I work as a restorative justice facilitator for Restorative Justice Nelson, predominantly because I think it is one of most obviously gospel-shaped things I could be doing. After years working in church-based ministry, I now live out that very same calling in this community-based ministry.
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul writes:
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
This is precisely the work and the gift of restorative justice.
I have the privilege of meeting with people who have been harmed by criminal acts (whether accidentally, for example in a car crash, or purposefully, for example by theft or assault) and with those who have caused that harm. No matter who I am meeting with, I approach this encounter as a meeting with someone who bears the image of God, who is loved and treasured by God, and who has the potential to heal and grow, and receive forgiveness and grace just like me.
As I hear people’s stories, I seek to listen, to honour their humanity and pain, and to gain an understanding of the ongoing effects for each person. As I do this, I fully expect the Holy Spirit to be present and active. Whilst I rarely name the presence of the Spirit, although I have prayed with clients over the years when appropriate, I know that God is at work precisely because this is God’s work – healing, forgiveness and reconciliation is the family business!
After these individual meetings, when it is appropriate, safe, and all parties have voluntarily agreed to it, we may have a meeting all together. This is a hui where people who have been harmed come face-to-face with those who have been harmed. We talk openly about what has happened and the harm the offending caused. People who have caused harm are given the opportunity to take accountability for what they have done, to listen, to offer an apology and to seek to address the harm they’ve caused by way of actions agreed to in the meeting. People who have been harmed have the opportunity to tell their story and speak to what they need to heal or move forward better from this point. This is not something that “victims” have recourse to anywhere else in the criminal justice system.
I have seen the miraculous happen. I have seen people who have taken someone’s life be embraced by the family members of the deceased. I have seen forgiveness and love bubble up between two people, one who nearly killed the other. I have seen understanding and compassion arise between people who are divided by linguistic and cultural barriers as well as the divide of “offender” and “victim”. I have seen people who have been silenced find a voice, and people who have been too defended to listen finally hear.
In short, I regularly and spectacularly see God’s kingdom – and God’s kin-dom – coming.
I suppose this is no surprise, really. In Matthew’s 25, Jesus gives incredibly clear GPS co-ordinates of where we can dependably find him and, perhaps shockingly, it’s not in a church service! Jesus says when we encounter people who are hungry, thirsty, lacking clothing, sick, or in prison (or perhaps, as I see it, in the criminal justice system more broadly), we have the honour of serving Jesus – or the tragedy of ignoring or mistreating Jesus.
If all this interests you – maybe it’s something you’d like to know more about so you can be praying for Restorative Justice Nelson, or maybe you’re interested in being involved through one of our awesome volunteer roles available – we’d love to invite you along to an event.
On 20 November at 5:30pm on 197 Bridge Street, we will have a short AGM, with speakers speaking about their experience of restorative justice. We’ll hear from a judge, from a community representative, and a support person who’s been involved in a meeting concerning a death. We will even have the privilege of hearing from someone who perpetrated a serious crime who is now moving in a very different direction. Oh, and there will be kai to nibble on too!
If you’d like to be there, or to learn more, please get in touch.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
I work as a restorative justice facilitator for Restorative Justice Nelson, predominantly because I think it is one of most obviously gospel-shaped things I could be doing. After years working in church-based ministry, I now live out that very same calling in this community-based ministry.
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul writes:
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
This is precisely the work and the gift of restorative justice.
I have the privilege of meeting with people who have been harmed by criminal acts (whether accidentally, for example in a car crash, or purposefully, for example by theft or assault) and with those who have caused that harm. No matter who I am meeting with, I approach this encounter as a meeting with someone who bears the image of God, who is loved and treasured by God, and who has the potential to heal and grow, and receive forgiveness and grace just like me.
As I hear people’s stories, I seek to listen, to honour their humanity and pain, and to gain an understanding of the ongoing effects for each person. As I do this, I fully expect the Holy Spirit to be present and active. Whilst I rarely name the presence of the Spirit, although I have prayed with clients over the years when appropriate, I know that God is at work precisely because this is God’s work – healing, forgiveness and reconciliation is the family business!
After these individual meetings, when it is appropriate, safe, and all parties have voluntarily agreed to it, we may have a meeting all together. This is a hui where people who have been harmed come face-to-face with those who have been harmed. We talk openly about what has happened and the harm the offending caused. People who have caused harm are given the opportunity to take accountability for what they have done, to listen, to offer an apology and to seek to address the harm they’ve caused by way of actions agreed to in the meeting. People who have been harmed have the opportunity to tell their story and speak to what they need to heal or move forward better from this point. This is not something that “victims” have recourse to anywhere else in the criminal justice system.
I have seen the miraculous happen. I have seen people who have taken someone’s life be embraced by the family members of the deceased. I have seen forgiveness and love bubble up between two people, one who nearly killed the other. I have seen understanding and compassion arise between people who are divided by linguistic and cultural barriers as well as the divide of “offender” and “victim”. I have seen people who have been silenced find a voice, and people who have been too defended to listen finally hear.
In short, I regularly and spectacularly see God’s kingdom – and God’s kin-dom – coming.
I suppose this is no surprise, really. In Matthew’s 25, Jesus gives incredibly clear GPS co-ordinates of where we can dependably find him and, perhaps shockingly, it’s not in a church service! Jesus says when we encounter people who are hungry, thirsty, lacking clothing, sick, or in prison (or perhaps, as I see it, in the criminal justice system more broadly), we have the honour of serving Jesus – or the tragedy of ignoring or mistreating Jesus.
If all this interests you – maybe it’s something you’d like to know more about so you can be praying for Restorative Justice Nelson, or maybe you’re interested in being involved through one of our awesome volunteer roles available – we’d love to invite you along to an event.
On 20 November at 5:30pm on 197 Bridge Street, we will have a short AGM, with speakers speaking about their experience of restorative justice. We’ll hear from a judge, from a community representative, and a support person who’s been involved in a meeting concerning a death. We will even have the privilege of hearing from someone who perpetrated a serious crime who is now moving in a very different direction. Oh, and there will be kai to nibble on too!
If you’d like to be there, or to learn more, please get in touch.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
