This past year churches from around the country have been engaging with the No Place for Violence Here campaign, raising congregational awareness of domestic and family violence (DFV) and exploring how the church could respond. Mona Vale Anglican Church hosted a Men’s Breakfast in March, where it invited two Christian Counsellors to present on domestic and family violence. The breakfast tackled such topics as how to speak up and not be a bystander, even in situations where a joke is said with the intent of demeaning someone of the opposite gender. Senior Minister John Reid, of Mona Vale Anglican, said that the “presentation was challenging” and he invited the counsellors back to run a session for the entire church. He is “convinced we all need to hear and be empowered to stand up against any form of abuse and be equipped to help those who suffer abuse.”
Minister Reid was concerned that people thought domestic and family violence didn’t happen in the church. The Anglican Diocese has issued a helpful response chart for domestic and family violence. To access something similar for Baptist Churches, visit https://nswactbaptists.org.au/project/domestic-violence-2/ under “Pastors Resource”. Minister Reid has also found the “Peacewise” materials to beneficial in helping people deal with conflict in a way that pleases God.
“We continue to remind people that we are a community in which there is no place for violence, and trust that we can match our words to our responses as we teach on the nature of Christian Community.” Minister Reid
If your church would like to access the No Place for Violence Here materials visit: https://ajustcause.com.au/no-place-for-violence/