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Read "When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women."
Remove Members of the Leadership Team Who Commit or Tolerate Abuse
It should be evident that members of the leadership team who are themselves abusers must be removed. It should be evident, but sadly, some pastors just don't get it.
Hold the Abuser Accountable
Help the abuser get help. Pray for him. But do not let the abuser off the hook by minimizing the gravity of what he has done.
Be a Resource
Make the victim aware of the network of resources available to help. Reassure the victim that your church is one of those resources.
Provide Safety for the Victim(s)
Safety first for the abused person and children caught in the middle of the relationship. Have a list of emergency shelters available to share with the victims in your community.
Signs to Intervene When You Recognize the Domestic Abuse
The signs of abuse are not always a bloodied, black-eyed victim. Quite often, they are much more subtle. This is why pastoral teams need to be trained to recognize a number of possible signs
What Is the Church’s Responsibility?
In order to help prevent Domestic Violence it is vitally important to: Give a "Correct Reading of Scripture." Often, men who abuse their wives use the Scriptures (for example, "women submit to your husbands") as a justification for their abuse.
What Churches Can Do to Stop Domestic Violence
Standing together, churches can become powerful first-responder networks that help create zero tolerance for intimate partner abuse and dating violence throughout the communities they serve.
Why Women Stay
There are a myriad of reasons why women stay in abusive relationships. And while we understand that intimate partner abuse impacts both men and women, we focus on why women stay with abusive men in our women’s support groups.
Safety Plan
Leaving an abusive relationship can be a dangerous undertaking. Create a plan for where you will go to be safe, and prepare in advance as much as possible
