Commentary: Ending the silence about domestic violence

A UMNS Commentary
By Linda Bales*

One in three women in the world will experience violence in her lifetime, with rates reaching 70 percent in some countries, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report.

Domestic violence is a plague that cuts across economic lines, social groups, ethnicities and religions and impacts not only the victim - usually women - but also their children and extended family. It can result in women becoming homeless, without economic resources and at risk of losing their own lives.

Most women who are murdered are murdered by their husbands or significant partners. According to the United Nations Secretary-General's 2006 report on violence against women, 102 member states have no specific laws on domestic violence. Such state inaction encourages further violence through its impunity and hinders women by keeping in place discriminatory laws and policies. Sadly, the church has been too silent on this issue and, thereby, complicit in its prevalence.

Believing we can make a difference, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society is giving domestic violence high priority by addressing it through legislative advocacy and educational forums.

Model seminars are being designed for annual conferences and/or local churches with the goal of preparing lay and clergy to be able to appropriately intervene when a victim or perpetrator seeks help.

Compassionate preaching about the topic can begin to provide a safe environment for women living with this reality but too afraid to tell anyone.

Until the church begins to address domestic violence, women, children and men will sit quietly in the pews suffering untold pain with little to no relief in sight.

Legislative advocacy
Legislatively, the board celebrated the passage of the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women's Act (VAWA) last year - an act providing local communities with funding for shelters and transitional housing, enhanced police services, children's services and education for the prevention of violence.

An international Violence Against Women's Act in the U.S. Congress is in the offing - an act that has the strong support of the board, which is working collaboratively with other nongovernmental organizations to promote this to-be-introduced act.

The act expands the capacity of the U.S. government to raise the issue of violence against women and girls with foreign governments as part of U.S. diplomatic relations and supports and builds capacity and effectiveness of overseas, locally based nongovernmental organizations working to end violence against women and girls.

Additionally, a coordinator of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Violence Against Women Internationally would be identified along with an advisory commission. This is being proposed with the goal of preventing and responding to violence through a coordinated approach at all levels of community.

Important questions
When we confront the issue of domestic violence educationally and legislative, we find ourselves asking several questions:

.How can we, as the church, be a faithful witness to those who are victims?
.How can we bring respite and relief to those who are broken and share the good news that they, too, are loved and can come "home' to "God's home" - one where all are welcomed and comforted?
.How can we view domestic violence survivors as assets in our congregations and communities?

According to Henri Nouwen, "The deep truth is that our human suffering need not be an obstacle to the joy and peace we so desire, but can become, instead, the means to it. Real care means the willingness to help each other in making our brokenness into the gateway to joy."

The promises found in the prophets, such as Jeremiah, give to God's people knowledge of an all-present God, one who walks with them through trying and scary times. Jesus Christ calls us to do no less for the sake of millions who face violence daily.

We hope this special issue sheds more light on a very troubling subject and will answer some of these questions. It is our prayer that this issue also will propel us, as United Methodists, forward to action for the welfare of all God's children.

If you're interested in receiving action alerts and educational resource information on domestic violence, sign up for the Women and Children's Network at the United Methodist Board of Church and Society by writing to Donna Brandyberry at dbrandyberry@umc-gbcs.org or Linda Bales at lbales@umc-gbcs.org.

*Bales is director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project for the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, Washington. This column was part of a series produced by the board on domestic violence.