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 RDVRRG was appointed in March 2024 and in May, it called for responses to the report from church members (see below). It will prepare recommendations for matters to be addressed based on the report and responses received. The group’s work is to be completed before the 2024 Convention of General Synod. Read more here.
Call for responses to report
The LCANZ is calling for responses to the Religion and domestic violence: Exploring men’s perpetration report. The report provides members of the church with an opportunity to receive and be guided by people’s experiences of domestic and family violence. This includes those who suffer the violence of others, those who are the perpetrators of that violence and those who have opportunities to respond to that violence. Informed responses to the report will help the LCANZ better understand and promote it. These will guide ongoing strategies and actions to support people and congregations as they respond to experiences of domestic and family violence in their local settings.
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