The North American Division Adult Ministries Department, with full recognition of its responsibility and privilege to encourage, inspire, educate, coordinate, and offer advocacy for all persons within the North American Division territory who choose to serve as Prison Volunteers, and who desire such, has established, by vote of the North
American Division Committee on June 1, 2005, The North American Division Adventist Prison Volunteer Network.
It should be understood that the establishment of the “Network” will in no way obviate the general functions and responsibilities of the Prison Ministry Departmental function of the Adult Ministries Department. The Adventist Prison Volunteer Network operates as a function of the North American Division Adult Ministries Volunteer Network.
The Department will continue its function in the areas of, (1) Coordination of General Prison Ministry functions and assistance with Prison Ministry Education through the Local Conference Prison Ministry Directors, (2) Crisis Intervention, (3) Professional Development through Resource Preparation and Training through the NAD Training Consultant, (4) Consultation regarding application for Grants for Local Projects and,(5) Representation of the Division and its entities to the General Public on Prison Ministry matters of broad spectrum.
Features of the “Network” will include:
• Oversight and Administration of the “Network” will be the responsibility of the NAD Adult Ministries Director. The “Network” will function in harmony with the Prison Ministry Directors of the Union/Local Conferences, and the General Conference/NAD Office of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries Prison Chaplaincy Cohort.
• The core of the Advisory Committee of the “Network” will be comprised of nine Prison Volunteers, one from each Union of the North American Division, who will serve one year at a time. Partners to the Advisory Committee will be Local Conference/Union Prison Ministry Directors, who will serve on a rotating basis. The NAD Vice President (for Ministries) will serve as Chair of the “Network.”
• Membership will be on a direct voluntary basis. Interested persons will provide an e-mail address, phone number, an indication of where church membership is held, and the name of the Prison Ministry group with which they are associated. Persons not active, but who have an interest, are welcome.
• In addition, solicitations for membership will be done through the offices of the Local/Union Conference Directors of Prison Ministry, general advertising, and word of mouth.
• A benefit of membership will be the “Network” monthly E-Newsletter, Network News. Contents will include Greetings/Inspiration from the Director; A Prison Ministry Blessing/Success Story; Best Practice Tips; Meet Your Neighbor; Meet The Directors; Q&A; “What’s Hot, What’s Not?”; “Happenings”; Resource Recommendations; and “Inmate Spiritual Counseling” (our new NAD standard Prison Ministry training protocol) curriculum segments.
• “Network” members will have the opportunity to submit Prison Volunteer Ministry Reports through the new Adult Ministries website.
• The “Network” Advisory Committee will also assist in facilitating Convocations and other centralized training initiatives.
• The “Network” will maintain a directory of individual members and various Prison Ministry Organizations for the purpose of facilitating ministry contact referrals.
Features of the “Network” will include: