Released by: Rick Kajiura
Phone: +31-30-955-324 (June 29-July 8) or +301-680-6300
Written by: Norma Sahlin
          
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 1995
          
ADVENTIST CHURCH TO ADDRESS ABUSE AND FAMILY VIOLENCE
          
Utrecht, The Netherlands... Addressing the issues of abuse and family
violence will be a major emphasis in the Seventh-day Adventist Church
for the next five years. During the 56th session of the General
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Utrecht, Netherlands, more than
300 delegates and guests attended a discussion group on abuse and
family violence.  At the conclusion votes were cast to recommend
specific actions.
	The departments of Family Life, Children's Ministries, and Women's
Ministries will cooperate on implementing the action steps.
	A discussion paper framed the scope of the issues and summarized the
ideal, "God, in His relationship with His children, models a parenting
style that faithfully provides, teaches, and corrects in a manner that
respects each family member as a person or worth."
	Specific recommendations include creating an educational strategy for
church leaders and laity that will (a) inform regarding abuse and
domestic violence; (b) clarify services that may be appropriately
provided to abusers and abused persons by pastors, laity, and mental
health professionals; and (c) outline practical steps to be followed in
dealing with abusive situations; and (d) provide education about
parenting strategies that prevent the problem of abuse. In addition, it
was recommended that a code of ethics be developed for denominational
employees, and policies will be established that will govern the
handling of cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct or abuse.
	Other recommendations included:  1) To establish an appropriate
screening process for church employees and volunteers prior to their
assignment to positions of ministry to persons whose age or
circumstances may render them potentially vulnerableto abuse; 2) To
communicate and educate about abuse and family violence to the world
membership, especially the incompatibility of abuse and domestic
violence with a biblical understanding of God's ideals for husbands and
wives, parents and children, and all human relationships; 3) To
increase pastors' and church leaders' awareness of possible legal
responsibilities and/or liability when cases of abuse and domestic
violence are handled inappropriately in a church setting; 4) After
reviewing statistics and reports, conduct research to determine the
nature and extent of abuse and domestic violence with the Seventh-day
Adventist Church.
	The scope of the problems becomes clear after reviewing just a few
of the statistics gathered from around the globe:  one out of every two
women murdered between 1983 and 1985 in Bangladesh was a victim of
domestic violence; in Canada, 3 out of 5; in the USA, 1 out of 3; in
England and Wales, 1 out of 4.
	The discussion paper stated that studies emerging from Australia,
Kuwait, Kenya, Thailand, Austria, Nigeria, and Uganda place domestic
violence at significant levels.
	Key points included, "Studies show that twice as many victims go to
their pastors as go to doctors or counselors ... When the church
accepts the possibility that violence can occur within its membership,
a first step has been taken in the right direction. A door is thus
opened for pastors, lay leanders, and members to break the silence and
to seek redemptive ways to serve both victim and perpetrator ... The
pastor has an important role to play as a member of the treatment
team."
	The value of prevention was emphasized, "We must think more about
prevention. Prevention begins with awareness."
	Presenters included Rose Otis, director, Women's Ministries; Ronald
M. Flowers, director, Family Life Ministries; Philip Follett, General
Conference general vice president; Dr. Alberta Mazat, family counselor;
and Brian Craig, director, Family Life Ministries in the South Pacific
Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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