HANDBOOK OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

STATE OF WASHINGTON

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

HANDBOOK OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND

PRACTICES

1987

FIRST REVISION 1995

SECOND REVISION 2004

THIRD REVISION 2011

FOURTH REVISION 2012

FIFTH REVISION 2013

HANDBOOK OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Corrections acknowledges the inherent and constitutionally protected rights

of incarcerated offenders to believe, express and exercise the religion of their choice. It is our

intention that religious programs will promote positive values and moral practices to foster

healthy relationships, especially within the families of those under our jurisdiction and within the

communities to which they are returning.

As a Department, we commit to providing religious as well as cultural opportunities for

offenders within available resources, while maintaining facility security, safety, health and

orderly operations. The Department will not endorse any religious faith or cultural group, but we

will ensure that religious programming is consistent with the provisions of federal and state

statutes, and will work hard with the Religious, Cultural and Faith Communities to ensure that

the needs of the incarcerated community are fairly met.

This desk manual has been prepared for use by chaplains, administrators and other staff of the

Washington State Department of Corrections. It is not meant to be an exhaustive study of all

religions. It does provide a brief background of most religions having participants housed in

Washington prisons. This manual is intended to provide general guidelines, and define practice

and procedure for Washington State Department of Corrections institutions. It is intended to be

used in conjunction with Department policy. While it does not confer theological expertise, it

will, provide correctional workers with the information necessary to respond too many of the

religious concerns commonly encountered.

This document has been revised as of December 6, 2013.

REVISION DATE: 12/06/13 This document is frequently updated with new information.

For updates to this document please email requested changes to ReligiousProgram@doc.

Page 2 of 116

HANDBOOK OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

Religious Services Chaplain Staff

Each prison in the state has chaplains and religious volunteers who work with inmates to ensure

that every offender has the opportunity to practice the religious beliefs of his/her choice. These

dedicated members of the religious services chapel teams work diligently to implement the intent

of the Religious Freedom Policy (560.200) that governs all religious activities in Washington

prisons.

Religious Literature

All religions have printed material that is used to instruct an individual in the teachings and

practices of the specific faith. This literature can be in the form of study booklets, reference

books, magazines, or other printed format. If this literature does not contain material that is a

demonstrated and documented threat to safety, security, or the orderly running of the facility it

should be allowed as personal property of the offender or be obtainable in the facility or chapel

library.

REVISION DATE: 12/06/13 This document is frequently updated with new information.

For updates to this document please email requested changes to ReligiousProgram@doc.

Page 3 of 116

HANDBOOK OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HANDBOOK OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES ................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................. 4

Anglican/Episcopal ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Asatru ............................................................................................................................................................ 8

Astara .......................................................................................................................................................... 10

Baha¡¯i .......................................................................................................................................................... 11

Buddhism .................................................................................................................................................... 14

Church of Satan........................................................................................................................................... 20

Druidry ........................................................................................................................................................ 27

Eastern or Greek Orthodox ......................................................................................................................... 30

Gnosis¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­33

Hindu .......................................................................................................................................................... 36

Islam............................................................................................................................................................ 40

Jehovah's Witness ....................................................................................................................................... 49

Judaism ....................................................................................................................................................... 51

Messianic .................................................................................................................................................... 62

Moorish Science Temple of America ......................................................................................................... 70

Native American ......................................................................................................................................... 73

Odinist ......................................................................................................................................................... 79

Protestant Interdenominational, Non-Denominational ............................................................................... 81

Rastafarian .................................................................................................................................................. 87

Roman Catholic .......................................................................................................................................... 88

Seventh-Day Adventist ............................................................................................................................... 93

Sikh ............................................................................................................................................................. 96

The Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science) ................................................................................... 99

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Latter-day Saints, or LDS, or Mormon) ..................... 101

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness .............................................................................. 106

Unity ......................................................................................................................................................... 108

Wicca ........................................................................................................................................................ 109

World Wide Church of God ...................................................................................................................... 116

REVISION DATE: 12/06/13 This document is frequently updated with new information.

For updates to this document please email requested changes to ReligiousProgram@doc.

Page 4 of 116

HANDBOOK OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

Anglican/Episcopal

History/Background

The Anglican (British) Church was planted before 200 A.D. Christians from nearby Gaul

(France) were thought to have brought Christianity over. By the year 314 A.D. there were British

Bishops in attendance at the Council of Arles. In 325 A.D. they gave formal assent to the

decisions of the Council of Nicea. Over 200 years later Pope Gregory of Rome sent missionaries

led by Augustine. Conversions of the Saxons followed, beginning with the queen. Later,

Augustine was installed as the first Archbishop of Canterbury. About the year 405 A.D. Patrick,

consecrated bishop in France, began his great work in Ireland. The Celtic Church (Irish) was

strongly monastic. Missionary work began from such places as Iona and Lindisfarne. Aidan went

from the island of Iona around 700 A.D. to England. He was successful in his mission work

among pagans who had invaded the country. Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury was

responsible for uniting the British, Latin and Celtic missions in England into the Church of

England.

During the Middle Ages King Henry VIII led the Anglican Church in freeing itself from Rome.

The Pope¡¯s authority was formally renounced in 1534 by convocation of English clergy: ¡°The

Bishop of Rome hath not by Scripture any greater authority in England than any other foreign

Bishop.¡± Reforms soon followed. Work began on an English Prayer Book in 1544. A complete

Book of Common Prayer was published in 1549. The genius behind this first Prayer Book was

Thomas Cramner, Archbishop of Canterbury. A second Prayer Book, with minor modifications

became available in 1552.

Today, the Anglican Communion, of which the Church of England is a part, considers itself to be

reformed Catholic.

It is to be found in many countries of the world under national churches that recognize the

spiritual primacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury. There are over 79 million Christians who call

themselves Anglican. In the United States the church is known as the Protestant Episcopal

Church.

The Episcopal Church traces its beginnings to Jamestown, Virginia. In 1607 the first permanent

English Colony celebrated the Mass or Holy Communion. After America became independent

from England the church elected its own bishop. More than two thirds of the signers of the

Declaration of Independence were members of the Episcopal Church.

The Episcopal Church in the United State of America is led by a primate (bishop). It has recently

concluded an agreement of inter-Communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

Ministry and programs are shared by the two churches. Members may attend each other¡¯s church

and partake of the Eucharist. Other Anglicans who consider themselves as traditionalist have

separated from the Episcopal Church. They continue to use the historic Book of Common Prayer.

They consider themselves as continuers of the Ecclesia Anglicana.

Theology/Major Teachings/Belief

The beliefs and teachings of the Episcopal Church are set forth in the historic Creeds: The

REVISION DATE: 12/06/13 This document is frequently updated with new information.

For updates to this document please email requested changes to ReligiousProgram@doc.

Page 5 of 116

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