Spirit & Solace: Black Churches and Domestic Abuse Final Report

Abstract

Background: The Spirit and Solace research wanted to find out what it is like for congregants in Black majority churches (BMCs) who report domestic abuse and their experiences of supporting fellow members. Method: A mixed-methods design that included ongoing reflection along with a survey and interviews/focus groups, researcher diaries, conversations, with a steering group who met every three months during the project. Results: 35 people participated in the research: 34 as survey respondents; three in a focus group and six in individual interviews. Six participants were church leaders and 13 (38%) had experienced violence/abuse in the past, most had not sought support for experiences and two participants had abused a partner in the past. Most were female (84%), between the ages of 46-55 years old, and of Caribbean/Black British heritage, and had attended weekly church services between nine and over 40 years. Clergy and churchgoers who participated reported supporting victims/survivors of domestic abuse. Among clergy, two had made referrals to refugees. BMCs are already responding to reports of domestic abuse but with secrecy. Churches are concerned about their branding being tarnished by domestic abuse. This extended to gatekeeping and blocking congregants from participating in the research. Such secrecy about domestic abuse forestalls important conversations for Black women, where congregants also encourage silence as the only route to manage abuse. However, when domestic abuse was addressed in sermons, it encouraged more reports from victims/survivors. Additionally, the safeguarding role is insufficiently implemented within some BMCs. Recommendations and limitations are included.