Responding Well to Domestic Abuse Practice Guidance

Dear Colleagues, In 2006 the Church of England produced the ‘Responding to Domestic Abuse: Guidelines for those with Pastoral Responsibilities’. This was in response to a motion passed by the General Synod of the Church of England in July 2004:

‘That this Synod, noting that domestic violence is regarded by the Home Office and the police as a crime:

(a) view with extreme alarm the number of incidents being regularly reported, as being an unacceptable picture of suffering and abuse;

(b) call for national guidelines to be issued by the Archbishops’ Council for those with pastoral care responsibilities, as to the appropriate relationship with both victims and perpetrators;

(c) recognise the special circumstances associated with domestic violence, and therefore the special needs of victims, in minority ethnic communities; and

(d) urge all dioceses to consider ways in which they could i) work in partnership with other agencies, co-operating sensitively with those serving minority communities, to provide the resources needed by victims and their families; ii) speak out against the evil of domestic violence; and iii) work for justice and safety in the homes of this nation.’

The Church remains committed to those who have been survivors/victims of domestic abuse and to addressing the processes that lead to domestic abuse. Domestic abuse in all its forms is contrary to the will of God and an affront to human dignity. All need to play their part in preventing or halting it.

I hope that this updated practice guidance will help church communities address the issues in an informed way and be of use to anyone entrusted by victims, survivors or perpetrators to hear their story. In doing so, we acknowledge the excellent work that is already taking place in many churches, by many Christians and by those working in voluntary and statutory organisations and we are grateful for their help in drawing up this revised practice guidance.

Yours in Christ’s fellowship,

The Right Reverend Peter Hancock
Bishop of Bath and Wells
Lead Bishop on Safeguarding