5,000 signatures reached
To: The Community of Faith
A Call to Break the Silence on Violence Against Women and Girls
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We, as women elders and leaders, issue a call of action to the faith community to end violence against women. Throughout the Christmas season—symbolic of God’s incarnation among the suffering—and culminating on Easter Sunday—symbolic of God’s victory over sin and oppression—we call churches into two streams of action:
1. To stand with women who experience violence. A call to solidarity by making space for women to break their silence in our congregations and communities. Recognizing each woman’s inherent dignity, we call on churches to create protected spaces where survivors of violence can offer their stories, as they choose, and where the body can receive these stories with empathy, love and care.
2. To stand up for women who experience violence. A call to advocacy, repenting of our silent ascent to systems, structures, and practices that harm our sisters. We desire to spark action at all levels affecting the lives of women. We call the leaders and influencers within the greater faith community to action. We invite the Body of Christ to adopt a genuine willingness to repent where we have failed and to fight both systemic and individual injustices in our midst.
Read the full statement at http://SilenceIsNotSpiritual.org
Why is this important?
This moment in history is ours to steward. More than 150 initial signatories are calling churches everywhere to end the silence and stop all participation in violence against women. Silence is not spiritual. Action is not optional.
O surgimento dos recentes movimentos #MeToo e #ChurchToo despertou o mundo para a natureza e extensão da violência contra mulheres e meninas. Por muito tempo, as vozes de mulheres e meninas que sofrem violência tem sido marginalizadas, ignoradas ou silenciadas. A Igreja global tem sido lenta para falar e tomar uma atitude. Até agora. Mais de 150 líderes espalhadas pelo mundo estão convocando a comunidade de fé global para que parem de serem espectadores e se levantem em defesa das mulheres e meninas vítimas da violência. Em poucas horas apos o lançamento do #SilenceIsNotSpiritual milhares responderam em apoio. Nós enfrentamos um momento decisivo como igreja. Nos encolheremos de medo e desespero ou faremos coro com o pranto das mulheres vulneráveis, ecoando suas vozes e defendendo sua coragem? Junte-se ao Movimento!
Declaração em Português: https://www.silenceisnotspiritual.org/portugese-statement