Hereford Family Affairs:
 Swords
into Plowshares
The 2007 Jesus Radicals Conference
By Fr. Tom Hereford, November Coalition
The Problem with Prisons was the title of the Closing Plenary at the Jesus
Radicals annual conference named: Swords into Plowshares:
Anarchism, Christianity and Principles of Peace.
"Jesus Radicals aspires to be a resource
for those who believe that the Christian Gospel is primarily
a message of love and peace, and that militarism, capitalism
and the state are idols that stand in stark contrast to the rejection
of power by Jesus in favor of a personalist way."
Defense attorney and former
Public Defender Jessica Hoskins
illustrates the limited options available under present policies.
The 135 conference attendees from various
faith traditions were hosted by New Hope Farm & Hope House
Catholic Worker Community in Dubuque, Iowa on August 10 - 11,
2007.
Christian Peacemaking was discussed from
many viewpoints throughout the conference, including peace with
creation, our neighbors, and our enemies.
 On Saturday Evening, "The
Problem with Prisons" Plenary Panel was facilitated
by Nekeisha Alexis-Baker (one of the conference coordinators).
Panelists included Brian Terrell (30-year Catholic Worker and
Peace Activist), Jessica Hoskins (defense attorney and former
Public Defender), Orson Davis (former inmate who served 15+ years),
and Fr. Tom Hereford (Peace and Justice Activist and former Federal
Prison Chaplain).
Panelists wove their stories together into
a unified call for growth in prison reform activities.
One almost immediate outcome of the conference
was Hope House Catholic Worker Community's decision to make prison
reform and prisoner support part of its mission.
Members have already begun collecting books
for prisoners, writing to prisoners, volunteering with the Alternatives
to Violence Project and hosting prison reform round table discussions.
The plenary session and conference ended
in prayer lead by Orson Davis where we joined hands in solidarity
with one another and with all brothers and sisters in prisons
around the world.
As we prayed, we felt held in the Heart
of God, at one with those in prison also held in the Heart of
God.
For more information online, visit www.jesusradicals.com
and www.avpusa.org
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