A Mercy & Justice Innovation Grant

ADM called upon Australian-based Christian women to form an innovative, collaborative, strategic and church-based response to the issue of domestic violence in Australia.

Domestic violence is a critical issue affecting women, children and men in Australia.

With a single prize of $80,000, this 2020 project drew new initiatives responding to the ongoing crisis of domestic violence, so that women may flourish as God intended.

All applications were required to present a detailed, practical proposal that fulfilled the following call:

“To create a victim-focused, theology- and trauma- informed program for use across churches and Christian communities to support the safety, recovery and flourishing of domestic violence victims.”

Applications opened with an ‘Expression of Interest’ stage on Monday 25th November 2019, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

ADM looks forward to announcing the award of the grant in July 2020.

News Releases

RSIG grant applications opening

RSIG grant awarded

News

“Restoring Sanctuary”: ADM launches $80,000 grant initiative for churches to serve domestic violence survivorsAnglican Deaconess Ministries — **“Restoring Sanctuary”: ADM launches $80,000 grant initiative for churches to serve domestic violence survivors**
**Anglican Deaconess Ministries**

New Australian grant to ensure safety and healing of domestic violence survivorsSight Magazine — **New Australian grant to ensure safety and healing of domestic violence survivors**
**Sight Magazine**

The Biblical Advice for Domestic Violence We Need to Listen Toby Amelia SchwarzePropel Women — **The Biblical Advice for Domestic Violence We Need to Listen To**
by Amelia Schwarze
**Propel Women**

Goals and Objectives of the Restoring Sanctuary Innovation Grant

To inspire and reward innovative and effective responses from Christian women to the domestic violence crisis in Australia as it affects the church.
To support the formation of a successful program with $80,000 of one-time funding.
To see the Australian Church better equipped to respond to domestic violence in their communities.
To see increased opportunities for women and children to go about in safety as they participate in Christian community.
To see increased capacity within local churches, Christian communities and organisations to sustain the long-term flourishing of women and children in Christ.

What is the need?

Domestic violence is a critical issue in Australia, harming the physical, mental and spiritual health of women, children and men. While the attention to this crisis has grown in Australia across the last decade, despite significant efforts, concerning statistics remain far too high. Most concerningly, one woman a week is killed at the hands of their current or former partner in Australia.

According to 2016 statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics:

o 1 in 6 women (or 17% of women) in Australia over the age of 15 have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or previous partner.*

o 1 in 4 women (or 23% of women) in Australia over the age of 15 have experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner.*

*Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey 2016.

The unique opportunity for churches to respond to domestic violence

Victims of any form of abuse will require safe and loving communities to support their healing and recovery. The Australian Church can and should play a vital role in being this community, both for women in their congregations and in their wider communities.

There has already been a growing response from the Australian Church to the issue of domestic violence, especially to the presence of this issue within our churches. Resources to equip churches in their responses have begun emerging, research has been commissioned to understand how churches are affected and can engage, and encouragingly, much of this response has been led by women within the Church.

Churches are in need of support, training and resourcing to effectively and compassionately respond to the needs of domestic violence survivors. Programs that bring together robust theological frameworks to understand abuse with expertise in both the care of domestic violence survivors and understanding of trauma will equip the church to serve and care for survivors of domestic abuse.

What do we hope will be achieved through the Restoring Sanctuary Innovation Grant?

New initiatives will be raised by women from across the church, informed by a robust theology of abuse, expertise in trauma and an understanding of the unique experiences of survivors.
Local churches and Christian communities are equipped to understand domestic violence and resourced to create greater safety within their communities for survivors of abuse; to become ‘places of sanctuary’ for these people.
Survivors of domestic violence will have access to safe communities for their healing from violence and abuse, and able to do so with the support of Christian communities.