Intimate Partner Violence, a Faith Response: ABC special

["Philip Jenks" <pjenks@ncccusa.org>]

Faiths' Response to Intimate Partner Violence
Begins Airing January 2011

View the opening clip at 
http://www.divacommunications.com/programs/i-believe-you/

New York, January 3, 2011 -- I Believe You: Faiths' Response to 
Intimate Partner Violence, an extraordinary interfaith documentary 
that explores the stories of survivors of abuse and the response of 
faith groups to address their needs, begins airing on ABC affiliated 
stations in January 2011.
 
Produced with the support of The New York Board of Rabbis, United 
Methodist Women, Presbyterian Women, the Evangelical Church in 
America, Odyssey Networks, the National Council of Churches and a 
consortium of Muslim organizations, this one-hour program, featuring 
the music of Janis Ian, airs as part of the Interfaith Broadcasting 
Commission's Visions and Values Series.
 
Appearing in the program are the Rev. Ann Tiemeyer, program director, 
National Council of Churches Women's Ministry, Harriett Jane Olson, 
head of United Methodist Women, and other ecumenical and interfaith 
clergy and educators.
 
From rural programs such as the Susanna Wesley Family Learning 
Center in Missouri to urban programs such as First Step in Michigan, 
from prevention programs such as Healthy Relationships held at Camp 
Herzl in Wisconsin, to recognition programs like the Mikveh 
Attendants program in New Jersey, from support groups at Emma's 
Place in Minnesota to healing programs at Mayyim Hayyim in 
Massachusetts, faith groups are exploring ways to support, advocate  
for and help aid the healing of those who have been harmed by abuse.
 
The program is filled with the hard won wisdom of survivors and the 
insight and understanding of clergy and program leaders including:
. The Reverend Willard W C Ashley, Sr., D. Min., D. H., Director of 
Field Education, New Brunswick Theological Seminary;
. The Reverend Barbara Certa-Werner, Executive Director, Harbor House;
. Antonia Clemente, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Trinity 
Healing Center;
. Rabbi Mark Dratch, Founder, JSAFE;
. The Reverend Dr. Marie M. Fortune, Founder FaithTrust Institute;
. Rabbi Lisa Gelber, Associate Dean, The Rabbinical School, The 
Jewish Theological Seminary;
. Rabbi Diana Gerson, Executive Director of Dayenu, Enough Silence!;
. Imam Khalid Latif, Executive Director, The Islamic Center, NYU, and 
Chaplain, NYPD;
. Robina Niaz, Founder and Executive Director, The Turning Point- 
Services for Muslim Women and Families;
. Harriett Jane Olson, Chief Executive Officer, United Methodist 
Women;
. Dr. Nancy Nason-Clark, Founder, The Rave Project (Religion and 
Violence E-Learning Project);
. The Reverend Diane Smalley, survivor and former Co-Moderator, 
Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence;
. The Reverend Ann Tiemeyer, Program Director, Women's Ministry, 
National Council of Churches;
. Reverend Traci C. West, Ph.D., author, Wounds of the Spirit: Black 
Women, Violence, and Racism.

It has been said that if people of faith do not advocate for 
justice, we are complicit in the perpetuation of this crisis. I 
BELIEVE YOU: Faiths' Response to Intimate Partner Violence goes a 
long way to give voice to the stories of survivors, make clear the 
assistance faith groups can provide, and offer encouragement and 
direction for women trapped in abusive relationships.

I BELIEVE YOU: Faiths' Response to Intimate Partner Violence is made 
possible in part by the generous support of Odyssey Networks, United 
Methodist Women, The New York Board of Rabbis, National Council of 
Churches USA, Presbyterian Women, and ELCA-Justice for Women. Dr. 
Debra Gonsher Vinik, head of Diva Communications, is producer of the 
program.
 
Wesley M. "Pat" Pattillo, NCC Associate General Secretary, Justice, 
Advocacy and Communication, represents the NCC on the Interfaith 
Broadcasting Commission, which plans many high-quality network 
programs similar to this one each year. Shirley Whipple Struchen is 
the NCC's Coordinator of Electronic Media Programming.
 
Check the Interfaith Broadcasting webpage for a complete listing of 
stations carrying the program at 
http://www.interfaithbroadcasting.com/ 

Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of 
Christ in the USA has been the leading force for ecumenical 
cooperation among Christians in the United States. The NCC's 37 
member faith groups -- from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, 
Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace 
churches -- include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local 
congregations in communities across the nation.

NCC News contact:  Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 
646-853-4212 (cell), pjenks@ncccusa.org