmates in county or federal facilities. A visiting chaplain in a county facility can write inmates in State or Federal institutions.
General Guidelines for All Chaplains. Most important is for the chaplain to be guided by prayer and a deep desire to bless and love everyone with whom the chaplain comes into contact. Take to heart the last line of Mrs. Eddy’s poem, “Christ My Refuge”: “My prayer, some daily good to do to Thine for Thee; an offering pure of Love, whereto God leadeth me.”
Personal information about a chaplain should not be given to an inmate either in person or by mail.
It is generally preferable to derive answers to inmate questions directly from our Pastor and, with respect to inmates unfamiliar with Christian Science, specially from the Bible. Having a copy of the Tenets of Christian Science to share can be very helpful.
Another very important requirement is that chaplains know and obey all of the laws and rules that pertain to work in the institutions housing the inmates they serve. Different institutions have different rules, and the rules sometimes change. All chaplains need to keep themselves aware of the pertinent rules and hanges in those rules and obey them – not only for their own protection and success, but also because violation of a rule by a Christian Science chaplain may cast a cloud over our ministry generally.
Similarly, if the chaplain feels it is appropriate, the chaplain may inform the inmate that members of the inmate’s family may contact the State Committee office (contact information given on the book marker) to request information about Christian Science and possible assignment of a corresponding chaplain.
Chaplains should be alert to examples of fruitage from their work and, when appropriate, report that fruitage subject to the requirements of Section III.E., above.
If an inmate has exhibited a sincere interest in Christian Science over at least six months and has begun to think of himself or herself as a Christian Scientist, then his or her name, prison number and facility where incarcerated should be reported to the State Committee so we can add him or her to our database of inmates who are students of Christian Science. This database is used to be sure that we don’t lose track of such inmates over time through transfers or changes in chaplains.
Chaplains should also use spiritual intuition as to whenever it may be appropriate to bring up the possibility of an inmate applying for membership in The Mother Church. If the chaplain believes the inmate is ready and the inmate embraces the idea of applying for membership and completes the application, the chaplain should sign the completed application and obtain the necessary additional signature (from a Teacher of Christian Science), then send it to The Mother Church and notify the State Committee.
To the extent an institution’s rules permit, providing Christian Science literature to inmates in the form of whole issues of the Sentinel, Quarterly and Full-Text Bible Lessons, or copies of articles from any of the Church periodicals is encouraged. It can be there physically with an inmate when a chaplain cannot. See Section IX, below.
CORRESPONDING CHAPLAINS
Guidelines Specific to Corresponding Chaplains. Corresponding chaplains must meet the same qualifications and go through the same appointment process, and have the same obligations vis-à-vis their local committee, as described above for visiting chaplains. Corresponding chaplains will serve under the jurisdiction of the local committee that includes the corresponding chaplain’s branch church,
irrespective of the location(s) of the inmates.
Purpose. Corresponding chaplains may act when, for whatever reason, a visiting chaplain is not available to an inmate. This can include the transitional period immediately following release. The corresponding chaplain’s role is the same as that of a visiting chaplain in a one-on-one visit, except that it is done through correspondence rather than in person.
Assignment. All corresponding chaplains are assigned to work with specific inmates by the State Committee. Without revealing the name of the inmate, the corresponding chaplains shall inform his/her local committee of these assignments by identifying whether it is a man or a woman and the name of the institution housing the inmate. Whenever the corresponding chaplain becomes aware that the status of an inmate is changing (whether the inmate is being transferred or released or no longer wants contact with the corresponding chaplain), the corresponding chaplain must report that change to the Executive Secretary and to the local committee.
Anonymity. All correspondence to an inmate by a corresponding chaplain is to be done anonymously. That is, the corresponding chaplain uses only the corresponding chaplain’s first name (e.g., “Chaplain Bill”) and uses the State Committee’s address as the only return address anywhere in the letter or on the envelope. Unless an institution requires otherwise (which is extremely rare) corresponding chaplains should send letters directly to an assigned inmate rather than through the Executive Secretary, even though the return address will be that of the State Committee. The fact that the envelope will bear a postmark showing its place of mailing, is not considered sufficient information to compromise the corresponding chaplain’s anonymity. The Executive Secretary will forward any return correspondence from the inmate directly to the corresponding chaplain.
No Confidentiality. Copies of all letters mailed to or received from an inmate are not private or confidential. In most cases, mail to an inmate or patient is read by the institution’s staff upon receipt and mail from the inmate to a corresponding chaplain will also be read by the staff before it is sent. In addition, letters to or from a corresponding chaplain are archived by the Executive Secretary and may be seen by the local committee.
Local Committee Oversight. The corresponding chaplain should send copies of all letters sent to inmates to the Executive Secretary. The Executive Secretary also keeps copies of the letters from inmates addressed to the corresponding chaplain. Thus, the Executive Secretary keeps copies of all correspondence to and from the inmate. Local committees may request copies of the correspondence involving their corresponding chaplains from the Executive Secretary. Each corresponding chaplain also must file reports of their activities online in the same way that visiting chaplains file reports. These reports should include some reasonable level of detail about the contents of the correspondence and not just a report that letters were sent and received. The level of detail and the contents of reports are up to the local committee but should include enough detail that the local committee can intelligently carry out its supervisory function. It is permissible, but not required, for local committees to have the corresponding chaplain file copies of letters sent (with any names deleted) as the corresponding chaplain’s online report in lieu of creating a separate summary of the corresponding chaplain’s correspondence. Local committee members are not to make copies of and/or share the contents of any of the actual letters sent or received by a corresponding chaplain with anyone outside that local committee and/or the State Committee without written approval from either the author of the letter or from the State Committee.
First Communication. After the corresponding chaplain has been assigned an inmate, the corresponding chaplain should send an introductory letter to the inmate that includes a copy of the “Summary of the Christian Science Corresponding Chaplain’s Role” (see Exhibit A). That first letter should explain that the corresponding chaplain has been approved by the Christian Science Committee on Institutional Work in California to serve as a corresponding chaplain, should mention how the inmate’s request for communication from a corresponding chaplain was received (e.g., “I am responding to your request for a Christian Science corresponding chaplain made to chaplain Ellen”), should share some inspiration in the form of metaphysical statements and/or quotations and should ask that the inmate write back to confirm that the inmate has read the Summary and understands that the contents of letters back and forth with the corresponding chaplain will not be private, and to confirm that the inmate wishes to continue with a further exchange of letters with the corresponding chaplain.
Contacting the Institution. At the same time that the corresponding chaplain sends the first letter to an inmate, the corresponding chaplain should send a letter to the facility where the inmate is incarcerated for the purpose of requesting any rules or restrictions that are applicable to those who wish to correspond with an inmate/patient of that facility and/or send religious literature to that individual. In the event of no response, the corresponding chaplain is not obligated to follow up with the facility. In the event of a response, the corresponding chaplain must obey any conditions or rules that are given to the corresponding chaplain by the institution.
Subsequent Communications. Correspondence with an inmate should concentrate upon sharing spiritual inspiration and prayer. Whenever possible, the inmate should be guided to the Bible and Science and Health for answers and inspiration. Samples of corresponding chaplain letters that have had all identification information deleted are available upon request to the Executive Secretary. Sample letters should not be copied or used as a template but may be used as a springboard for the corresponding chaplain’s own inspiration.
Transfers. Whenever the corresponding chaplain learns that an inmate is about to be transferred, the corresponding chaplain should contact the Executive Secretary and pass along any information the corresponding chaplain has about the transfer. If the inmate is transferred to a facility that is serviced by a visiting chaplain, the corresponding chaplain will be asked to send a letter to the inmate explaining that the inmate should request a visit from the visiting chaplain at the new facility. The letter should make it clear that the corresponding chaplain will continue to respond to the inmate until the connection with the visiting chaplain is made. Once there has been contact between the inmate and visiting chaplain, the corresponding chaplain should so inform the local committee and the State Committee and stop further communications with the inmate, except in situations where one-on-one chaplain visits are prohibited by the new institution (see Section III.J, above). In the event that the inmate continues to send letters to the corresponding chaplain, the Executive Secretary shall forward those letters to the visiting chaplain. The corresponding chaplain should not respond to an inmate’s letters after the inmate has made contact with the visiting
chaplain unless requested to do so by the State Committee. The corresponding chaplain and the visiting chaplain are encouraged to discuss the needs of the inmate during the transition period.
Correspondence at Time of Release. When a corresponding chaplain becomes aware that an inmate/patient is about to be released or has just been released, the corresponding chaplain is encouraged to provide Christian Science support tailored to the new situation, handling specific claims that often accompany releases (anxiety, confusion, lack of direction, reversion to old bad habits, lack of funds, lack of friends, need for a job, need for a home, etc.). The corresponding chaplain’s support should also include helping the inmate/patient to connect up with Christian Science resources like local churches, local Reading Rooms and a Christian Science practitioner if one is requested. In appropriate cases the corresponding chaplain may also refer the inmate to Embraced:Fully and to The Principle Foundation (see Section X.A., below). Although there is no specific cut-off for the corresponding chaplain’s support after release, the corresponding chaplain should generally terminate the corresponding chaplain’s involvement with the former inmate/patient within approximately 3 months after release. The corresponding chaplain should not engage in an open-ended and continuing relationship after release but should turn the inmate/patient over to God and local Christian Science support.
Expenses. All reasonable postage, mailing supplies and other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by corresponding chaplains in carrying out their duties as corresponding chaplains (other than subscriptions and books as described in Section IX, below) will be reimbursed by the local committee funds (administered by the State Committee) if they request reimbursement by sending a reimbursement voucher to the Executive Secretary. The voucher form is available at www.LightinPrison.org. Reimbursement checks for properly submitted vouchers are generally paid twice a month around the 1st and 15th of each month. No reimbursement is available for expenses that are more than three months old.
Questions and Issues. Corresponding chaplains may contact the Executive Secretary with questions or concerns they have. If the Executive Secretary is not able to resolve the issue, the Executive Secretary will refer it, as appropriate, to the local committee or the State Committee.
Helpful Tips Memo. The Executive Secretary maintains a memo entitled “Corresponding Chaplain Helpful Tips.” Corresponding chaplains should obtain a current copy from the Executive Secretary, and may also request samples of prior corresponding chaplain letters from the Executive Secretary.