The Valley Chronicle - Christian prison ministry resolves lawsuit, remains focused on gospel mission

Prince George’s County, MD — Prison Ministry of America (PMA), a Christian nonprofit that has served incarcerated individuals for nearly a century, has resolved a lawsuit related to its work providing chaplain services in the Prince George’s County detention system.

Founded in 1926, PMA provides prison inmates with Bibles, prayer support, discipleship, and worship services centered on the message of Jesus Christ. The ministry has long partnered with correctional facilities to bring hope, spiritual guidance, and pastoral care to individuals during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

The lawsuit was filed by a potential applicant who alleged that PMA’s chaplain application was discriminatory. PMA had been retained by the County to staff three chaplaincy positions: a Christian chaplain, a Muslim chaplain and a Jewish chaplain. The potential applicant never identified himself as a Muslim, nor submitted an application for any of the three positions. When PMA reached out to the potential applicant about possibly submitting an application, there was no response.

After years of litigation, the parties agreed to resolve the matter and bring the dispute to a close in order to avoid continued legal costs and uncertainty. As part of the agreement, the case will be dismissed with prejudice.

Despite the legal challenge, PMA remains committed to its mission of bringing the Gospel and spiritual care to incarcerated men and women.

“This lawsuit raised complicated constitutional questions about the intersection of government contracts and religious liberty, but the core mission of this ministry has never changed – serving inmates with compassion, faith, and the truth of the Gospel,” said Julianne Fleischer, Senior Legal Counsel for Advocates for Faith & Freedom, which represented PMA in the case.

Throughout the litigation, PMA maintained that its ministry work is rooted in its Christian mission and calling.

Joel Oster, Vice President and Chief of Trial Litigation at Advocates for Faith & Freedom, emphasized that ministries must be able to maintain their identity and purpose.

“Faith-based ministries exist to carry out a religious mission,” Oster said. “Organizations like Prison Ministry of America should not be forced to abandon their beliefs simply because they partner with local governments to serve vulnerable populations. Resolving this case allows the ministry to move forward and remain focused on what matters most, which is bringing hope and spiritual support to incarcerated people.”

“Prison Ministry of America was founded on the belief that every person deserves to hear the message of redemption and hope found in Jesus Christ,” Fleischer added. “That work will continue.”