Norm Ringel, a mental health specialist from Howard County (Maryland) who works at the Howard County Detention Center (HCDC), proposed to Mr. Gerald McClellan, director of corrections at the HCDC, that it would be beneficial to broaden the HCDC's religious programs beyond the Sunday worship services provided by various churches, church groups and individuals. In response to this suggestion, Ringel contacted Columbia Cooperative Ministry (CJM) to offer pastoral counseling at the HCDC. Lyle Buck, then senior pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, was asked to lead this initiative and he became the main clergyman who provided pastoral counseling services to HCDC inmates.
Dale Pace, certified supervising chaplain for correctional ministries, moved to Howard County to work at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. As a result, in order to concentrate on its core ministry within the Howard County Detention Center, CJM stopped trying to provide transitional housing for former inmates, but it continues to advocate for transitional housing resources for former inmates and provides training to those interested in mentoring former inmates. United Way and the Howard County Volunteer Association have recognized CJM as Volunteer Group of the Year, and the Howard County Executive has formally recognized it as valuable to the HCDC and the county. The pastors of the CJM Board of Directors come from Baptist, Church of God, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Nazarena, Presbyterian and non-denominational churches.
Those used in this ministry were channeled through the First Presbyterian Church in Howard County (Columbia) or Bethel Baptist Church (Ellicott City). In 2000, two CJM volunteers were nominated for the Howard County Volunteer of the Year award, largely for their efforts at the CJM. Originally known as the Christian Ministry Task Force at the Howard County Detention Center, CJM has been providing spiritual guidance and support to members of its community for many years. The churches located in Howard County offer a variety of ministries that are designed to meet the spiritual needs of their members.
These ministries include Sunday worship services, pastoral counseling services, transitional housing resources for former inmates, and training for those interested in mentoring former inmates. Additionally, United Way and the Howard County Volunteer Association have recognized CJM as Volunteer Group of the Year and have formally acknowledged its value to both HCDC and Howard County. The spiritual needs of individuals in Howard County are met through a variety of ministries offered by local churches. From Sunday worship services to pastoral counseling services and transitional housing resources for former inmates, these churches provide a range of services that are designed to meet their members' spiritual needs. Additionally, United Way and the Howard County Volunteer Association have recognized CJM as Volunteer Group of the Year and have formally acknowledged its value to both HCDC and Howard County.
