This book explores and formulates a response to the question: How best can those held in modern systems of mass incarceration be cared for pastorally when many prisons diminish both hope and humanity? Employing the multi-disciplinary approach of practical theology, this ethnographic enquiry will be a guide for chaplains and all who strive to embody compassion wherever human flourishing is undermined. The book’s structure follows the pastoral cycle method from practical theology, remaining context-based and practice-focused throughout. Pastoral insights are illustrated with personal, poetic and movingly reflective material drawn from the lived experience of indeterminately sentenced men who did not know if or when they would be ever released. The author, a former prison chaplain, remains reflexively and humanely present in the text, modelling the profound humane regard and pastoral presence that is central to this work. This book will take the reader deeply into penal spaces on a journey of both compassion and hope.
Author(s): David Kirk Beedon
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 270
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
List of Figures
Chapter 1: Introduction: Where and How to Start
Beginnings
Contextual Factors
Practical Theology and the Pastoral Cycle
Methods in Practical Theology
The Living Human Document
Constructive Narrative Theology
Canonical Narrative Theology
Correlation
Praxis
Anonymisation
Summary
Found Poem: The Illusion of Time (ID17)
References
Part I: Defining the Issue
Chapter 2: Modern Mass Incarceration: Can it Be Humanised?
Introduction
The Purpose of Incarceration: A Swinging Pendulum
Incarceration: Modern and Mass
A House of Penance: The Penitentiary
The Industrialisation of Carceral Space
Prison Growth: The Race to Incarcerate
Race
Class
Gender
Summary Conclusion
Found Poem: We Have The Curse (ID27)
References
Chapter 3: A Case in Point: A Socio-Historical Critique of Indeterminate Sentences
Introduction
The Humane Genesis of Indeterminate Sentences
From Reform to Rehabilitation
The Birth and Almost Death of IPP
Folk Devils, Super-Predators and Dangerous Politics
Scapegoating and Blamemongering
Ethical Loneliness and Epistemic Injustice
Summary Conclusion
Found Poem: The Horror of It (ID39)
References
Part II: Describing the Context
Chapter 4: Entering Lived Experience: From Theory to Reality
Introduction
The Praxis of Pastoral Enquiry
Ethnography: Accessing ‘Lived Experience’
Life-History Interviewing
Life as a Film (LAAF)
Staff Interviews: Appreciative Inquiry
Focus Groups
Finding Lost Voices
In Vivo Analysis
Found Poems
LAAF Movie Posters
Member-Checking
Narrative Truth or Ethnographic Evocation?
Summary Conclusion
Found Poem: Falling Through Life (ID43)
References
Chapter 5: Tales From the Shadow of Despair
Introduction
Life-Themes from Indeterminately Held Incarcerated Lives
Behaviour: “The Normality of Things” (ID38)
Development: “Troubled Childhood” (ID43)
The Affect of IPP: “The Emotions” (ID37)
Pervasive Toxic Liminality
Hope: “Better Must Come” (ID35)
Radical Hope in Carceral Space
Thinking: “It’s Just Stupidness” (ID04)
Time: “The Illusion of Time” (ID17)
Relationality: “They Still Love Me” (ID30)
The (Non-)presence of Others
The Reflexive Pastoral Enquirer: A Wounded Healer
Reflexivity
Use of Self
A Holistic Christian Anthropology (Part I)
Heart (Emotional/Relational)
Mind (Intellectual/Psychological)
Soul (Spiritual/Transcendent)
Strength (Physical/Material)
Summary Conclusion
Found Poem: Getting A Proper Life (ID22)
References
Part III: Reflecting on Practice
Chapter 6: Seeking Humanity and Hope
Introduction
Being Human: A Theological Anthropology
Imago Dei Versus Right Realism
A Holistic Christian Anthropology (Part II)
‘Being-in-Communion’: Faith in Love
Pastoral Practice: The Trinitarian Outworking of Love
The Prodigality of Compassion
The Prodigal’s Return
Love Your Neighbour
Pastoral Attentiveness: Regard for the Lived Experience of Others
Hope Beyond Despair
Political Hope and Its Theological Counterpart
Institutional, Systemic and Structural Hope
The Tone and Telling of Personal Narratives
The Reciprocity of Hope
Summary Conclusion
Found Poem: Psycho Mad Man (ID04)
References
Chapter 7: A Pastoral Response
Introduction
Towards an Inclusive Definition of Pastoral Care
The Linguistic Origins of ‘Pastoral Care’
Redeeming the Good Shepherd
The Realm of Pastoral Care
Finally, a Definition
Pastoral Care: A Caveat on Pastoral Power
Practical Theology and Pastoral Care
The Living Human Document
Individualism
Pastoral Care and Political Action
Storytelling as Pastoral and Political Action
Pastorally Attentive Penal Communities
Critical Hyper-Surveillance and the Malopticon
Summary Conclusion
Found Poem: Just The Little Things (ID30)
References
Part IV: Acting Compassionately
Chapter 8: Custodial Compassion: A Pastoral Paradox
Introduction
A Pastoral Paradox
Polarity Thinking
Custodial Compassion
A Ministry of Presence
Deep Humane Regard: Sawubona and Ubuntu
Sin, Agency and Self-Belief
Sin and the Incarcerated Soul
Agency and Coercive Control
Self-Belief
Developing, Maintaining and Institutionalising Pastoral Attentiveness
Affect Regulation, Trauma and Other ACEs Factors
Pastoral Principles in Carceral Space
Pastoral Practices in Carceral Space
Glimpses of Hope and Hanging Questions
Found Poem: Better Must Come (ID35)
References
Chapter 9: Loose Ends, Disappearances and Leavings: A Reflective Pastoral Epilogue
Introduction
Another Story
The Irresolution of Penal Pastoral Practice
Resignation
Speaking Truth to Power
A Fond Farewell
Found Poem: That Kind of Mentality (ID10)
Reference
Appendix: Remaining Found Poems
I Just Get Proper Angry (ID02)
When Does This Ever End? (ID03)
Even When I’m Free (ID05)
Ain’t Got A Date (ID18)
Indefinitely Maybe (ID31)
The Hardest Time (ID37)
The Normality of Things (ID38)
Draw Me Back (ID40)
Index
