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“Men and women we need to get together. You really don’t
know what someone else in the congregation has gone through
all week. They come in on Sunday for release and then return
to the same problems. The love we show in God’s house should
be shown at our jobs and in our homes. In order for us to
unit, we must care about each other at all times,” explained
Rev. Vensom Simpson, St. Paul Youth Minister, who organized
the event to focus on church ministries.
The forum opened with prayer and breakfast, which was
prepared by Rev. Simpson and a team of volunteers. American
Baptist Men President Thomas Kerby and American Baptist
Women President Debrah Gardner welcomed all guests in
attendance. In addition to Rev. Simpson’s discussion, the
forum also addressed how important it is for church leaders,
especially pastors, deacon board members and trustees to
take domestic violence seriously.
“Abusers aren’t just outside of the church walls, but inside
as well. We need to stop these batterers, even if they are
serving on the deacon board. These men attend Sunday church
and then go home and beat their wives,” said Minister
Augustine Abbott.
She handed out graphs and support documents which explained
religion and abuse. “The church is the pillar in the
community, but we have to be trained on how to deal with
domestic violence. She has to trust you with her secret and
know you won’t gossip about her. The church can no longer
council these couples together, it will only anger him more
afterwards. We have to equip ourselves, because abuse is
real, spiritual abuse is real. Spiritual abuse includes
harassment, misuse of religion for selfish reasons which can
often isolate the victim,” explained Minister Abbott.
Minister Abbott is the Project Access program coordinator at
Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center, she volunteers to
organize training for religious leaders and advocates.
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