Christians in Probation

This is a copy of an email sent to other non-CIP members recently to introduce CIP :


In December 2007 the 'Probation Service Christian Fellowship' (PSCF) was on the cusp of ending after 53 years service. Since then it has been going through a process of rejuvenation aiming to bring purposefully together Christians associated with probation. We know there are lots of Christians in the service, though at times many feel isolated, and many of whom know little or nothing of PSCF. We are trying to develop ways of usefully linking Christians together, and linking with related organisations and churches with a concern for offenders.

The purpose of CIP is to help Christians to serve...to serve God in our work with offenders and our colleagues.

We have changed the name from PSCF to Christians in Probation (CIP), and updated the Aims and Objectives, which give a vibrant and challenging purpose to CIP.

For members we have a prayer diary with weekly probation related topics; we have launched 'E-Bites', the monthly email for members to communicate prayer needs/encouragement and to help members feel they are part of a wider group of Christians doing similar jobs and sharing ideas of what other Christians are doing in the workplace; there is a biannual newsletter; open exec meetings (next in Birmingham on 22/6/9); a great Annual Conference (November 13-15 near Sheffield); we want to develop and support a network of prayer groups and it may be we can put you in touch with other Christians/prayer groups near you; there is a soon to be relaunched website. The developments have come slowly but they are coming and the desire is to be more relevant to the service that we all work in.

To achieve any of the challenges listed below Christians need to unite together...please read, think and pray.

Christians in Probation –
to witness, to pray, to serve, to inform, to support, to build.

To be a witness of Jesus Christ and show God’s love by valuing diversity. 
To encourage staff to pray for the service and integrate Christian principles in to their work. 
To serve the Probation Service’s aims of protecting the public and reducing re-offending. 
To inform a Christian perspective on probation policy and practice. 
To support Christian staff within the Probation service through local and national networks. 
To build links with churches, and community and professional groups, supporting their engagement with offenders.