Donald Stoesz

Glimpses of Grace: Reflections of a Prison Chaplain Donald Stoesz

"Glimpses of Grace" relates the joys and challenges of a prison chaplain through a series of one-page vignettes. The open-ended stories are written with a pastor's heart that seeks to minister to the needs and hopes of offenders who have committed serious crimes. The book takes the reader from opportunities of pastoral care to issues of relationships, authority, and restorative justice. The author explores the challenges of ecumenism and inter-faith dialogue while remaining true to his Christian faith. He looks at ministry from the perspective of volunteers and writes about how staff can be an ally in corrections. He regards offenders as subjects who define the nature of the pastoral relationship. Donald's high view of ecclesiology and solid theological background give this book a unique perspective. Don regards the chapel community as a natural extension of the visible body of Jesus Christ of which the larger church is a part. Don considers how offenders' experiences and other faiths can make one a more devout believer. The profound experiences of the "other" make one look more deeply into the resources of one's own faith.