Ministers in Presbyterian churches were amongst those supporting White Ribbon day last Sunday.
“The church is often the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff that picks up the pieces after a family tragedy. We want to part of the solution, not just the ambulance,” says the Church’s leader, Moderator the Rt Rev Pamela Tankersley.
By wearing white ribbons and organising or participating in White Ribbon events up and down the country, the Presbyterian Church is helping to bring the anti-family violence message to the Church’s 30,000 members and the communities in which we live, says Mrs Tankersley.
“Nurturing and supporting families is the best way to improve the health of our society,” she says of the Church’s anti-family violence stance.
This year, parishioners from Wellington’s St Andrew’s on the Terrace will be hitting the streets, as they’ve done in previous years, to hand out white ribbons and raise awareness of family violence. The Church’s women’s division has handed out materials to its members for the same reason – to get people thinking and to stimulate action, says Mrs Tankersley.
Presbyterian Pacific Island ministers are also expected to be out in force at the Pacific launch of the Government’s family violence isn’t OK campaign on 29 Nov.
“This is another demonstration of our commitment to ending violence in our communities.
“Enough is enough. The Church is standing up to raise awareness of the actions we can all take to stop New Zealand’s appalling family violence record,” says Mrs Tankersley.
Note to the reporter:
- The Presbyterian Church has approximately 30,000 members attending almost 450 parishes the length and breadth of New Zealand
- For the Church’s position on family violence, visit our website at http://www.presbyterian.org.nz/4597.0.html
- Presbyterian minister the Rev Lapana Faletolu was one of the people featured in the “Family Violence – It’s Not OK” television advertising campaign.
- Contact Jose Reader on 027 353 9936 to arrange an interview or for further information about what churches in specific locations are doing to support White Ribbon Day.
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