Recalled to Its Purpose: The Black Church and the Solution to Incarceration

America has an incarceration problem. This is generally accepted by the academy, government, and in social services organizations. Finding a solution has been challenging. The reason is because not everyone desires to see incarceration end. There have been countless solutions offered, however, none have been sustaining. Ideas are plentiful, but financial resources have been scarce. Because of this there has been no significant decreases in incarceration. Why has it been so challenging to find an adequate solution to the incarceration problem? This question continues to pervade society. Pastor Tyree Anderson, D.Min. believes that the difficulty in identifying a solution lies in the fact that the problem has been misdiagnosed and ill-defined. Incarceration isn't what we say it is. Pastor Anderson believes that the answer to incarceration is found in a holistic approach birthed from within the walls of the Black Church. He believes that the experience of the Black Church since its inception in a hostile world offers a glimpse of hope to those who are incarceration. The same spirit that inspired the Black Church to fight against a dehumanizing culture is the same spirit that will rouse the Black Church to challenge, confront, and provide a cure for incarceration to end its grip on the Black community. In Recalled to Its Purpose: The Black Church and the Solution to Incarceration, Pastor Anderson redefines incarceration and distinguishes incarceration from imprisonment. Moreover, this dynamic work provides the theological, biblical and historical backdrop on incarceration and practical solutions for the Black Church to engage in prophetic ministry and combat incarceration. This work, birthed from his doctoral program, is an eye-opening, bold and sober examination of why incarceration can only be answered when the Black Church returns to its purpose and to ministry in the margins.