Men are becoming much more active in challenging attitudes and actions which endorse violence.
This is the good news that David Penberthy reports from a conversation with Dr Flood in anticipation of new research to be released 25 November 2011 on White Ribbon Day-[To the blokes: I just swore! Do you swear too? – against violence! Check it out. 🙂 ]
See David Penberthy’s full article, The high price of male silence on violence against women.
In a symposium, What does it take … to STOP domestic violence? I stated that to be true followers of Christ, we must have a commitment to healing and change.
What can we do?
The church certainly needs to confront domestic violence strongly and positively:
- by recognising domestic violence, and talking about it in our churches.
- by condemning it as always wrong and destructive.
- by believing and supporting victims.
- by praying for those suffering abuse and those who abuse (see below).
- by challenging offenders from all walks of life to change – and then supporting and facilitating that change.
- by having a brave look at how male power and privilege is used in our society, in our churches and in our homes.
- by participating in a shift in community attitudes that challenges of the power that maintains domestic violence.
- by ensuring we don’t misuse theology to permit the continuation of domestic violence.
But the church also needs to be involved in more ‘back door’, or ‘preventative’, ways as well. Recognizing the influence on this problem of unemployment and hopelessness; of family break down; of alcoholism; of poor relationship skills, of financial stress, the church also needs to be at work in these areas in preventative ways as well.
See the full address, What does it take … to STOP domestic violence?
