Commitment One
Our Church acknowledges and laments the violence which has been suffered by some of our members and repents of the part we have played in allowing an environment where violence went unaddressed.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:9) [1]
The Anglican Church of Australia grieves with victims and survivors of domestic and family violence, and prays for their healing and recovery.
We confess with deep shame that domestic and family violence has occurred among those who attend our churches, and even among some in leadership.
We give thanks for those women and men, clergy and lay people, who have faithfully supported, cared for and protected people affected by domestic and family violence in our churches and communities. However, we apologise for those times our teaching and pastoral care has failed adequately to support such people or to call perpetrators to account.[2]
Domestic and Family Violence can affect both men and women, but we know that women are far more likely to experience violence and also to suffer more
consequences from that violence and our research bears this out. Many times as a church we have let people down, especially women and children.
We recognise that sin and gender inequality lie at the heart of domestic & family violence. Violent behaviour grows from attitudes and other behaviours which abuse a person’s power and exercise control over another. We affirm the life-giving words of Holy Scripture, but we also recognise that some Scripture has been used to justify unacceptable behaviours and to disempower victims from escaping violent relationships. We lament this.
Footnotes:
[1] 1 John 1:9. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
[2] Resolution of Anglican Church of Australia General Synod 17 (adapted)