MISSION FOCUS:

Domestic violence crosses all socio-economic and racial barriers. Intimate partner violence, or domestic violence, is a crucial topic affecting women and families in our communities and in our congregations. Thirty percent of women globally experience intimate partner violence. Nearly 75 percent of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence. Yet, despite these statistics, few churches address the issue openly. What a powerful place of safety, healing, and recovery a women’s ministry and a congregation could be for those experiencing or having experienced domestic violence.

If you or a loved one are experiencing domestic violence, visit the domestic violence hotline at https://www.thehotline.org/ or call 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224.

 
For Your Study

• Use Bible study, "Direct your heart to her, Take counsel, Speak Out: A Bible Study on Judges 19:1-30" by Rev. LaThelma A. Yenn-Batah
• Use the Bible study, “A Cry for Help: A Time of Prayer Based on Psalm 6” by Adalia R. Guiterrez Lee in your personal study time or with a women’s ministry group.
• Use the Bible study, “Psalm 55 and Domestic Violence” by Karen Selig in your personal study time or with a women’s ministry group.
• Visit the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Review the information there about domestic and sexual violence.
• Visit Judson Press's free webinars, available as downloads. Scroll down to find two webinars by Brenda Branson, author of Violence Among Us: A Ministry to Families in Crisis, entitled "Domestic VIolence--Do's and Dont's of Counseling and the Church's Role and Response" and "Domestic Violence--Profile of Victim and Perpetrator."
• American Baptist Women’s Ministries partnered with Safe Haven Ministries for a Domestic Violence Prevention and Education virtual training on Saturday, September 12, 2020. This training enabled clergy, church leaders, community groups, and domestic violence educators to come together in a safe and intentional manner to learn ways to support and aid those in their communities that are suffering from Domestic Violence. Participants gained knowledge, insight, and skills useful in addressing and preventing domestic violence.
  
   

Taking Action

• Participate in the Cities for CEDAW advocacy movement. The United States is one of only seven countries in the world that has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979. CEDAW is a landmark international agreement that affirms principles of fundamental human rights and equality for women around the world. In addition to eliminating discrimination against women in every sphere, it also addresses sex trafficking and domestic abuse. Tired of waiting for the United States to ratify CEDAW, the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles passed ordinances in 1998 integrating CEDAW into city and county governance. Since then, similar initiatives have been enacted in other U.S. cities. Creating a groundswell of local, municipal support for this global human rights initiative will not only improve the lives of women in the U.S. but will significantly increase the possibilities of the U.S. ratifying CEDAW. For more information on this movement, visit the Cities for CEDAW website at http://citiesforcedaw.org/. 
• Visit the website of FaithTrust Institute, a “national, multifaith, multicultural training and education organization…working to end sexual and domestic violence.” Discuss with your pastor the possibility of using videos and resources from FaithTrust Institute in adult education classes or consider using them with your women’s ministry group.
• Invite your pastor/s for coffee and discuss with her/him/them ways that your congregation may be able to more effectively address domestic violence in the congregation. Encourage your pastor/s to preach and lead Bible studies on the topic.
• In your women’s ministry group, include a time of prayer for those who are experiencing or have experienced intimate partner violence in their lives. Don’t name names—but regular, general prayers will let women know they are being prayed for and that this is a safe place to come for help.
• Work with leaders of the girls’ ministry, or youth leaders to plan topics for youth and girls’ programming on healthy relationships and dating violence. Use LoveIsRespect.org and www,nrcdv.org as a resource. (February is designated Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness month—use that as inspiration to launch your focus on this topic, but don’t just restrict it to February! Visit www.teendvmonth.org for information.)