Disclosing Domestic Violence to Survivors’ Churches: Experiences of Survivors

Abstract

This article discusses the experiences of 12 survivors of domestic violence, 9 women and 3 men, regarding how their congregations responded and how that affected their views of God. These qualitative interviews were part of a larger mixed-methods study on domestic violence and the church that sought to provide further insight into the intersection of faith, domestic violence, and church response. Domestic violence occurs in religious families, just as it does in the general population. In these cases, the victims of abuse often first reach out to their pastors or clergy members for assistance. Using transcendental phenomenology, the authors sought to understand the survivors’ experiences in disclosing abuse to their faith communities. The findings show that despite numerous painful experiences with the church, the survivors’ faith and views of God largely stayed intact. Further domestic violence education, connection to resources, and attention to congregational policies and practices are vital in the faithful response to abuse.