2007 Domestic Violence Congregational Packet

Focus: Back to the Basics

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network (PADVN) provides this annual packet to assist your congregation as it seeks to bring healing to families affected by domestic violence. If you are not in a position to use this material, please pass it on to your pastor, someone in your congregation or to another congregation. People need to hear that violence is against God’s plan for their lives.

The 2007 packet is Back to the Basics! This is the sixth year that PADVN has produced a packet for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. During those years we have covered a number of topics: children who witness violence, men’s involvement in the movement, tough issues that arise in congregations, education and advocacy. Rather than choose a narrow topic this time, we have chosen to go back to the essentials when dealing with the violence that is, too often, part of our members' lives — safety planning, breaking the silence, power and control dynamics, and identifying ways the church can work with our allies in the community. As always, there are worship materials.

• Cover Letter
  Learn about this year’s theme and new additions to the PHEWA Web site.
• Worship aids for domestic violence awareness month
  Resources include liturgical elements to help with worship planning.
• Making peace in the family
  This one-hour training session introduces some of the dynamics of abusive relationships and the elements of power and control, with the goal of developing a deeper understanding of family violence.
• Bulletin insert
  Download this insert and tuck it into your Sunday morning bulletin.
• Power and control wheel
  This wheel, originally developed by the Domestic Violence Intervention Project, Duluth, Minnesota, describes the methods that a perpetrator employs to dominate a victim.
• Safety suggestions tip sheet
  Safety of victims and their children is the number one goal for vulnerable persons and for those who are willing to help. Learn from domestic violence coalitions from around the country.
• Am I my sister’s (or brother’s) keeper?
  Do you think your friend is in an abusive relationship? Learn the clues and how you can help.
• Children’s safety plan
  Children can participate and learn strategies to keep them safe during violent episodes. Planning is the key.
• Resources for racial ethnic communities
  Looking for resources that are culturally sensitive to various communities? Begin here.
• Breaking the silence from the pulpit
  Preaching about domestic violence is not an easy task and sometimes can be risky, but it is worth the risk to begin the healing.
• Responding to domestic violence: guidelines for pastors
  What are the dos and don’ts in responding to victims and perpetrators? Knowing the basics provided in this tip sheet by the Faith Trust Institute may save a life.
• Religious community checklist
  Use this checklist from the Nebraska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition and the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence to learn how your congregation can partner with your community resources to have a coordinated response to domestic violence.
• Crisis call flow chart
  If you receive an emergency call for help, this flow chart will help direct your conversation and help you to respond in appropriate ways.
• Community resources and national hotlines
  Print this sheet and use it to create your referral list of community supports. You can’t do referrals without it.

Download the full packet
If you would like to print and share the 2007 Domestic Violence Congregational Packet please download this zipped file. (Save this file and unzip it with your preferred zip application.)

Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network (PADVN) invites you to make your church a place where the gospel of wholeness is heard and lived out. We offer resources to aid you in that journey.

Take the next step in addressing domestic violence
PADVN offers training in your congregation or presbytery to supplement the information in this packet. Training on how churches can prevent or address domestic violence is also available. Contact Nancy Troy to learn more.

Support the work of PADVN
Give online or mail a check to help PADVN continue to offer resources like this packet.

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