The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics released data in September saying that more than 1 in every 200 people in Campbelltown has been subjected to domestic violence. If you read the data carefully you will discover that this is just incidents recorded by Police. The number is undoubtably much larger. This is horrific. Statistically we are the second worst LGA for Domestic Violence in Sydney.
I spoke to a lady this week who has been subjected to domestic violence from her husband and her daughter – the complexity of life for her as she tries to hold the family together is unfathomable. What is most perplexing is that they are all Christians. The reality is, being a Christian does not save you from being a victim or stop you from being a perpetrator of domestic violence.
In Synod this week, I contributed to a motion that committed our Anglican churches to keep acknowledging and addressing this issue. Institutions move slowly and can only do so much – we must also address this violence at the local and personal level. We can do that in two ways…
First, having acknowledged that there is a problem – some Christian people are violent toward their family – we need to ensure that we share the belief that violence is contrary to the Gospel and rebuke those who are engaged in it. This might begin with us asking more pointed and personal questions of friends in our church. More than “How’s your marriage?” Dig deep with people. Ask the awkward questions about parenting, finances, sex and violence. The Scriptures have much to teach us and asking these sorts of questions is a form of loving each other.
Second, in our church we need to work hard to create a strong culture pursuing godliness with grace and forgiveness. Jesus managed to both condemn sin and eat with sinners. There is an ideal to aspire to, and aspire we must to patiently, carefully and lovingly correct and rebuke each other.
Part of the Synod motion a call to prayer:
Synod prays for the protection, healing and support of victims and survivors of domestic violence within our churches; for wisdom and insight, courage and compassion for clergy and church workers in providing pastoral responses to people in such situations.
If you would like to talk to someone about your family situation, please feel safe to call or come and see me.
In Christ
Nigel