| Domestic Violence still rages; even in the church | | Print | |
| Written by Administrator |
| Friday, 06 March 2009 20:57 |
 Did you know that one if four members of every congregation is a victim of domestic violence, according to Dr. Rev. Marie Fortune, FaithTrust Institute (1994). As the technological boom has captured the attention of most and people communicate more by email and texting than the old fashioned visit, the world has forgotten about the many women (and men in some cases) who are still being tortured daily by a spouse or significant other. There were a few people talking when the story of Matthew and Mary Winkler came out after she shot her husband in the back in April of 2006. And a few more people sent emails across the country when well-known television minister Juanita Bynum fell victim to domestic abuse after her husband allegedly savagely beat her in a hotel parking lot. But people quickly forgot. Rebeca Ferreira refuses to allow you to forget. “Two women were beheaded on February, 2009 and nobody seems to think that it was important, these things are happening every day in some form or another and we have to do something about it,” said Ferreira, Executive Director & Founder Safe-Faith United, Inc, who organized a prayer vigil in honor of the women. “ I am taking Safe-Faith United, Inc. and the Nevada Interfaith Coalition for Victim Services to a national level and putting this information in the face of everyone until the awareness is so big, people won’t be able to continue to look the other way. It does not matter if the murders did not happen in Nevada. The crime was against women. It could have been our sister, daughter, mother, friend, cousin. I have family in New York, Miami, and Boston,” Ferreira said, formally a victim herself. The organization, non-profit 501 (c) (3) faith-based entity, came into existence to close the gap between the victim advocacy field and faith-based communities. “Domestic violence affects everyone in every culture,” said Ferreira, who developed an inclusive organic organization to meet the needs of domestic violence victims in the 21st century. Based on her experience as a victim advocate and a survivor, Ferreira saw the need to expand victim services to help women who - due to cultural and religious beliefs - may not seek victim advocacy support with traditional victim service providers. “Our services, programs and initiatives are culturally and linguistically developed to serve the unique needs of women and men of faith from all ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds,” Ferreira explained. “Our main goal is to serve the needs of domestic violence victims in faith-based communities. We provide training and education to faith leaders, and we help victims achieve self-sufficiency by enabling vocational training and college education opportunities.” Ferreira has sought out faith-based leaders of all backgrounds to come together and develop a system for reaching out. Leaders in the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Mormon and Catholic arena a just of few of the cultural and ethnic backgrounds represented. ”We can’t allow our differences to keep us from being served. This program exists in all cultures,” she said. “If we do not intervene at the slapping level, domestic abuse could escalate into domestic violence related homicide. You see what happened to those women. You should not be beheaded for filing divorce.” Lisa Tunstall, certified domestic violence advocate, opened up the unthinkable truth when she penned “Mending the Cloth,” a book about domestic violence in the clergy home. “Domestic violence in seemingly happy and wholesome clergy homes seems unthinkable,” Tunstall shares in her brochure promoting the book. “But there’s been quiet a storm afoot since time immemorial. It needs identifying, extracting and healing.” “Mending the Cloth is a bold necessity,” said Dr. Timothy M. James, associate general minister and administrative secretary for the national convocation of the Christian Church. “Spousal abuse and domestic violence may resident at your pastor’s or church leader’s address. There is help and healing available.” Tunstall’s project is just one way of bringing awareness to the problems of domestic violence, but for many it serves as a bulldozer in a field few wish to touch. “Mending the Cloth is an answer to prayer as faith communities struggle with the reality of increasing acts of domestic violence within the ranks of the clergy and laity,” said Bishop Charles E. Blake International Presiding Prelate, Church of God in Christ and Pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ “Dr. Tunstall’s writing is a reflective combination of research, her unique experience as a pastor’s wife of 31 years, and her own ministry encounters which have included counseling perpetrators and victims of domestic violence in communities of faith,” Bishop Blake added. Ferreira is encouraging anyone who knows anyone who has been affected by the crisis to get involved. To find out more about how you can become a part of contact Ferreri at (702) 372-7101 or visit the web site at www.safefaithunited.com. To get more information on Mending the Cloth, Healing Domestic Violence in the Clergy Home, contact Dr. Lisa Tunstall at 323.294.7721 or visit her web site at www.lisatunstall.org. |
| Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 January 2010 03:28 |