Safe Harbor "Bridges The Gap" Between Victims of Domestic Violence and Faith Communities

On January 22, 2009, Safe Harbor hosted a conference for faith leaders entitled "Bridging the Gap - Responding to Domestic Violence in Faith Communities".  This conference took place at Trinity Lutheran Church in Greenville.  Over 100 faith leaders (ministers, Sunday School teachers, lay leaders, nonprofit workers, etc) attended the conference.  The Rev. Dr. Aleese Moore-Orbih, Director of Training & Consulting for the FaithTrust Institute, was the keynote speaker and workshop leader.  Rev. Dr. Moore-Orbih talked about ways in which the issue of domestic violence affects faith communities.  She educated faith leaders on how they can be a helpful resource for victims in their congregations.

Five local faith leaders participated in a panel discussion about the affects of domestic violence in diverse faith communities during the conference. The panel participants were: Pastor Curtis Johnson - pastor of Valleybrook Baptist Outreach Church, Rabbi Holly Cohn - Rabbi of the Temple of Israel, Rev. Patrick Shealy - a Community Groups Pastor at Grace Church, Rev. Chuy Gallegos - Pastor of Hispanic Outreach Ministries of the Foothills Presbytery, and Rev. Baxter Wynn - Minister of Pastoral Care at First Baptist Church in Greenville.  All participants spoke honestly & openly about their experience in addressing the issue of domestic violence within their congregations and expressed the need for congregations to respond to the problem of abuse through their worship, congregational care, and outreach ministries.

During the "Bridging the Gap" conference, faith leaders learned that domestic violence provokes both a physical and spiritual crisis for their congregation members. In the midst of abuse, many victims want to turn to their faith for help and answers. Domestic violence victims are praying that their faith will help them to make sense of their situation and to provide answers that will lead them to safety, healing, and wholeness. These victims are not only struggling to survive and to protect their children, but they are also wrestling with theological questions: "Where is God?"  "Am I being punished by God?"  "Is it against God’s will for me to leave an abusive relationship?" Victims often struggle with these questions alone because their congregation has not been a safe place for them to seek assistance.  They may feel ashamed or afraid to seek help from their faith community, concerned that others might judge them or their family due to the problems that they are facing behind closed doors.

Safe Harbor is hopeful that its "Bridging the Gap" conference has equipped faith leaders to begin addressing the issue of domestic violence and to be a helpful resource for victims who are struggling within their congregations. This conference is simply the beginning of our conversation with congregations as we continue to partner together with people of faith to alleviate family violence in the Upstate of South Carolina.

If your congregation would like to schedule a Safe Harbor speaker to talk to your faith community about the issue of domestic violence and Safe Harbor's mission, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Safe Harbor’s Director of Volunteers & Communications or (864)467-1177.