Doing 'Something' Leads Former
Physicist to Serving in Prision Ministry Roles

by Pam Doty
ETNE Editor
"You’re somebody. YOU do something!" Those words spoken to Jim Muir when he complained that "Somebody ought to do something about crime" motivated him to get up and get busy. Since 1971, he has been doing just that -- in prison ministry.

Muir was a health physicist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and taking Education for Ministry (EFM) when he realized that HE had a ministry. His calling was prison ministry. With the blessing and encouragement of the diocese in the form of Bishop Sanders, he plunged in.

Muir does not do things half-way. Since his introduction to prison ministry, he has worked counseling inmates, supporting law enforcement officers, and serving on the Tennessee Department of Corrections' Volunteer Advisory Board and as the Episcopal Church’s representative on the Advisory Council to Prison Chaplaincy.

He serves on the East Tennessee Council for Children and Youth and works with Juvenile Justice and the Department of Children’s Services for Custodial and Foster Care.

He serves as Chair of the prison ministry for the Diocese of East Tennessee and makes his church, St. James’, Knoxville, his support base.

Recently, Muir’s ministry has taken on a new color. He is bringing Christ’s love and forgiveness to incarcerated individuals, their families and those who work with them in a new way -- through Kairos and Kairos Torch.

Kairos is a continuing prison ministry launched with the presentation of a weekend short course in Christianity in a correctional institution.

In adult institutions, the purpose of Kairos is to build strong Christian communities within the environment of the prison. This is done through the impact of small, share and prayer groups of residents in the institution. These groups meet weekly to share their lives on a very deep spiritual level and to pray for one another and for the residents and staff.

Kairos Torch ministers to youthful offenders by offering unconditional love and acceptance and by encouraging them to share their life journey through participation in a long term mentoring process.

Muir is now vice president of the ecumenical Kairos of East Tennessee.

On a recent weekend in May, Muir was part of a Kairos Torch team presenting a short course in Christianity at Mountain View Youth Development Center in Dandridge, Tennessee. The interdenominational team went into the facility to present Christ’s love. Backing the team were the prayers of the people of Muir’s home parish, St. James’, Knoxville, as well as others.

Muir also took more than 30 dozen cookies prepared by the church members especially for the incarcerated young people.

Over his years of service, Muir has learned a lot about success and failure. He knows stories of triumph and tragedy -- of a man turning his life around and coming home to his family, but of another who return. And he has learned a very important lesson -- his success or failure is not defined by the response of individuals to his ministry. That response is the responsibility of the individual. He said, "My success or failure is determined by my faithful response to God’s call."

Muir is married to Mary and together they sing in the choir at St. James’ where they also serve as lectors and Lay Eucharistic Ministers.