‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’: resourcing churches to challenge domestic and family violence
The Joint Churches Domestic Violence Prevention Project (JCDVPP) Queensland has launched a resource booklet for clergy and laity, ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Questions Women ask about Relationships and Christian Beliefs.’ A booklet was first published in 2010 as a resource for victims and survivors of domestic/family violence (DFV). This updated edition reflects the changes in attitude, language and theological discussion as churches and communities have more openly discussed and confronted the sin of violence and abuse.
Domestic and family violence (DFV) devastates the lives of many people – women, children and men – including those within church and faith communities. Spiritual abuse, alongside other forms of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal) damages individuals and communities. But people within church settings, clergy and laity, often feel ill-equipped to respond and provide appropriate help for people impacted by DFV. In Queensland, churches have come together in an ecumenical collaboration, aiming to make churches and faith communities safe places, free from violence and abuse.
JCDVPP provides resources to church and faith communities in Queensland who are striving to challenge the incidence of DFV within their settings. Resources such as this booklet, together with workshops and referral links to professional help, aim to ensure that people of faith experiencing DFV can obtain appropriate assistance and support from within their church settings.
Copies of the booklet ($5 each) as well as further information about workshops (online and in-person) can be obtained from Queensland Churches Together (QCT): admin@qct.org.au or (07) 3369 6792.
Our photo shows Denise Grieshaber, LCAQD’s representative on the JCDVPP, Chris Seiboth, Lutheran Services Executive Lead for Community Services (which includes Mary & Martha’s Refuge) and Kathy Matuschka (Assistant Director, Ministry & Mission) at the book launch.
