The mission statement in Luke's fourth chapter clearly calls us to reach out to prisoners. Who, but Christ, can change a criminal? However, while it is a worthy Christian labor to visit the prisoners, the mission statement calls us to "proclaim release to the captives."

It is time for the church to establish many permanent outposts in our prisons. As the Bickersteth brothers planted Anglican missions in Japan and China and as Daniel Sylvester Tuttle nourished missions here in the mountain west, through your hands, the church can plant a permanent mission in the outback of America.

The Episcopal Church has not ignored this mission. Indeed, the Episcopal Church does more in our prisons than other denominations. During her years here in Nevada, our presiding bishop regularly visited the state's correctional institutions (as has Bishop Jerry Lamb since Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori left). But it is again time to refocus.

In a small number of prisons, organizers employed the historical Anglican model of starting a congregation. The prison ministries employing this method endure longer, develop a parish-style community and bear much fruit.

The typical evangelical Protestant efforts often amount to "doing-church-to-the-prisoners." Most old-school prison officials expect this sort of chapel service. One such deputy warden told me last year that "inmates should sit down, shut up and show respect to the volunteers."

Such a program continues the prisoner in a world he understands, a world where he is powerless and at best a third-class citizen.

The ministry of our church clearly teaches that the laity is not inferior to the deacons, priests and bishops. Our baptismal covenant also calls the laity to mission. Galatians 3:28 declares the truth that there is no difference in Christ between prisoner and free.

In the historical model, the church sends in workers to begin the labor. These workers endeavor to quickly incorporate the members of the new congregation into the conducting of the worship service, the building of the parish family and the operations of the mission. The goal is to turn over the mission work to the locals sooner rather than later.

The workers should possess an attitude of partnership and express the welcome of the church to full membership. As faithful members emerge, they should be offered confirmation classes and EFM, and lay readers should be licensed.

If the institution allows, the new congregation should meet once or twice a month, with no volunteers present, for Evening Prayer. A few qualified prisoners should be encouraged to speak in the mission's regular preaching rotation. A team ministry should be developed.

The goal of this is a change in the prisoners' pronoun usage -- from "the Episcopal service" to "our service," from Pastor Trudy and Deacon Mike to "our pastors" and from "our service" to "our community." There are many ways of doing this. Special projects are wonderfully valuable tools.

Visiting the prisoners is a Christ-like act, but planting a parish is better. Come, plant, water and cultivate. Build a team and a parish will grow inside America's outback. Strong harvests will come.

My people call. Please answer.