Domestic Violence Survivors and the Church

“Understanding the church’s role in resiliency and post-traumatic growth for domestic violence survivors of faith. ”

Team Members/Contributors

Geneece Goertzen Calvary Baptist Contact Me

About this pastoral study project

Many survivors have struggled to find a path to resiliency and healing, in part because they have lost family, friends, and faith community after disclosing abuse or going through a divorce. Sadly, the church has historically marginalized and oppressed victims of abuse. The very organization that holds the key to hope and the fullness of life often withholds these fundamentals from survivors. These individuals necessarily separate their faith and spirituality from the institution of the church, often giving them no choice but to leave their faith community in search of safety or self-preservation.

My desire is to interview survivors of domestic violence about their journey to healing after abuse and determine the role and presence that clergy and faith communities had in that recovery. The results of these interviews will inform how clergy can assist those who have experienced abuse, how faith communities need to build a supportive environment, and the importance of creating domestic violence awareness in our congregations. With these tools, faith communities can be a source of vital support and post-traumatic growth in survivors of domestic violence.