The LCANZ is continuing its efforts to prevent domestic and family violence (DFV) among its members, in the wake of the release of a report, which finds that some religious beliefs about gender can be used to justify DFV.
Commissioned by the LCA in 2019, the Religion and Domestic Violence Report is the result of research done to help church leaders understand the core issues and address domestic and family violence in the LCANZ, and in our wider community.
Background
‘It is important to note that the Religion and Domestic Violence Report is not a theological statement of our church’, said LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith. Instead, as the contribution of professional researchers, Bishop Paul said the report would help the people of the church explore how to better understand and address domestic and family violence, both in New Zealand and in Australia.
A 2015 directive from General Synod ‘to commit resources to address ‘the prevalence of family violence among us’, resulted in the domestic violence awareness campaign Hidden Hurts Healing Hearts and the establishment of LCA’s Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence.
‘Upon receipt of such a significant report, we need to determine how best to respond to its findings and recommendations’, Bishop Smith said.
At its December 2023 meeting, the General Church Board resolved to establish a Religion and Domestic Violence Report Response Group (RDVRRG), whose primary role will be to collate responses to the report and to present recommendations to the General Church Board. The group’s work is to be completed before the 2024 Convention of General Synod.
Report response group appointed
Following a resolution by the LCANZ’s General Church Board (GCB), the Religion and Domestic Violence Report Response Group (RDVRRG) has been appointed by the church. The short-term volunteer group’s primary role will be to collate responses to the Religion and Domestic Violence Report and to present recommendations to GCB. The group will soon call for responses to the report from church members, before preparing recommendations for matters to be addressed based on the report and responses received.
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