We seek to end domestic violence in Kitsap County by preparing and supporting our county's faith communities to respond appropriately and compassionately in family violence situations - establishing a climate of safety for those who are hurt by abuse, while supporting abusers to change their controlling or violent behavior.

We Believe...statistically, every church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or faith-based gathering in Kitsap County probably has members who are living with domestic violence.

Given this, the workgroup believes that faith communities in our county have a special role beyond that of local domestic violence programs and agencies in responding to those individuals.

We believe that faith communities have the opportunity to be communities of safety, support and hope for families whose lives are affected by domestic violence.

We also believe that faith communities can help end family violence by making it clear that abusive behavior is not condoned and that there is nothing in religious teachings which can rightly be used to justify abuse.

Finally, we believe that it is the faith communities' mandate to recognize the signs of abuse, respond appropriately, minimize roadblocks facing abused members of faith communities, maximize the resources that exist in our religious traditions, and coordinate our domestic violence intervention or prevention efforts with other community programs and agencies.

Long-range Goals

1. Encourage clergy and people of faith to become an active part of Kitsap County's coordinated community response to domestic violence.
2. Increase awareness about domestic violence via dialogs with clergy and via forums for interested faith community member - placing domestic violence-related issues in a religious/faith context.
3. Connect clergy and people of faith to local resources so that they can appropriately refer domestic violence victims (including children) and abusers to receive the additional help, services and support they need.
4. Encourage faith communities within Kitsap County to pledge to become "violence-free zones" and regularly speak out about domestic violence from the pulpit.
5. Develop a clearinghouse of resources for Kitsap County faith communities that directly addresses the intersection of domestic violence and faith issues.
6. Invite clergy representation on Kitsap County Domestic Violence Task Force and Faith Community Workgroup.
7. Host a biannual conference for Kitsap County clergy, faith community lay leaders and youth group leaders.

If you are interested in the efforts of the Faith Community Action Group, contact the Task Force. The group meets monthly, the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held from 11:30 - 12:30 p.m. at the YWCA, 905 Pacific Ave., Bremerton.

Library materials are available through the Task Force library, click here and through the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence, click here.