Anglican Church in Cape Town Combats Abuse of Women

SAF 060819-1 August 19, 2006

[SAF - Southern Africa] The Anglican Church in Cape Town launched a programme of action to combat abuse of women at its Synod on Saturday.

Unacceptable levels of violence against women and children topped the agenda of the three day meeting of bishops, clergy and parish leaders, held in Retreat.

‘We have talked about this for over 10 years – now we must act’ said the Revd Michelle Walker, introducing the debate. ‘We have allowed the gospel of Jesus Christ, which should be good news of liberation for everyone, to be interpreted in ways that diminish women. We must change our attitudes and our teaching.’

A wide range of speakers passionately endorsed proposals for the Church to engage courageously with religious and cultural beliefs and practices, and to review its teaching materials, especially for Sunday schools and confirmation classes. ‘We must teach as if every child is our daughter, our future son-in-law.’

‘We must recognize that if it wasn’t for men, we would not be having this debate’ said one clergyman. ‘I am standing here to repent of the failures of male leadership within our Church’ said another, who went on to speak movingly of pastoral care of raped children. A hospital chaplain said that every month some 200-250 girls aged between 6 and 12 were admitted to the city’s hospitals because of rape, and these were just the tip of the iceberg.

The Synod unanimously approved the proposal to develop a programme of action and monitoring, and to work harder at changing attitudes. They issued a call for the Church to stop being part of the problem, and to take a lead in providing solutions.

‘We have to move from seeing this primarily as helping individuals and instead hear women’s stories as a collective cry for the healing of society.’