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Online Petition Seeks End to Violence Against Women

CHICAGO, IL (February 20, 2008) – Several clergy and lay leaders of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) have joined with members of other religious groups in signing a petition affirming their commitment to help eradicate violence against women.

The National Declaration by Religious Leaders to Address Violence Against Women petition will be distributed to every battered women’s program in the United States to encourage victims and remind them that their faith community supports them.

Covenanters and others can join the effort by signing the online petition. Among those who already have signed are ECC President Glenn Palmberg and Ruth Hill, executive minister of Women Ministries.

"The petition's declaration includes these words," notes Hill: Our religious and spiritual traditions compel us to work for justice and the eradication of violence against women. "I believe that is true," Hill says. "Once we have been exposed to this injustice, we have a choice: to respond as the Lord leads us, or pass by on the other side of the road. Signing the petition was one of the many ways of helping eradicate violence against women."

Women Ministries initiated the three-year Advocacy for Victims of Abuse (AVA) project in 2004 to heighten awareness within the denomination and train leaders to combat the violence, which advocates say is more prevalent than many realize. Churches interested in beginning or expanding their own ministries to help victims of violence may contact coordinators trained through AVA.

Aleese Moore-Orbih, who served as the AVA project manager, is currently part of the leadership team of the FaithTrust Institute, which is sponsoring the petition.

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