Family violence education for clergy and lay ministry leaders serving African American congregations in high violent crime rate areas of Memphis, Tennessee: An opportunity for religious groups and institutions to initiate/reinforce tangible steps toward becoming communities of safety, support, and hope for families

The crisis of family violence can affect individual members physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Approaching family violence from either a secular or religious perspective alone tends to disregard certain needs and issues of persons both as individuals and as members within the complexity that make up family units. If not addressed both secularly and spiritually in some way, they can inevitably become roadblocks to prevention efforts, crisis resolution, and healing. Studies indicate those (including victims and perpetrators) belonging to church families most often turn to their clergy, in comparison with police, physicians, and community agencies, for information and guidance. While religious leaders condemn violence, there is a wide variance in their understanding of its constructs, dynamics, and impact on victims, perpetrators, and families. Furthering this inconsistency, many faith communities have significantly underdeveloped knowledge of available community services for addressing family violence.

In response, four Shelby County Domestic Violence Council member organizations teamed together for a 2-year project to develop a nondenominational Christian-based curriculum strategy, recruit clergy and lay ministry leaders from the targeted demographic areas, and provide training. The program consists of 3 education modules: Recognition (acknowledge and recognize family violence exists); Referral (knowledge of available resources and ability to make appropriate referrals for crisis and non-urgent services); and Resources (providing safe and appropriate pastoral interventions and resources for integrating family violence topics from the pulpit, in lay ministries, and within different age groups). This presentation will discuss program evaluation results to date and highlight successes and lessons learned.