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EDITORIAL
Editor’s notes

Jim Coggins

Restorative justice is a philosophy or approach that is revolutionizing the criminal justice system in many countries around the world. Although Mennonites played a significant role in developing it and are active in many organizations which practise it, many Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren have never heard of the concept and do not understand it. This lack of knowledge is lamentable, not only because restorative justice is a significant development, but also because it has so many connections to central themes in Christian theology, such as righteousness, sin, justice, forgiveness, salvation, love and mercy. Although the practice of restorative justice is only about 20 or 30 years old, it is based on Christian concepts and practices that date back centuries, to the founding of Christianity and even into the Old Testament.

Therefore, the editors have decided to focus two issues of the MB Herald on this theme. This issue contains two articles outlining the central concepts of restorative justice. The next issue, April 5, will contain articles describing the work of several agencies involved in restorative justice work.

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Last modified April 17, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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