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96216       Societal Violence Team Continues Its Work 
 
                         by Julian Shipp 
 
SAN  FRANCISCO--The scripture that undergirds the work of the Societal 
Violence Initiative Team (SVIT) -- "Do no wrong or violence," (Jeremiah 
22:3) -- provided the framework for the May 30 - June 2 team meeting as it 
gathered to review its work and plan for the future. 
 
     "I am pleased with the work that this group has done in terms of 
preparing itself to assist the church in addressing violence against 
women," said team member the Rev. Thelma Burgonio-Watson, staff person at 
the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence in Seattle. 
 
     The church's determination to confront the issue of violence against 
women as a pastoral and moral concern will initially be addressed through a 
resource packet designed to equip congregations with the best information 
available. Information about the materials, which are currently in 
production, will be available at the General Assembly. 
 
     Appointed one year ago by the General Assembly Council (GAC), the 
seven-member team also refined plans for the major thrust of its current 
work, a 1998 national training event. While the training will be conducted 
on a national basis, the ultimate goal is to impact local congregations, 
according to SVIT officials. 
 
     According to Dr. James Poling, professor at Garrett Theological 
Seminary, "the PC(USA) could be the first U.S. denomination to sponsor a 
national training event for church leaders on confronting violence against 
women and children.  The team hopes that this training will become a model 
for other denominations to prevent the epidemic of violence against women 
and children in the U.S."  
 
     Team members also heard a presentation by Marcia Blackstock of Bay 
Area Women Against Rape, the first rape center in the U.S.  Blackstock 
discussed her work with survivors of ritual abuse as they seek to break the 
cycle of violence and move toward healing.  According to Blackstock, a 
person's spirituality is the most difficult thing to heal after being 
subjected to ritual abuse.  She said there is a great need for the church 
to be better equipped to listen to and help victim/survivors throughout the 
healing process. 
 
     San Francisco Network Ministries staff person Robin Pugh welcomed the 
team during its visit to the network's worship center, offices and new, 
low-income apartment complex, all located in one of the most violent areas 
of the city. The one-year-old apartment structure was funded in part by the 
1992 Birthday Offering of Presbyterian Women. 
 
     "It was such a joy to see Glenda Hope's (the program director's) dream 
turned into reality through the miracles that produced that building," said 
Virginia (Jinny) K. Miller, an SVIT team member of Mishawaka, Ill. who 
chaired the Creative Ministries Offering Committee of Presbyterian Women 
when the project was funded. "The ministries that take place there 
certainly are meeting critical needs for those who are oppressed and 
provide a comfortable, attractive refuge from the violence that pervades 
the area." 
 
     As the team discussed their plans for the future and reflected on the 
presentations and site visit, they reaffirmed the need for the church to 
educate its members about issues of violence against women and design 
programs that try to reduce this violence. 
 
     "The problem of societal violence is more important than just being an 
initiative, the issue is a long-standing concern," said the Rev. "Camp" 
Edwards, associate executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Louisville. 
"The recommendations that will come forth from this team should be 
institutionalized in order for change to truly take place." 
 
     Optimism was expressed about the outcomes of the team's work. For 
example, GAC member Maria L. Yee of  Stockton, Calif., said, "I feel 
blessed for being a part of SVIT. It has given me hope that congregations 
will be confronting and learning about domestic violence. 
 
     "For too long this painful issue has been subtly and blatantly 
ignored," Yee said.  "I rejoice that God's will and justice will prevail 
and our weeping at the end of the day will be turned into joy in the 
morning." 
 
     Kristine Thompson of Washington, D.C. is team moderator. Additional 
SVIT members include Peggy Barnett of Long Beach, Calif., who is also a 
liaison for Presbyterian Women; and Loretta Bradley of Knoxville, Tenn. 
Jeannine Frenzel Sulyok, Annie Wu King and the Rev. David Zuverink, all of 
Louisville, Ky., provide primary staff support for the team. 

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