The Church's Response to Domestic Violence


Book Description

Abuse is hiding in our churches. Our women and children are being wounded and even dying in their homes by those who have committed to love and protect them. Domestic violence is present in families you would never suspect from the most-respected to the least noticed, even the family sitting near you in church. Women are told God hates divorce, learn to submit, pray more, turn the other cheek, look at the plank in their own eye first, forgive 70 times 7. By giving such advice to women living in abusive relationships, well-intentioned church leaders are sending women and children back into dangerous, possibly deadly situations. In The Church's Response to Domestic Violence, a guide based on scriptural truth, church leaders will learn the complexities of the dynamics of domestic violence who abuses and who is abused the effects of violence in the home the dangers of couples counseling how to respond to disclosures of abuse why she keeps going back why she doesn't just leave We need our clergy and church leaders to reject the false ideologies that put God's children at risk and equip the Church to be the clear voice of hope and healing for families.




Breaking the Silence


Book Description

A handbook on domestic violence from a spiritual perspective, for clergy, parish nurses, and others. Breaking the Silence contains important, action-oriented information about domestic violence and its pervasiveness in society. Sections include “myths” about domestic violence; a checklist to determine if a relationship is potentially violent; clergy resources for counseling, worship, and congregational outreach; rape; information for youth; and pages that can be customized with local and national contact numbers, e-mail addresses, and websites. Also includes questions for discussion and suggestions for using the book for training or as a youth and adult education tool. This resource is limited to adult abuse, as the subject of child abuse is highly specialized and often includes many more laws and involvement from local agencies that will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.




The Church’s Response to Domestic Violence


Book Description

Abuse is hiding in our churches. Our women and children are being wounded and even dying in their homes by those who have committed to love and protect them. Domestic violence is present in families you would never suspect from the most-respected to the least noticed, even the family sitting near you in church. Women are told God hates divorce, learn to submit, pray more, turn the other cheek, look at the plank in their own eye first, forgive 70 times 7. By giving such advice to women living in abusive relationships, well-intentioned church leaders are sending women and children back into dangerous, possibly deadly situations. In The Church’s Response to Domestic Violence, a guide based on scriptural truth, church leaders will learn - the complexities of the dynamics of domestic violence - who abuses and who is abused - the effects of violence in the home - the dangers of couples counseling - how to respond to disclosures of abuse - why she keeps going back - why she doesn’t just leave We need our clergy and church leaders to reject the false ideologies that put God’s children at risk and equip the Church to be the clear voice of hope and healing for families.




When Home Hurts


Book Description

Dealing wisely with domestic abuse in the church




The Headship of Men and the Abuse of Women


Book Description

In recent years the issue of domestic abuse and violence has gained a lot of attention as the extent of it has become known. Domestic abuse and violence is now of high concern to most churches because it is evident that domestic abuse figures are much the same in our churches, and possibly higher in evangelical churches where the headship of men and the submission of women is made the God-given ideal. In this book, Kevin Giles surveys competently the scientific information on this matter now available and notes that the consensus is that the most sure indicator of higher incidences of abuse are found in communities where men are privileged and expected to be in charge and women are subordinated. This, he argues, should make complementarians consider afresh if in fact the subordination of women is the God-given ideal, established in creation before the fall.




Domestic Violence


Book Description

Miles addresses the issues related to inadequate pastoral response to this pervasive problem. He explores the dynamics of abusive relationships and the role which clergy members can take to heal this painful situation. The revised edition, designed to reach pastors and individuals "preparing to serve, builds upon the insights, policies, and programs in the original volume, including new information on the pathology of domestic violence and the effect the economic downturn is having on victims-survivors and batterers. Miles also focuses on helping clergy and other pastoral ministers develop a more compassionate response to victims-survivors who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender.




Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused


Book Description

Is your church prepared to care for individuals who have experienced various forms of abuse? As we continue to learn of more individuals experiencing sexual abuse, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse, it’s clear that resources are needed to help ministries and leaders care for these individuals with love, support, and in cooperation with civil authorities. This handbook seeks to help the church take a significant step forward in its care for those who have been abused. Working in tandem with the Church Cares resources and videos, this handbook brings together leading evangelical trauma counselors, victim advocates, social workers, attorneys, batterer interventionists, and survivors to equip pastors and ministry leaders for the appropriate initial responses to a variety of abuse scenarios in churches, schools, or ministries. Though the most comprehensive training is experienced by using this handbook and the videos together, readers who may be unable to access the videos can use this handbook as a stand-alone resource.




Women, Why Are You Weeping?


Book Description

Christian husbands are cursing, choking, punching, beating, kicking, and in some instances, using weapons to assault their wives. Women, Why Are You Weeping? describes how trust is broken and collusive alliances are formed whenever the church chooses to not get involved in family violence issues. When juxtaposed to Mary Magdalene’s traumatic discovery at the tomb that caused her to cry—“they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him”—this writing offers insight into ways Christ is poorly embodied when he is portrayed as complicitous in our unjust acts. Women, Why Are You Weeping? is an appropriate inquiry into the depth of disappointments our fellow heirs of the grace of life undergo. This question only appears twice in Scripture. In both instances, it is posed by divine beings looking into the affairs of mankind. Policy and practical change will occur when the church views the violence as a concern of all God’s people, particularly clergy. If the unredeemed can be there to listen to and comfort victims and have invested the money and time needed to give the victim/survivors the encouragement and hope they so desperately seek, how can the redeemed do less?




Is it Abuse?


Book Description

"Providing practical tools and exercises, counselor Darby Strickland shows how anyone can recognize clues suggesting abuse, identify oppressive behavior, and work with a victim to bring clarity, help, and healing"--




The Heart of Domestic Abuse: Gospel Solutions for Men Who Use Control and Violence in the Home


Book Description

Domestic abuse and violence are on the rise in our culture today, and just as prevalent in the church. With an estimated one-fourth of women in the church living with abuse and violence, pastors and biblical counselors need to have the resources to offer hope and help. It is time for godly men in the church to call abusive men to repentance and accountability. Here is a valuable resource for every church leader and Christian man.