Resources
MCC'S Abuse Response and Prevention program offers several resources. Videos, reading materials and workshops for pastors, church leaders and small groups.
Workshops available through the Abuse Prevention Program
Contact Elsie Goerzen at endabuse@mccbc.com
Domestic Violence – What Churches Can Do
A 20 minute video from the FaithTrust Institute forms the basis for this one-hour session which presents basic consciousness-raising on the issue of domestic violence. It provides concrete ideas about how congregations can become involved, and can offer a safe space for people who are experiencing abuse to come forward.
Broken Vows ~ Religious Perspectives on Domestic Violence
This is a two-part workshop on the dynamics of domestic violence, using a video from the FaithTrust Institute. Part 1 addresses the various aspects of the problems and situations of women experiencing abuse in their intimate relationship. Part 2 discusses possible clergy and congregation responses to these problems. Each session is 2 hours.
Pastoral Care in Domestic Violence
It is estimated that 1 in 3 congregants of all faith traditions will have some form of experience with domestic violence. Using a DVD of case studies from the FaithTrust Institute, this workshop explores helpful responses to both the person experiencing abuse, as well as the person behaving abusively. The length of the workshop can be adapted to your situation.
Wings Like a Dove ~ Healing for the Abused Christian Woman
This two hour workshop, based on a 34 minute Video from the FaithTrust Institute provides guidance to women who are experiencing abuse in their marriages, and to clergy and other helpers who work with victims of domestic violence. The workshop directly addresses the religious issues that trouble women and prevent them from seeking help.
When Love Hurts Training
This two-day training facilitated by Karen McAndless-Davis, author of the book ‘When Love Hurts,’ is intended for clergy and other helpers who work in settings where they relate with women who may be experiencing abuse.
Unit One (six hours) examines the Cycle of Abuse, the Power and Control Wheel, the Impact of Abuse, the First Incident of Abuse, and the Beliefs behind Abusive Behaviour. A theological component is included to address teaching and scriptures which have been used to harm women.
Unit Two (six hours) includes an indepth look at the philosophy of Women-Centered Group Counselling, Reframing Skills, Analysis of Power Dynamics, Healing the Grief process and further exploration of theological issues.
When Love Hurts ~ Understanding and Healing Domestic Abuse
This four part DVD, a production of Day of Discovery, pulls back the curtain on the dark secret of abuse and offers hope and help to those caught in its painful cycle. It can be borrowed from the MCC office on Marshall Road. The topics are When Abuse is Worse than Divorce, When the bible is Used to Abuse, When Apologies are Dangerous, and When the Church is Needed most.
Hear Their Cries ~ Religious Responses to Child Abuse
This half-day workshop will equip participants to identify types and indicators of abuse, discuss the impact of abuse on children, understand the need to report suspected abuse, and understand the difference between reuniting and restoring a family. A 48 minute DVD from the FaithTrust Institute forms the basis for this workshop.
Bless our Children ~ Preventing Sexual Abuse
Bless our Children is a DVD based 2 hour workshop designed to offer encouragement and support to people who are exploring the possibility of implementing a child sexual abuse prevention program in their church. It is best offered as a sequel to the Hear Their Cries workshop.
Beyond the News ~ Sexual Abuse
This one hour workshop is based on a 21 minute video produced by Mennonite Media Ministries in 1993, features Carolyn Holderread Heggen, and is intended for older youth and adults. Discussion following the video will focus on promoting healthy sexuality in our homes and churches and to help the church become a place where healing from sexual abuse can begin to take place.
The Strength to Resist ~ The Media’s Impact on Women and Girls
The Strength to Resist is a 33 minute Cambridge Documentary about the fight against the toxic and degrading messages to girls and women that dominate the media. This documentary movingly presents the ideas of many leading authorities in the fields of psychology of women and girls, eating disorders, violence against women, and media literacy, all focusing on long term solutions.
Tough Guise ~ Violence, Media & the Crisis in Masculinity
Tough Guise is an 87 minute educational video (abridged 57 minute version also available) geared toward college and high school students to systematically examine the relationship between pop-culture imagery and the social construction of masculine identities in the US and Canada in the 21st Century.
Don’t Forgive too Soon
This is a one hour discussion-based workshop that explores Jewish teachings about forgiveness that Jesus might have assumed his listeners knew when he spoke about forgiveness and repentance.
Building Healthy Relationships
This two part workshop explores how scripture guides us in developing healthy relationships ~ both in our marriages and other adult relationships and with our children.
Language ~ do we shape it, or does it shape us?
Using the book “What Language Shall I Borrow” by Brian Wren, this one hour workshop explores how our language for God shapes our thinking and beliefs about God. Our image of God in turn profoundly influences how we relate to each other.
Parenting for Peace and Justice
Our relationship with our children has the greatest impact on their lives.
Using scripture and other resources such as Barbara Coloroso, this discussion-based workshop will offer a shared-learning experience to strengthen our positive influence on our children as they are growing.
Bullying ~ a Compassionate Christian Response
A discussion-based workshop, using Barbara Coloroso’s book “The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander” and “Peace: Just Live It” (MCC Resource) can be helpful for groups of all ages: children, youth and adult groups.
