They once were rapists and murderers, and now they are Christian ministers. According to a recent
article, New Orleans Baptist Seminary has awarded bachelor's degrees in ministry to 28 inmates
at Mississippi State Penitentiary. Wearing caps and gowns over their prison stripes, these new ministers accepted their degrees.
Burl Cain, the graduation speaker and longtime warden at Louisiana State Penitentiary, urged the new ministers to use their faith to transform prison culture.
Besides the Mississippi State program, New Orleans Baptist Seminary also offers degrees to inmates at correctional systems in Georgia and Florida. In South Carolina, a similar program was established through Columbia International University. Fifteen inmates graduated from the program in December.
Do you think it is okay for prison inmates to become Christian ministers? Would you forgive the inmates for their actions (even if they were as severe as rape and murder) and find them capable of leading you in your faith?
Comments (3)
That's a really tough call. King David was a murderer and an adulterer and the Apostle Paul was having Christians killed. I think if they truly repented and God called them to be a minister, then you'd have to say yes.
At least the prisoners, who are ordained through the New Orleans Baptist Seminary, have studied long and hard and probably had a few theology classes.
Any person over 18 years of age can go online and become ordained merely by clicking the mouse of the computer a few times. For some reason, I find this more disturbing than I do the ordaining a prisoner.
Why would this be a bad thing?