Prison Ministry Network Powered by the CLF

In order to deepen your own understanding of our justice system, and as a way of supporting people who are incarcerated, we encourage those who are interested in being matched with a pen pal to reach out to us.  As you may know, the UU Prison Ministry of Illinois does not officially connect people to pen pals, rather it is through the Church of the Larger Fellowship Ambassador Program for Illinois that these connections are made.

If you are interested in becoming a pen pal with someone who is living in prison, it is easy to get started in our work together as free world participants.​

Follow this three step process:

​FIRST -watch this video, which we hope will help answer many of your questions about being a pen pal

SECOND -
r​ead through the FAQ
Also click here to check out the what can and can't be sent on the IDOC Site

In addition, you can find a whole bunch of answers to other questions about being a pen pal on THIS FAQ that we adapted from our friends at Black and Pink. 

2018_being-a-pen-pal.pdf
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THIRD -
Let us know you want a pen pal

Request a Pen Pal

That’s all there is to it!

A WORD FROM WORTHY NOW 
​The U.S. prison-industrial complex can be confusing, intense, and overwhelming. It’s also a complicated system with rules and norms that can trip up even those with extensive experience. To help both individuals and congregations, we created the CLF Prison Ambassador Certification Program to provide specialized training and ongoing support.

As part of this initiative you sign up for the IL CLF ambassador program. Note we have live training around IL about the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC), Volunteering in Prisons and Radical Hospitality. We encourage you to participate in a PIC training as soon as possible to deepen your understanding of the whole system you are engaged with as a pen pal. Check the home page for upcoming classes. 

Who is it For?
Ambassadorship is invaluable for both individuals and members of congregational prison ministry teams who are interested in:

• + visiting people who are incarcerated
• + forming a prison ministry book group
• + offering small group ministries to introduce or deepen spiritual practices
• + leading worship services
• + being matched with a local pen pal who you can also visit in prison
• + starting a prison ministry or visitation program

Benefits of the IL Ambassador Program:

• + prepares you to minister to people who are incarcerated
• + potentially eases your entry into prison or jail systems
• + helps make your work more sustainable
• + provides a network of support for ministry enrichment and processing of secondary trauma
• + gives you access to resources and ongoing learning

However, we realize that writing to prisoners on your own can be a bit anxiety-producing, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you may have. Additionally, you might want to find someone in your congregation who is also interested in writing to a prison pen pal. Pen pal buddies can make the writing process more enjoyable and keep you corresponding on a more frequent, consistent schedule.
​
Finally, we know that some pen pals are reluctant to use their own addresses. If that is the case, consider reaching out to your church administrator to find out if you can send and receive mail from their address. Additionally, for a fee, you can use this on-line service: ​https://jmail.cc/.