Restorative Justice
On Sunday morning, January 19, Rev. Kendall Hughes, Dondi McIntosh, and Jerrell Moore shared a powerful message about the impact of restorative justice. Rev. Hughes shared an opportunity to advocate for restorative justice programs in the state of Minnesota by writing letters to our legislators. The CUMC Church and Society Action Committee is providing sample letters and information about how to contact your specific legislators. These resources are posted below.
Use this text as a template for your letter:
(Month)(Day)(Year)
The Honorable (First name)(Last name)
Address
City, State (Zip Code)
RE: Funding for Restorative Justice Practices
Dear (Representative/Senator/Congressman or Congresswoman) (Last name):
My name is (your first and last name) and I am a resident of your district and a part of Christ United Methodist Church. I am writing to express my support for restorative justice practices in the state of Minnesota and urge that funding not be cut for this important work through the Office of Restorative Practices. The cost savings, public safety benefits, and improved outcomes for victims all demonstrate that restorative justice is a crucial component of a just and effective criminal justice system.
Personally, I support the restorative justice efforts because (personal reason or story):
Three Rivers Restorative Justice (TRRJ) is a local restorative justice program in the Rochester area and it has achieved measurable positive outcomes for our community, particularly among young people. I support the expansion of programs like TRRJ across our state and believe it is a tangible investment in safety, healing and community.
I am very concerned about proposed budget cuts for restorative practices and urge you to consider maintaining or increasing the funding for restorative justice within the state of Minnesota. This is a transformational program that can make a positive difference now and to future generations of Minnesotans.
Sincerely,
SIGN YOUR NAME
Print your name
Street address
City, State, Zip code
Social Justice
Christ UMC is dedicated to making a difference in our community. We strive for social justice through all our works. That being said, we acknowledge social justice is a complex issue, and sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. We hope you can utilize some of the resources below to help understand the best ways in which we are able to share the radical love of Jesus in all aspects of life. Click on the photos to explore each topic, and if you think of a resource that is helpful, don’t hesitate to let us know!
Rochester Racial Justice Toolkit
The Toolkit is a compilation of articles, guides, news, videos, social media, and other tools from several online sources on racial justice and Black Lives Matter activism. The site is a work in progress with ongoing updates and contributions to each section. The Toolkit is an online social justice resource rooted in a commitment to radical love and service to the Rochester, MN community.
“First Do No Harm” A Toolkit for Conversations
Minnesota Methodists is an organization committed to creating the inclusive church God intends us to be. They seek to undo the harm caused by exclusion and discrimination through systemic forms of oppression against all marginalized people both inside the church and in our greater society. They recommit to working for the full inclusion of all people.
Click HERE for an easy to follow discussion guide when facing challenging LGBTQIA+ discussions.