PPCA History
Timeline of the PPCA “More or Less”
(compiled by Rev. John Rush and Rev. Ulli Klemm; Sept. 2016)
April 5, 1976 State and county prison chaplains invited to the Wardens Association of Pennsylvania April 22-23, 1976 symposium at the Reading Motor Inn.
April 22-24, 1976 At the Wardens’ Association of Pennsylvania Conference, chaplains convene a meeting to discuss how to form a chaplains’ association. Rev. Joseph Zednowicz, SCI Camp Hill, emerges as facilitator of this effort.
Spring 1977 Chaplains and Wardens convene at a join Pennsylvania Wardens and Chaplains Conference. Chaplains value opportunity to get to know their wardens in an informal setting. Initial by-laws are created. Rev. Zednowicz assumes the role of President of the newly formed Pennsylvania Prison Chaplains Association.
April 27-30, 1978 Chaplains, part of the fledgling PA Prison Chaplains Association, meet with Wardens at the Spring Wardens Conference at the Pocono Manor resort. Chaplains convene separately during part of this conference to entertain having their own conferences, apart from the wardens, so as to focus on our specific ministries, and at a more affordable rate. Chaplains convene a two-hour panel discussion on the topic: “Theology of Rehabilitation and Punishment.” Speakers were Dr. Henry Love, Chaplain Sid Barnes (SCI Graterford) and Chaplain McDormand (Pittsburgh).
May 15, 1978 PPCA letterhead lists Rev. Joseph B. Zednowicz (Chaplain at SCI Camp Hill) as PPCA President, Rev. Marjorie Holland (Chaplain at the Huntingdon County Prison) as Vice President and Rev. Maury Hundley (Chaplain at the Cumberland County Jail), as the Secretary/ Treasurer. Members-at-Large were Chaplain Sidney Barnes and Chaplain Judith Coleman.
December 5- 6, 1978 PPCA conference is held at the Hershey Motor Lodge, in Hershey PA. Chaplain Marjorie Holland is elected the new PPCA President and Rev. Jim Tice, SCI Camp Hill is the new Secretary/Treasurer.
Oct. 24, 1979 PPCA conference held at the South Mountain Restoration Center, South Mountain, PA.
Jan. 28, 1981 Minutes from the PPCA Executive Committee, held at SCI Rockview, include discussion of formally breaking away from the PA Warden’s Association so that chaplain can spend more time focusing on chaplaincy-specific issues, vs. being more of a “tag-along” with the wardens. Chaplains Fred Bigelow and Judy Coleman agreed to revise the constitution for adoption at the fall membership meeting. Chaplain Jim Tice is the new PPCA President and Fr. Michael O’Hara serves as Secretary/Treasurer.
May 29, 1981 PPCA Executive Committee meets during the PA Warden’s Association’s Spring Symposium at the Marriott in Harrisburg.
Oct. 22, 1982 Executive Committee minutes make reference to Fr. Jackson, the DOC’s head chaplain and the start-up of a PPCA newsletter. PPCA officers are: Ray Kauffman, President; Sid Barnes, Vice President; Tim Swope, Secretary/Treasurer, with Members at large: John Rush and Marjorie Holland. Ray Kauffman initiated PPCA bumper stickers, pencils and stationary.
1982 & 1983 PPCA annual conference meets at the then Trinity Spiritual Center near Camp Hill, PA.
Oct. 18-10, 1984 PPCA Fall Conference held at the Gamber House in the Lewisburg United Methodist Home. Paul Gere is PPCA Pres, Judith Coleman is Vice President and John Rush is Secretary/Treasurer.
1985 & 1986 PPCA annual conference meets at the then Trinity Spiritual Center near Camp Hill, PA. In 1986, reports were given by Judith Coleman and Fr. Francis Menei on the National Chaplains Associations. John Rush is elected Pres. of PPCA.
1987 PPCA meets in Ebensburg, PA with a hope to attract more chaplains from the Western PA. As the change of location did not seem to make a difference, PPCA settled on meeting at the then Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
PPCA Conference Themes, Speakers and Locations
Oct. 13-15, 1992 “Black Theology and Pastoral Care” – Rev. Ralph Watkins, University of PA, Clarion. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 12-14, 1993 “Understanding Me; Understanding You: Myers Briggs and Chaplains.” Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 11-13, 1994 “Is There Life After Prison?” Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 15-17, 1996 “Family Life Education: An Effective Tool for Prisoner Rehabilitation” – Daniel Bayse. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 14-16, 1997 Dealing with Grief, Shame, Boundaries and Caring for Self” – Rev. O. Allen Lumpkin. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 10-12, 2000 “The Culture of Corrections: Ministry in a World of Reversed Morality.” – Fr. Richard Shaw. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 15-17, 2002 “Spirituality and Addictions” – Rabbi Abraham Twerski. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 21-23, 2003 “Ethical Dilemmas of Chaplaincy in the 21st Century” – Dr. James Jones. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Sept. 21-23, 2004 “Communication Skills: Learning How to Read People” – Raymond Filip and Rev. Dr. Wilson Good. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Sept. 20-22, 2005 “Conflict Management for Correctional Chaplains” David Pitkins and William Bierly. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Sept. 12-14, 2006 “Understanding Prison Culture Inside and Out” and “Walking Chaplains Through the Mental Health Maze” – Lennie Spitale and Fr. John Kowalcyzk. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 23-25, 2007 “Chaplaincy Check-Up” and “Providing Hope and Healing in the Judicial System” – Dr. Harry Dammer and Judge Maureen Skerda. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 28-30, 2008 “The Spirituality of Time and Clergy Self Care” – Rev. Dr. Bonnie Thurston. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 6-8, 2009 “Treatment in Corrections” – David Roberts. Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, PA.
Oct. 5-7, 2010 “Inside the Criminal Mind” – Dr. Stanton Samenow. Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant.
Sept. 11-13, 2012 “Chaplains Self-Care” – Rev. Keith Espenshade, Rev. Tami Hooker, Sr. Mumina Kowalksi, Rev. Kevin Kelly. Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant.
Oct. 1-3, 2013 “Transforming Corrections: Chaplains as Change Agents” – Dr. Tom O’Connor. Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept. 2-4, 2014 “Chaplaincy Challenges: Security and Spirituality in Corrections” – Rev. Bonnie Thurston. Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept. 1-3, 2015 “Houses of Healing” – Robin Casarjian. Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept. 20-22, 2016 “Conflict Resolution and Mediation” – Conflict Resolution Services. Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept 12-14, 2017 "Back to the Basics" - Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept 4-6, 2018 "The New Frontier: Pathways to Inclusion - Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept 17-19, 2019 "The Intersections of Chaplaincy and Mental Health - Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept 1-3, 2020 "Navigating Re-Entry in Challenging Times - Online Conference via Zoom Webinar due to COVID-19.
(compiled by Rev. John Rush and Rev. Ulli Klemm; Sept. 2016)
April 5, 1976 State and county prison chaplains invited to the Wardens Association of Pennsylvania April 22-23, 1976 symposium at the Reading Motor Inn.
April 22-24, 1976 At the Wardens’ Association of Pennsylvania Conference, chaplains convene a meeting to discuss how to form a chaplains’ association. Rev. Joseph Zednowicz, SCI Camp Hill, emerges as facilitator of this effort.
Spring 1977 Chaplains and Wardens convene at a join Pennsylvania Wardens and Chaplains Conference. Chaplains value opportunity to get to know their wardens in an informal setting. Initial by-laws are created. Rev. Zednowicz assumes the role of President of the newly formed Pennsylvania Prison Chaplains Association.
April 27-30, 1978 Chaplains, part of the fledgling PA Prison Chaplains Association, meet with Wardens at the Spring Wardens Conference at the Pocono Manor resort. Chaplains convene separately during part of this conference to entertain having their own conferences, apart from the wardens, so as to focus on our specific ministries, and at a more affordable rate. Chaplains convene a two-hour panel discussion on the topic: “Theology of Rehabilitation and Punishment.” Speakers were Dr. Henry Love, Chaplain Sid Barnes (SCI Graterford) and Chaplain McDormand (Pittsburgh).
May 15, 1978 PPCA letterhead lists Rev. Joseph B. Zednowicz (Chaplain at SCI Camp Hill) as PPCA President, Rev. Marjorie Holland (Chaplain at the Huntingdon County Prison) as Vice President and Rev. Maury Hundley (Chaplain at the Cumberland County Jail), as the Secretary/ Treasurer. Members-at-Large were Chaplain Sidney Barnes and Chaplain Judith Coleman.
December 5- 6, 1978 PPCA conference is held at the Hershey Motor Lodge, in Hershey PA. Chaplain Marjorie Holland is elected the new PPCA President and Rev. Jim Tice, SCI Camp Hill is the new Secretary/Treasurer.
Oct. 24, 1979 PPCA conference held at the South Mountain Restoration Center, South Mountain, PA.
Jan. 28, 1981 Minutes from the PPCA Executive Committee, held at SCI Rockview, include discussion of formally breaking away from the PA Warden’s Association so that chaplain can spend more time focusing on chaplaincy-specific issues, vs. being more of a “tag-along” with the wardens. Chaplains Fred Bigelow and Judy Coleman agreed to revise the constitution for adoption at the fall membership meeting. Chaplain Jim Tice is the new PPCA President and Fr. Michael O’Hara serves as Secretary/Treasurer.
May 29, 1981 PPCA Executive Committee meets during the PA Warden’s Association’s Spring Symposium at the Marriott in Harrisburg.
Oct. 22, 1982 Executive Committee minutes make reference to Fr. Jackson, the DOC’s head chaplain and the start-up of a PPCA newsletter. PPCA officers are: Ray Kauffman, President; Sid Barnes, Vice President; Tim Swope, Secretary/Treasurer, with Members at large: John Rush and Marjorie Holland. Ray Kauffman initiated PPCA bumper stickers, pencils and stationary.
1982 & 1983 PPCA annual conference meets at the then Trinity Spiritual Center near Camp Hill, PA.
Oct. 18-10, 1984 PPCA Fall Conference held at the Gamber House in the Lewisburg United Methodist Home. Paul Gere is PPCA Pres, Judith Coleman is Vice President and John Rush is Secretary/Treasurer.
1985 & 1986 PPCA annual conference meets at the then Trinity Spiritual Center near Camp Hill, PA. In 1986, reports were given by Judith Coleman and Fr. Francis Menei on the National Chaplains Associations. John Rush is elected Pres. of PPCA.
1987 PPCA meets in Ebensburg, PA with a hope to attract more chaplains from the Western PA. As the change of location did not seem to make a difference, PPCA settled on meeting at the then Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
PPCA Conference Themes, Speakers and Locations
Oct. 13-15, 1992 “Black Theology and Pastoral Care” – Rev. Ralph Watkins, University of PA, Clarion. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 12-14, 1993 “Understanding Me; Understanding You: Myers Briggs and Chaplains.” Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 11-13, 1994 “Is There Life After Prison?” Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 15-17, 1996 “Family Life Education: An Effective Tool for Prisoner Rehabilitation” – Daniel Bayse. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 14-16, 1997 Dealing with Grief, Shame, Boundaries and Caring for Self” – Rev. O. Allen Lumpkin. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 10-12, 2000 “The Culture of Corrections: Ministry in a World of Reversed Morality.” – Fr. Richard Shaw. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 15-17, 2002 “Spirituality and Addictions” – Rabbi Abraham Twerski. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 21-23, 2003 “Ethical Dilemmas of Chaplaincy in the 21st Century” – Dr. James Jones. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Sept. 21-23, 2004 “Communication Skills: Learning How to Read People” – Raymond Filip and Rev. Dr. Wilson Good. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Sept. 20-22, 2005 “Conflict Management for Correctional Chaplains” David Pitkins and William Bierly. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Sept. 12-14, 2006 “Understanding Prison Culture Inside and Out” and “Walking Chaplains Through the Mental Health Maze” – Lennie Spitale and Fr. John Kowalcyzk. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 23-25, 2007 “Chaplaincy Check-Up” and “Providing Hope and Healing in the Judicial System” – Dr. Harry Dammer and Judge Maureen Skerda. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 28-30, 2008 “The Spirituality of Time and Clergy Self Care” – Rev. Dr. Bonnie Thurston. Precious Blood Spiritual Center, Columbia, PA.
Oct. 6-8, 2009 “Treatment in Corrections” – David Roberts. Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, PA.
Oct. 5-7, 2010 “Inside the Criminal Mind” – Dr. Stanton Samenow. Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant.
Sept. 11-13, 2012 “Chaplains Self-Care” – Rev. Keith Espenshade, Rev. Tami Hooker, Sr. Mumina Kowalksi, Rev. Kevin Kelly. Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant.
Oct. 1-3, 2013 “Transforming Corrections: Chaplains as Change Agents” – Dr. Tom O’Connor. Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept. 2-4, 2014 “Chaplaincy Challenges: Security and Spirituality in Corrections” – Rev. Bonnie Thurston. Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept. 1-3, 2015 “Houses of Healing” – Robin Casarjian. Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept. 20-22, 2016 “Conflict Resolution and Mediation” – Conflict Resolution Services. Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept 12-14, 2017 "Back to the Basics" - Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept 4-6, 2018 "The New Frontier: Pathways to Inclusion - Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept 17-19, 2019 "The Intersections of Chaplaincy and Mental Health - Bongiorno Conference Center, Carlisle, PA.
Sept 1-3, 2020 "Navigating Re-Entry in Challenging Times - Online Conference via Zoom Webinar due to COVID-19.
