Inmate Priest is Tangible Sign of Hope for Those in Prison
Episcopal News Service: Inmate priest is tangible sign of hope for those in prison.
"The congregation is small. There are about 42 communicants, and between 15 and 20 show up on any given Sunday night for Eucharist.
"In that respect, it's very much like any other parish in the Episcopal Church," says the Rev. James Tramel, who ministers to the congregation.
The congregation is different in one major way. All of the communicants and Tramel are in prison at the California State Prison, Solano."
I have never met James, but he studied at CDSP while I was there, while he was in prison. His story is a fascinating one, and worth following because it offers hope not only to those in prison, but to many of us on the outside.
"The congregation is small. There are about 42 communicants, and between 15 and 20 show up on any given Sunday night for Eucharist.
"In that respect, it's very much like any other parish in the Episcopal Church," says the Rev. James Tramel, who ministers to the congregation.
The congregation is different in one major way. All of the communicants and Tramel are in prison at the California State Prison, Solano."
I have never met James, but he studied at CDSP while I was there, while he was in prison. His story is a fascinating one, and worth following because it offers hope not only to those in prison, but to many of us on the outside.
posted by Preston at 9:48 PM
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3 Comments:
I had the chance to go to Good Shepherd last Sunday where he was preaching via telephone recorded call. No one explained what was going on when a phone rang near the altar in the middle of the gospel, or when it was put through the speaker, chopped up by the recorded message, "This is a recorded call from an inmate at a correctional facility." It was a very bizarre experience until they explained everything. Now I'm intrigued and have been talking with 3rd years who know of him. What an ecouraging thing!
Hi Preston,
Good to come across your blog. I'll have to thank Karen for sending out the link. I'm really liking reading it thus far, especially the posts on forgiveness from a couple weeks ago. It's something I've been struggling with a lot lately, so it was significant to have come across those ones.
Hope things are going well.
Catherine Holmen
Thank you for this post, and for kim for sending me your link. I have a son who will be getting out of prison very soon. He was able to receieve ministry and also perform ministry while he was behind bars...there is no place that is so dark that the Light of Jesus can not shine...
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