Commissioner: Timothy C. Ward

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

Twenty-Four Offenders Earn Theological Studies Certificates 

FORSYTH, Ga. – On Friday, May 3, 2019, a graduation ceremony was held at Lee Arrendale State Prison, recognizing offenders participating in the Theological Studies program. Twenty-four students graduated earning certificates in Theological Studies and of those, eight received advanced certificates.   

“The Theological Studies Program equips offenders with academic and leadership skills that will benefit them upon re-entering society,” said Commissioner Timothy C. Ward. “We are thankful for the partnerships that help make our mission a reality.” 

Offenders who participate in the program gain a skillset for spiritual leadership and cultivate academic skills, while studying a range of various theological disciplines. In the advanced level, students must complete a research and writing class, four or more additional electives and a research project of their design.

The Certificate in Theological Students was first established in 2009 by the Chaplaincy Department at the former Metro State Prison and the Atlanta Theological Association. The Association is comprised of Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary, the Interdenominational Theological Center and the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. For more information on the program, please visit https://bit.ly/2owmyfQ. 

About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.