Ending Spiritual Abuse in Domestic Violence Situations

Ending spiritual abuse in domestic violence situations

A workshop for clergy and pastoral leaders.

Disarming the false spiritual narratives of perpetrators. Empowering Scripture for victim/survivors. Communicating messages that facilitate healthy relationships.

I was made to feel like I was a hopeless Christian wife and I just needed to be more submissive, more loving, more godly, more forgiving.

For many people, faith, religion and spirituality play a significant role in the formation of individual and social identity and of their view of the world and relationships. That role can be distorted and weaponised by domestic abusers against their intimate partners.

In this workshop on spiritual abuse in domestic violence situations, we will examine

• what spiritual abuse is
• the ways that scripture and theology can be misused
• the place of the church in ensuring that the preaching and teaching of scripture facilitates
• healthy roles and relationships.
• the ways that scripture and theology can help aid healing for victim/survivors
• how to communicate scripture in ways that disarm its misuse

Presenter: Tracy Lauersen, National Program Manager, Families & Culture Commission, Anglican Church of Australia