Churches urged to offer victims of violence "bread, not stones"
Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT
In a service ahead of the launch of the Lenten study series on the struggle to end violence against women "Cries of Anguish; Stories of Hope", the general secretary of the World Council of Churches Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit invited people to reflect on how they might give the bread of relationship rather than the heavy stones of violence to both victims and perpetrators of violence.
At the service, which took place today at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, Tveit stated that ecumenism is about being one, not only on doctrinal issues and questions of faith but also in the face of all that destroys human dignity. This sometimes requires facing painful and very uncomfortable realities, which include violence, and violence against women in particular.
"We cannot remain silent about this reality but we need to bear witness to what 'being one' can do to help transform relationships between men and women. This is quite obviously a particular responsibility of men. Here we have to be quite clear. Therefore, if we do not address this message to men and work together as men and women, there will be no transformation," stated Tveit, who quoted from a Norwegian Joint Muslim Christian statement – "Say No to Violence" – issued last November: "As Christians and Muslims we see women and men as equal and nobody has the right to use violence against the other. Violence in the family and in close relationships are criminal acts and against the convictions of our beliefs. We believe that there is inspiration and guidance in our religions for life in love and mutual respect."
Rev. Dr Nyambura Njoroge, coordinator of the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa, offered a brief meditation during the worship, and representatives from the World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA) and World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), who have jointly authored the study with the WCC, also took part.
The campaign encourages a study process on violence against women using videos from around the world, Bible study and discussion in local groups and churches. More than 400 people have already joined the Facebook group dedicated to the study, which is launched on Ash Wednesday, 17 February 2010.
A sample of the Lenten study resources "Cries of Anguish, Stories of Hope" is available at:
http://women.overcomingviolence.org
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