Courageous Conversations
Be courageous!
Join Presbyterians in launching Courageous Conversations during the month of October to address violence against women and children and, in particular, to stop sexual violence.
• We know that more than half the time (55 percent) clergy are often the first person to hear a person’s story of abuse.
• One in three women beaten, raped, or otherwise abused are sitting in our pews every Sunday.
• Sexual violence carries a trauma and stigma in societies worldwide and makes women and children especially vulnerable.
Here are three ways you can help launch Courageous Conversations:
1. Make a personal commitment to stop sexual violence by signing the We Will Speak Out pledge and inviting others to do so.
2. Preach, teach, or have a service of healing for victims/survivors of sexual violence. Resources are listed below.
3. Support a mission co-worker and/or global partner engaged in the work. View PC(USA) Global Connection information listed below or contact Stephanie Caudill for suggestions.
Rus Funk, founding executive director of MensWork: eliminating violence against women, inc., provided practical tools for having Courageous Conversations during a webinar held August 12, 2015. To view a recording of the webinar, click here.
Preaching
One in Three Sermon Guide
Telling the Truth: Preaching and Teaching about sexual violence
Teaching
Violence wheel for Pastors
I Believe You—Award winning documentary produced with Presbyterian Women
Services of Healing
Lamentation: a time to weep
Man’s prayer video—Eve Ensler
PC(USA) Global connection
Mission coworkers engaging in stopping sexual violence
Christi and Jeff Boyd
Sandi and Brian Thompson-Royer
Guatemalan Mission Personnel
Janet Guyer video
Coming soon: new mission personnel based in Thailand and the Philippines
Resourcing Men
Men Stopping Violence
Men’s Work
Men in the Mirror—Bible Study series for men by Rev. Kevin Fredrick
Liturgical Resources
Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network 2015 Resource pack
Worship Resources for Domestic Violence Awareness Sunday 2008
Christ Would Not Cast the Judgment Stone hymn
Christ Would Not Cast the Judgment Stone lyric sheet
General Resources
Victim takes sexual violence issue to church
What I Wish My Pastor Had Known
CNN Freedom Project "7 ways to spot that someone is being trafficked"
Your local crisis center
Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence
