Faith community called to address domestic violence

While I enjoy walking for my own health, I walked for other people’s health twice in four days.

Last Saturday, I took part in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk at Farragut State Park. Then just four days ago, I walked in the annual March Against Domestic Violence in downtown Spokane.

Tuesday’s group was a small crowd with large enthusiasm and commitment.

I want to believe that the drizzle and cool wind accounted for the low number of marchers. But I actually think the reasons were less fickle than the weather.

I know the march organizers were thankful to see the men, women and children who attended Tuesday night.

I also know how Patty Wheeler, the director of the YWCA’s Alternatives to Domestic Violence program, feels when she said, “I feel like I’m preaching to the choir.”

To her, I say, “The choir always needs to be reminded that its work is both appreciated and essential” – regardless of the songs that choir may sing.

Domestic violence has a destructive presence in many homes throughout the Inland Northwest and in more church homes than anyone cares to admit.

The generic “faith community” can have a significant healing role in reducing that destructive presence in its members’ homes and in the general community. But that mission will involve much more than head-nodding and tongue-clucking when the subject of domestic violence is voiced.

A few people have just taken baby steps in the long march toward eradicating the need of some people to exert violent control over others in their own homes. Many more of us need to begin taking those baby steps so that we can address domestic violence in more realistic ways.

“The first baby step: Become aware.

The Sept. 29 Spokesman-Review article on domestic violence by Virginia DeLeon is a helpful start, but only if you are willing to become more aware of some of the issues underlying domestic violence.

One educational resource is Faith Partners Against Domestic Violence. This is a Spokane nonprofit agency dedicated to teaching clergy and lay people who are ready to learn about domestic violence.

Contact Sandi Thompson-Royer at (509) 534-2307 for more information. Another great contact is the YWCA’s Wheeler at (509) 326-1190.

The article mentioned two pastors who have taken courses from Faith Trust Institute, an educational and advocacy center in Seattle. Its Web site (www.faithtrustinstitute.org) will give you a good glimpse at the breadth and depth of learning we can all benefit from in regard to domestic violence.

“Second baby step: Nurture your courage.

Clergy and lay people all have their own reasons for not stepping forward to confront domestic violence. I suspect that beneath most of those reasons we are reluctant to open the proverbial “can of worms.”

Need I remind us that fishing for some success against domestic violence just may require some of those worms?

Faith Partners is a great place to start to bolster your own courage.

“Third baby step: Put your feet where your compassion is.

There are very compassionate people within all faith communities in our area. Compassion also dwells deeply in those not allied with any faith community.

But we may lack the motivation, the companionship, the knowledge, and – yes – the courage to put some feet beneath that compassion.

Victims of domestic violence and their families need to take many baby steps – or some giant steps – to change their situations.

Most of us don’t need to take big steps. But we do need to take some kind of steps, or we will fall behind those victims in their journeys toward wholeness.

Our faith traditions tell us that indifference is unacceptable.

Our compassion calls us to walk with them, if for no other reason than without us, they may walk all alone.