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Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress. . .
I have become like a broken vessel. . .
But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
—Psalm 31:9-14

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For far too long, the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and financial ramifications of domestic violence have been ignored and dismissed. In my years as a pastor, I have had women tell me that another pastor told them to stay with their husbands and pray for them to change. That is furthering the trauma of violence and adding shame to women and men who have been victimized. Domestic violence is a social justice and a faith issue. The only way we can most effectively stop violence is to expose it and provide resources to address root causes of violence openly and honestly.

I share the information below from the Fact Sheet on Domestic Violence produced by the United Methodist Women. The statistics are disturbing. You can find more information on the website: https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/domestic-violence

“One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. Eighty-five percent of domestic violence victims are women, with women aged 22 to 24 being at the greatest risk. More than three women and one man are murdered by their intimate partners in the United States every day. According to the National Domestic Violence Center, only one-fourth of physical assaults against females by intimate partners are reported to the police. Surveys indicate that domestic violence occurs in 28 percent of all marriages.

Domestic violence refers to a pattern of violence and coercive behavior by one adult in an intimate relationship over another. It is not ‘marital conflict,’ ‘a lovers quarrel’ or ‘private family matter.’ It may consist of repeated, severe beatings or subtle forms of abuse, including threats and control. The four basic types of domestic violence are physical assault, sexual assault, psychological assault and attacks against property and pets. In spite of its prevalence, blatant impunity for violence against women still exists—too often rooted in a misinterpretation of biblical texts and a patriarchal view of relationships toward women and children that asserts control over cooperation and mutuality.” [1]

UMW Vision: “Reconciliation and the building of community affirm the value and quality of every member of the human family and his or her right to respect and freedom from violence. Our task is to work for a world free of destructive stereotypes and to work for laws that protect women and children who are victims of abuse and hold abusers accountable while at the same time creating opportunities for their counseling and rehabilitation.”

You can also find excellent resources on Faith Trust Institute site at: https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/resources/awareness-month-resources/october-domestic-violence

Blessings,
Donna

Do you need help? Chat online: https://www.thehotline.org/ | Call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) | Text “START” to 88788.

[1] https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/what-we-do/service-and-advocacy/mission-focus-issues/domestic-violence/domesticviolencefactsheet.pdf