Anglican clergy and local church leaders to contribute to ground-breaking family violence study
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Anglican clergy and local church leaders have been invited to take part in research that explores their responses to intimate partner violence
Anglican clergy and local church leaders have been invited to take part in research that explores their responses to intimate partner violence.
This study of clergy and local church leaders is part of a wider research project, titled the ‘National Anglican Family Violence Project’, set up by the Anglican General Synod and its Family Violence Working Group.
The research is being conducted by NCLS Research.
The Rev’d Tracy Lauersen is Chair of the Anglican Church of Australia’s Family Violence Working Group.
“For the Church to be part of the broader cultural response to prevent violence and to minister to those who experience it, we need to better understand what happens in our own church communities.
“This includes hearing from our clergy and other leaders about their pastoral experiences and their perceptions around family violence,” The Rev’d Tracy Lauersen said.
The current survey for leaders is for Anglican clergy in active ministry in selected parishes and lay people in identified leadership positions within these parishes who have a particular interest in issues concerning family violence.
Dr Ruth Powell is Director of NCLS Research and Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University.
“For this study we have randomly selected Anglican parishes across the country to complete a confidential and anonymous online survey,” Dr Powell said.
“If anyone in your parish received the invitation with a unique Parish Survey Access Code, please pass it on to other clergy and leaders in your parish.
“In the coming months, the next phase of the research will be to invite anyone with a connection with the Anglican church and experiences of family violence to share via a separate online anonymous survey. This will be followed by some in-depth interviews.”
The Rev’d Tracy Lauersen advised that results will be reported to the Anglican General Synod in May 2021 and will help to guide Church policy and practice to respond to these difficult issues.
Note: Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month is held during May each year to raise community awareness, to offer support, and to promote a clear message of no tolerance.
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