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<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=1>Publish Date: 1/23/2006
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<P><STRONG><FONT size=6><SPAN class=head-a1>Group examines religion’s role in
domestic violence</SPAN><BR><SPAN class=Subhead></SPAN></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P><SPAN class=byline><EM>By Amanda Arthur</EM></SPAN><EM> <BR><SPAN
class=byline>The Daily Times-Call</SPAN> </EM></P>
<P><SPAN class=bodytext>LONGMONT — Leaders of Longmont’s faith community have
paired up with the Longmont Ending Violence Initiative in hopes of putting a
stop to domestic violence.
<P>A summit planned for February will focus partially on the topic of religion
and how it relates to domestic violence.</P>
<P>The Rev. Rick Ebbers, who leads The Journey church in Longmont, said he wants
to do whatever he can to end domestic abuse.</P>
<P>“A lot of us don’t want to see it, but we need to be able to address it well,
to give victims healing and a safe environment,” he said.</P>
<P>Ebbers began to better understand the gravity of domestic violence when
several abuse victims were referred to him after being given advice from their
church leaders that Ebbers felt was wrong.</P>
<P><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>“Their church leaders would say, ‘Pray about it,
and God will intervene,’ or worse yet, that the Bible calls them to submit to
their husbands as they would submit to Christ,” Ebbers said.</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P>He said such advice is based on Bible verses taken out of context.</P>
<P>“That is an inappropriate response, and it’s inappropriate from a biblical
perspective,” he said. “Christ calls us to submit from strength, not
weakness.”</P>
<P><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>By speaking with victims of domestic violence,
Ebbers said, he’s learned that abusers often align themselves with church
leaders, thus leading their victims to think, “No one is going to believe
me.”</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P>“As pastors, we love our churches and love our people and we don’t want to
see bad in people,” Ebbers said. “We need to keep our eyes open.”</P>
<P>He said those in the faith community and the community as a whole need to
rally around victims of domestic violence to help them find a way out.</P>
<P>“(Domestic abuse) is not an environment God wants for you,” Ebbers said.</P>
<P><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>Robin Ericson, who heads LEVI, said victims often
use religion to encourage themselves to forgive their abusers, or that religious
beliefs make them afraid to leave their abusers for fear of retribution from
God.</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P>“With older victims, she will not seek help unless her pastor assures her she
will go to heaven if she leaves,” Ericson said. “Our best hope is that her
pastor understands the dynamics of domestic violence.”</P>
<P>She said younger victims of domestic violence also often stay in abusive
relationships because they agreed in their wedding vows to stay with their
spouse “until death do us part.”</P>
<P>“It’s taken literally to mean ‘whatever it takes,’ despite the fact that they
have black eyes or a broken arm,” Ericson said.</P>
<P>LEVI hopes to educate the public about domestic violence, its signs and ways
to help, she said.</P>
<P>The summit, which will take place Feb. 7 and 8, will feature a presentation
by Lundy Bancroft, a family-issues specialist who works with domestic
abusers.</P>
<P>Other sessions include discussion on the effects of domestic violence on
children and domestic violence in teen relationships. A Feb. 8 presentation will
focus on holding domestic abusers accountable.</P>
<P>“We are still called to love the perpetrators, but hold those perpetrators
accountable,” Ebbers said. “That doesn’t mean we dismiss the abuse. It’s about
tough love.”</P>
<P>Amanda Arthur can be reached at 303-684-5215, or by e-mail at
aarthur@times-call.com.</P></SPAN>
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