Committee approves report on domestic violence Presbyterian News Service Wednesday, June 13, 2001 LOUISVILLE, Ky. –When Donna Riley's now ex-boyfriend pushed her down a flight of stairs in 1994 "my church was not there for me at all." When the incident and subsequent legal proceedings grabbed headlines in local newspapers, Riley, age 23 at the time, felt exposed and alone. "But my church did nothing," the Presbyterian woman from Washington D.C., now 29, said of her former congregation in Pittsburgh, Pa. But on Tuesday, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) took a step forward in tackling the serious social issue. The General Assembly Committee on National and Social Issues overwhelmingly approved a major policy paper on the problem of domestic violence. The paper now goes before the 213th General Assembly. The 84-page compilation – entitled Turn Mourning Into Dancing! A Policy Statement on Healing Domestic Violence – includes more than 60 recommendations for action, including a variety of educational and advocacy efforts at all levels of the church, and asks congregations to become more involved in ministries to victims, survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence. It was compiled by the church's Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP), and is perhaps the most significant social policy proposal to this year's Assembly. "I'm a survivor of domestic violence and I am so thankful for this report," Riley said Monday during a public hearing on the policy. "It is wonderfully written and addresses what I believe is a major problem in the church: our inability to respond appropriately and effectively to our violence." Abuse victims and other proponents of the paper took turns speaking at Monday's hearing, some returned Tuesday to watch the 49-member committee sign off on the report. ACSWP prepared the document in response to an overture (resolution) to the 1997 General Assembly from the Presbytery of East Iowa. The purpose of the policy statement is to "hear the voices of victims and survivors and respond to their calls with the following goals: first, to protect the victims from further abuse; second, to stop the abuser's violence and hold the abuser accountable; and third, to restore the family relationship, if possible, or mourn the loss of the relationship." "The importance of this paper is that victims and survivors are brought to safety," said Peter A. Sulyok, ACSWP's coordinator and lead staff person for the task force on healing domestic violence. "Also, that those who abuse are held accountable and that some form of restoration or reconciliation takes place within the family. That's the importance of this paper, for the church to get that message out to the congregations." According to the report, domestic violence stems from "a need for power and control," and can take many forms: physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and abuse by neglect. It includes child abuse, spouse/partner abuse, elder abuse, sibling abuse and dating violence. The paper asserts that the church "should be a vehicle of God's love, justice and grace for victims and survivors. This will require an intentional process of becoming trustworthy partners in the process of mourning, healing and reconnecting." In related news, the committee during its first meeting on Monday, unanimously approved an overture from the Presbytery of Long Island pertaining to providing financial assistance to Presbyterians who are pursing adoption. The overture, which now goes to the General Assembly, calls upon commissioners to direct the General Assembly Council to establish within two years, a special fund for adoption. Voluntary contributions may be made by churches, individuals and others for the purpose of providing financial assistance to those seeking to adopt a child. A report is to be made to the General Assembly in 2003.

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