Conference addresses domestic abuse and pastoral care

Learning how to address domestic violence within a church membership is a complicated issue. Throw in the complexity of forgiveness and healing in a church context and it becomes even more difficult to address.

A Steinbach conference hosted through MCC aims to help with that.

On Nov. 26, the all-day conference intended for church leaders, counsellors and those in spiritual care will take on those issues.

The conference begins with a presentation from Val Hiebert, the abuse response and prevention co-coordinator for MCC Manitoba.

She will host a message called “Fracturing the Holy Hush: Domestic Abuse and the Church.”

Her co-coordinator at MCC Manitoba, Jaymie Friesen will present “Understanding Intimate Partner Abuse: Dynamics, Forms and Myths.”

After lunch Hiebert will join Fort Gary EMC Church pastor Cameron McKenzie to present “What About Forgiveness?”

The day will conclude with a presentation from Jaymie Friesen titled “Responding to Intimate Partner Abuse: Safety, Empowerment, and Accountability.”

Attendees will also hear from an Agape House outreach coordinator during the day.

Hiebert said the issue is important, explaining that while rates of abuse in Christian homes are equal to the general public in most cases, (higher in more conservative religious homes), its often hidden because churches and individual Christians feel it will bring shame to Christianity.

“This leaves victims, typically women and children, at much greater risk of abuse because it is shrouded in silence, which adds yet another layer of trauma to their experience,” she said in an email interview. “Christian beliefs ae often used by abusers to justify their abuse.”

“Breaking this holy hush so that we can help those caught in webs of domestic abuse will also prevent generational violence into the future,” she added.

Extending the conversation has proved to be more welcome to churches than in the past Hiebert said.

“We work with some denominations and individual churches, who welcome training and advice,” she said. “There are still many who do not, but we hope for more engagement in the future.”

Hiebert said conferences like this one make an impact.

“The conversational synergies that happen around the tables of participants, as they work with ideas and information we are offering, generates wisdom between and among them which is really meaningful to see,” she said.

The full day series of workshops runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 26 at Steinbach EMC Church.

The $50 registration fee includes lunch and light refreshments.

Learn more and register at mcc.org/events and follow the links.