1EPISCOPAL DIVINITY SCHOOLThesisABOLISHING THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX: A THEO-ETHICALAPPROACH FOR FAITH COMMUNITIESBYJASON MARK LYDONSubmitted in partial fulfillment of therequirements for the degree of MASTERS OF DIVINITY2010

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ixIntroduction - Page 1Chapter 1: Conscientization -

New Understandings and New Possibilities

Page 3Chapter 2: Emmancipatory Historiography -

Liberation Through Remembering

Page 10Chapter 3: Theological Resources -

How the Spirit Guides Us

Page 23Chapter 4: Norm Clarification -

Rethinking the Value of Punishment

Page 36Chapter 5: Strategic Options -

Planning the Revolution

Page 45Chapter 6: Celebration and Annunciation -

Dancing in the Rubble of the Prisons

Page 48Chapter 7: Re-reflection and Strategic Action -

Think... Act... Repeat!

Page 49ConclusionPage 51AppendixBibliography

Acknowledgements

I am incredibly grateful for the wisdom guidance and support of my primary advisor, EdRodman. Ed's generous support and encouragement throughout this process has been pivotal to the shaping of my work. His support and gentle pushing helped this project become more feasible and controllable. I appreciate and am humbled by all of the work he has done throughout the years in the movement towards abolishing the prisonindustrial complex.I am also thankful for Joan Martin's willingness to take on yet another project during sucha busy time for her. Our original conversation about abolition and ethics helped shapemy original question. Joan's challenge to me to take on the question of evil pushed me tolook deeper into my own theology. Joan's contributions to organizing and movement building inspire me to be a better organizer with a strategic plan for success.Ann Perrott took time out of her own incredibly overwhelming first year of divinityschool to be one of my readers and I am grateful for that. It was a joy to talk with her about the ways to structure the paper so that people could enter into it based on their ownunderstandings of the prison industrial complex. I am excited to work with her in our growing ministries to people who are incarcerated.My analysis of the prison industrial complex would not be where it is today without thelove and committed struggle of all those within the movement for abolition. I amthankful to be part of something bigger than myself. I pray in thanks to all those whohave come before me, all those whose blood, sweat, tears, and flesh have made it possiblefor me to learn and organize forward towards the goal of collective liberation. I amespecially thankful to all my comrades, too numerous to name, who keep the fight goingtoday!My congregation, the Community Church of Boston, has been a home to me for nearlyfive years. Their support of my ministry and our collective ministry to those impacted bythe prison industrial complex is a large part of what keeps me going. I would not bewhere I am with out them, their patience, and their love of me.