Resources & Tools
For Faith Communities
Faith communities have a unique and powerful role to play in preventing and responding to family violence.
What faith communities say about family violence
While religious and spiritual belief systems do not usually bring people together in communities, individuals who hold these beliefs usually share strong ethics that promote love and care and reject violence.
Help Prevent and End Family Violence — A Vision for Faith Communities
- 1 Become a sanctuary. Make your place of worship or of gathering a safe place for victims of family violence.
- 2 Educate yourself. Study the problem, understand the issues, and learn what you can do.
- 3 Get involved in prevention. Include information on family violence in bulletins or newsletters.
- 4 Break the silence. A faith leader can have a powerful impact on people's attitudes and beliefs.
- 5 Lead by example. Volunteer and support your local transition house or violence prevention program.
- 6 Partner with existing resources. Work together with PEI Family Violence Prevention Services and others.
- 7 Offer meeting space. Find out from agencies what kinds of support they need and invite your community to help.
- 8 Support professional training. Encourage and support family violence training for faith leaders and clergy.
- 9 Address internal issues. Take allegations of abuse seriously and act in a timely manner.