Face of Nation : The Anglican Church is launching a national study into family violence within its own community.
Reverend Tracy Lauersen said research into family violence in faith communities was severely lacking and the National Anglican Family Violence Study aimed to provide valuable information.
“For the church to be part of the broader cultural response of preventing violence and of ministering to those who experience it, we need to know the particular nature it takes and its prevalence in our own communities,” she said in a statement on Thursday.
Melbourne’s Archbishop Phillip Freier said the church had a lot to offer victims, but needed a better understanding of the nature of the violence.
Members of the clergy and church leaders are expected to conduct surveys and interviews with followers to gather information, the Anglican Communion News Service has previously reported.
“The church has a significant role in the lives of millions of Australians and has a great desire to promote healthy and respectful relationships,” Rev Lauersen said.
Women are nearly three times more likely than men to experience violence from an intimate partner, Rev Lauersen said.
The church will use global religious research group NCLS to compile the information.
