As a minister, I often don?t know what is really going on in the families of members of my congregation.? They polish up with clean faces and smiles on Sunday morning ? but the reality of what is really going on at home is invisible to me.? I don?t often see one of them coming in with a black eye so I don?t suspect there is a lot of physical abuse happening in my congregation ? but I know that there is far more emotional abuse than gets talked about.
Let?s face the reality that relationships are really difficult for even the most emotionally healthy and skilled in communication.? Respect, honor and love wilt before fear and anger.? Most clergy are not trained marriage and family counselors.? We learn how to preach, teach and pastor to individuals in seminary.? Relationships are far more complicated.? And abuse is often hidden from us.
Statistics on the lifetime prevalence of domestic violence indicate that nearly 1 in 3 women, 1 in 4 men, will be slapped, pushed or shoved by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. Approximately 1 in 4 women, 1 in 7 men, has experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Domestic violence in same-gender relationships occurs at the same rate as heterosexual relationships. These statistics translate into millions of victims of domestic violence each year in the United States.
But how can faith communities respond to domestic violence? How can they help shepherd victims to safety? What role can they play in helping to hold offenders accountable? How can they work with other systems in their community (service providers, police, courts, district attorney) to improve their community?s system-wide response to domestic violence?
This Saturday, April 13, several faith communities and community organizations will attend a free conference titled, ?Help or Hindrance? Faith Community Response to Domestic Violence.? The conference will have presentations by Healing Hearts, and several other community representatives to discuss how faith communities can improve their response to domestic violence. The conference is being offered in memory of Tonette Thomas who was stabbed to death in 2012, about one mile from the site of the workshop ? by an accused many who was Tonette?s older sister?s ex-boyfriend. Tonette?s sister and aunt were also viciously stabbed that same afternoon. This is an opportunity for learning, reflection, discussion and brainstorming for concerned citizens, faith communities and community organizations. What more can we do to help victims of domestic violence? What more can we do to prevent future violence? Together, we will find answers to these questions. Please join us and share your ideas and thoughts with those gathered.
Here is information about the event:
Date: Saturday, April 13th, 2013
Time: Registration at 9:30 am; Program from 10 am-1 pm
Site: Emmanuel Baptist Church, 275 State St., Albany NY 12210
Free Parking: Westminster Presbyterian Church,
85 Chestnut Street, Albany 12210 (518-436-8544)
Source: http://blog.timesunion.com/trumbore/domestic-violence-the-religious-connection/1169/
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