You don’t think domestic and sexual violence are happening in your church? According to James Newton Poling, a well-known author and theologian:

The credible research on violence indicates that 25 to 50 percent of women and children will be victims of physical and sexual violence. These statistics do not diminish with social class, race, religion, or faithful church attendance. This means that more that 25 percent of members of a typical congregation have experienced violence.

This stark reality demands an unambiguous response on the part of all persons in the church community: clergy, educators, lay leadership, and the congregation. The response must be unambiguous because, as Desmond Tutu once said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”1 But just responses—for victim and offender alike—can only occur when there is, at the very least, a basic understanding of the problem.

It is important to note that different forms of suffering permeate our personal and corporate contexts. Thus, not all forms can be equated or responded to uniformly. In the case of domestic and sexual violence, this suffering is not inevitable (like natural disasters, for example); it is intentional and above all else unnatural. Therefore, this form of violence must be addressed on its own terms. It must be distinguished as a particular form of suffering that occasions a unique form of grief and demands a uniquely definitive response from clergy and congregation.

While the word violence most often evokes words like brutality, cruelty, carnage, and force, the reality is that violence “includes physical violence-both sexual and non-sexual—verbal, emotional and economic abuse.”2 The constitution of violence, therefore, resides not in the degree of physical harm inflicted but in whether the integrity of someone’s personhood (body, mind, and/or spirit) was maintained or betrayed. If betrayed—whether through the perpetration of explicit bodily harm or not—violence has occurred. This fundamental constitution is consistently overlooked because of the failure to recognize that violence is more about power and control and less about acting violently. This misunderstanding enables cycles of violence to continue without confrontation.

Another fundamental misconception is that the locus of violence resides in delinquent individuals. While it is true that offenders must be held responsible for their actions, such accountability is not enough to eliminate domestic and sexual violence. These offenses are enabled via societal institutions, including the church. Until violence is recognized as a systemic oppression that is perpetuated through socialized attitudes of sexism, racism, classism, and heterosexism, violence will remain inevitable.

Consequently, it is the responsibility of the church to evaluate how it has contributed to instances of abuse and violence through denial, silence, or misconceptions and then to respond with justice and mercy to victims and with accountability to offenders. The following is a list of ideas to help clergy and congregations begin this process of a “just response” to those in need. This list and this article are by no means exhaustive but will hopefully serve to stimulate appropriate action.

NOTES

1. Advocate Web. 17 Feb 2004. www.advocateweb.org/hope/quotes.asp
2. Men Stopping Violence. 16 Feb 2004. www.menstoppingviolence.org/about.html

Ten Ways That Congregations Can Act to Prevent Violence

1. Preach a sermon on violence/abuse (suggested texts: Judges 19:11–30/ Genesis 34/ 2 Samuel 13).

2. Partner your church with local advocacy agencies in the area (such as a shelter for abused women and children).

3. Create opportunities for church services dedicated to “healing” and “corporate confession.” [Resources include the Book of Common Worship (Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993; see “A Service for Wholeness for Use with a Congregation/Individual,” pp. 1005–1022; and The Road to Peace, by: Henri Nouwen (Orbis Books, 1998).]

4. Admit that violence occurs—even in your church. Denial perpetuates violence.

5. Promote gender, race, sexual and class equality. This could be done through offering certain educational programs on these issues. In addition, this promotion of equality is demonstrated through allowing women, diverse racial groups, people of differing sexual orientations, and socioeconomically disadvantaged people to provide leadership within your church.

6. Plan appropriate activities during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) and Child Abuse Awareness Month (April).

7. Invite community experts to address and educate your lay leadership. (For instance, bring in a person from a rape crisis center to do a brief educational presentation.)

8. Employ safe church procedures and policies.

9. Organize a response team that addresses violence within the congregation.

10. EDUCATE YOURSELF (especially on the profile of a predator).

The PC(USA) policy statement on domestic violence, Turn Mourning into Dancing!—A Policy Statement on Healing Domestic Violence, #OGA01018 (accompanied by a study guide); and Anguished Hearts: A Seven-Session Study on Domestic Violence for Use in Congregations, #7027003025, can be ordered through Presbyterian Distribution Service at (800) 524-2612 or www.pcusa.org/marketplace.

Additional Recommended Resources

1. Striking Terror No More: The Church Responds to Domestic Violence, #095516 $4.98
2. Steps Along the Way: Living as Peacemakers in a Violent World, #7027003011 $3.00
3. When We Are All Strong Together: Building Gender Justice, #7027097020 $10.00
4. Church & Society Magazine, Jan/Feb 1995, “Violence: Roots, Realities, Redemption,” #72-630-95-601 $2.50
5. www.menstoppingviolence.org
6. www.advocateweb.org

Author Jessica Weinhold is a second-year student at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She served in a field education position on the Church Leader Support Team in 2003–2004. If you or someone you know is being abused, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.