What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior that uses psychological, emotional, spiritual, financial or sexual tactics, such as: hitting, threatening, intimidating, isolating or controlling finances to systematically destroy another person’s self-esteem, self-worth and self-identity for the purpose of gaining an unfair power and control advantage over that person.
Domestic violence attempts to undermine a person’s safety and autonomy and may be present in the context of a dating, married, family, or household relationship.
Abuse occurs within all types of families irrespective of income, age, profession, religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, or educational background.
Statistics show one in every four women will experience some form of abuse in their lifetime.
Mission and Goals
The Faith Committee’s mission is to educate and empower McHenry County faith communities to identify, understand and respond to issues of family violence. We acknowledge that violence is a serious problem. Faith communities play a significant role in healing the individual, community and society that are damaged by family violence.
Nobody has the right to use their religious beliefs to justify violent or abusive behavior toward others.
One of the main goals of the Faith Committee is to encourage faith communities to develop a proactive response to family violence in their faith community and in the community as a whole.
What We Offer
The Faith Committee provides presentations for congregations and other spiritual communities to help both pastors and lay people recognize the signs and nature of abuse, dispel myths and answer the question: “Why is it so difficult to leave?” Additionally, the Faith Committee will facilitate an experiential exercise called “In Her Shoes—Living with Domestic Violence.” The 1.5 hour role playing simulation challenges participants to experience the struggles and complexity of what victims of abuse face when seeking help.
The Faith Committee also provides connection and referral to resources and support services.
The Faith Committee is part of the Family Violence Coordinating Council of the 22nd Judicial Circuit. Councils at both the state and local circuit level establish forums to improve the institutional, professional and community response to domestic, child and elder abuse; engage in education and prevention, and coordination of intervention services; and contribute to the improvement of the legal system and administrative justice.