wfn.org | ACSWP Announces Church-wide Study on "Healing Domestic Violence"

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

15-July-1999 
99236 
 
    ACSWP Announces Church-wide Study 
    on "Healing Domestic Violence" 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) task force on domestic 
violence is asking the whole denomination to be part of a study of violence 
in interpersonal relationships, especially in homes. 
 
    The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy appointed the task 
force on "Healing Domestic Violence: Nurturing a Responsive Church 
Community."Input from groups that study the issue will be incorporated into 
a policy statement on domestic violence to be presented to the 213th 
General Assembly in 2001. 
 
    "We especially invite session committees and local church study groups, 
as well as presbytery and synod groups, to explore the issues contained in 
the designated study document `Striking Terror No More: The Church Responds 
to Domestic Violence,'" said Peter A. Sulyok, coordinator for the Advisory 
Committee on Social Witness Policy. "Participation of individuals and 
church groups will be crucial in developing policy for the Presbyterian 
Church so that we may become a more responsive community." 
 
    Noting confusion in the church about previous study documents, Sulyok 
told the Presbyterian News Service that a study document of the General 
Assembly is intended to stimulate study and discussion within the church on 
particular social issues. "It is not to be construed as a social witness 
policy of the PC(USA)," he said. 
 
    "Striking Terror No More: The Church Responds to Domestic Violence" was 
originally developed by the General Assembly Council's Societal Violence 
Initiative Team. It includes study sessions on various forms of 
interpersonal violence: child abuse, acquaintance and date rape, partner 
and spouse abuse, and elder abuse. 
 
    The task force on "Healing Domestic Violence" recommends using the five 
study sessions found in Part II of the document to help church members be 
better informed about interpersonal violence. 
 
    "Our hope is that groups will study the enclosed resource for five 
weeks, then complete and return the response form, sharing ways their 
congregations can improve their outreach in this area of need," Sulyok 
said. 
 
    Reflections on and feedback about the document should be sent to the 
Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, 100 Witherspoon St., Room 
3040, Louisville, KY 40202.  The deadline for responses is Sept. 1, 2000. 
 
    "Striking Terror No More: The Church Responds to Domestic Violence" is 
available from Bridge Resources for $9.95; call 1-800-524-2612 and request 
PDS # 095516. 
 
    For more information, contact Peter A. Sulyok by phone at 502-569-5814, 
by fax at 502-569-8034, or by e-mail at <peters@ctr.pcusa.org>. 

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