Jenan Taylor
29 July 2024
Christians will be equipped to create a future without violence against women at an upcoming national conference.
The Ten Commitments conference aims to inspire church leaders and members to prevent domestic violence and care for survivors, as violence against women continues to escalate.
It comes as thousands of people across Australia rallied for an end to gender-based violence at the weekend.
Conference organisers from the Anglican Church of Australia’s Families and Culture Commission said the focus would be on hope despite the despair and grief at the mounting death rate.
Read more: ‘Churches are uniquely positioned to prevent, respond and heal’
National Program Manager the Reverend Tracy Lauersen said it was important there was a sense of hope because it motivated people to make a positive difference in tackling the issue.
She said the opportunity to gather and discuss effective responses to the problem would encourage churches to feel they could create a different, and safer future for women.
Ms Lauersen said the conference would feature a range of subject experts including Our Watch chief executive Patty Kinnersley, clinical psychologist Dr Leisa Aitken and researcher Dr Michael Flood.
She said there would also be workshops which showcased local church initiatives, training programs, pastoral care and prevention strategies.
Keynote speaker Dr Aitken said she would explore the positive effect that good theology could have in creating the psychological experience of hope that then motivated action to reduce family violence.
She said glimpses of hope as to what arrested men’s violence were essential to keep people moving forward with their work of prevention.
Read more: Churches powerhouses against men’s violence, but funds needed: Advocates
Workshop presenter and Canberra-based psychologist Ruth Holt said it was important to avoid getting mired in describing the problem and work towards change instead.
Ms Holt said her workshop would focus on giving Christian hope to people who supported survivors at the frontline, and faced challenges working in that space long term.
She aimed to equip them to be aware of their own needs to avoid the high risk of burnout.
Ms Lauersen said there would be presenters from Catholic, Lutheran and other churches, and the conference was open to people from a variety of denominations this year.
The Ten Commitments conference will take place on 2 and 3 September at St Jude’s Carlton.
For more details and to register, see here.
If you or anyone you know needs help, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
In an emergency please phone triple zero (000) to reach ambulance services or police.
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