Safe at Home - Saying 'No!' to Domestic Abuse
The Seventh-day Adventist Church places great importance on family life and affirms the dignity and worth of each human being. It decries all forms of physical, spiritual, economic, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse. Such behaviour undermines our biblical and moral values and destroys the trust between people within our community.
Please download our Safe at Home - Domestic Abuse Policy and Procedures (Reviewed March 2024)
- Introduction
- Section A - Aims of this Policy
- Section B - Policy Statement
- Section C - Domestic Abuse and the Seventh-day Adventist Church
- Section D - The Nature and Impact of Domestic Abuse
- Section E – Areas of Responsibility in the Local Church
- Section F - Training for Church Leaders
- Section G - Collaboration with Outside Agencies
- Section H - How Can Churches Address Domestic Abuse
- Section I - What To Do When A Disclosure Is Made
- Section J - Domestic Abuse and the Criminal Justice System
- Section K - Mental Health and Domestic Abuse
- Section L - Follow Up and Record Keeping
- Section M - Safety of Church Workers
- Section N - Pastoral Support for Perpetrators
- National References and Resources
- Appendix 1 - Domestic Abuse and the Bible
- Appendix 2 - General Conference Statement on Abuse and Family Violence
- Appendix 3 - The Impact of Witnessing Abuse on Children
- Appendix 4 - The Church’s Charter on Domestic Abuse
- Appendix 5 - Flowchart - How to Respond to a Domestic Abuse Disclosure
- Appendix 6 - Recording a Disclosure Conversation
- Appendix 7 - Confidentiality and Data Protection
- Appendix 8 - Covering Your Tracks
- Appendix 9 - Challenging Misconceptions About Domestic Abuse
- Appendix 10 - Domestic Violence and Couple Counselling
- Appendix 11 - When to Refer
- Appendix 12 - Domestic Violence Personalized Safety Plan
- Appendix 13 - Personal Safety Precautions for Pastoral Carers
- Appendix 14 - Domestic Abuse Legislation in the UK and ROI
Jointly with our sister department Women's Ministries, we support the End It Now initiative which seeks to end of all types of abuse against women globally. For more information visit www.adventistwomensministries.org and click on EnditNow. The annual Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day material can also be found on this site. Informative leaflets on this topic can also be downloaded.
- About EndItNow
- Break the Silence Leaflet
- EndItNow Leaflet
- EndItNow Promotion Postcard
- The Dynamics of Domestic Violence - Booklet by Mabel Dunbar
VIDEO PRESENTATIONS ON DOMESTIC ABUSE