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The PCA model is built on the conviction that a partnership is formed between the
inmate congregation and the church in the larger community. This model places
responsibility, ownership, initiative, and trust in the members of the congregation to
carry on ministry within the institution.
Each week, visitors from neighboring support congregations worship and fellowship with
the inmate members, erasing barriers of prejudice and fear and building bridges of trust,
acceptance, and affirmation.
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The support congregations provide volunteers and on-going financial support for
congregational expenses and are potential "resettlement" stations for inmate
members when they are released and need a base of spiritual and emotional support.
The members of the support congregations who become involved in the prison congregation
are rewarded with a unique and rich worship experience and get to see first hand why Jesus
commanded his followers to "remember those who are in prison."
PCA is the catalyst that assists
denominations to develop congregations within state prison systems.
A Word from Our
Founder
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Rev. Ed Nesselhuf
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I was the developer pastor of the Community of St. Dysmas in Jessup,
Maryland from 1984 to 1987. St. Dysmas is a Lutheran congregation
established in two Maryland State prisons and is the first denominational congregation in
the nation where the members are all prison inmates. As I watched the inmate congregation
develop and at the same time, an outside network of support develop in the
Lutheran congregations of Maryland who chose to "partner" with us, it became
evident that we had stumbled onto a model of prison ministry with some unique strengths -
especially enabling here to fore uninvolved Christians to "visit the
imprisoned".
St. Dysmas of South Dakota Lutheran congregation (Sioux Falls and
Springfield, SD) and St. Dismas Episcopal congregation (Graterford,
PA) founded in 1990 and 1991 respectively have further convinced me - and the
supporters of P.C.A. - that this model can be used in many states by a number of
denominations. Hence, our deep commitment to this mission.
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