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MMS 314 - Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Abuse: as a Social, Pastoral, Theological
and Ethical Issue
Dr. Victor Aguilan
vaguilan@gmail.com

Course description:

This course will examine the impact of domestic violence on families and congregations. It seeks
to increase awareness of sexual and domestic violence, develop strategies of response and
prevention, and strengthen cooperation between faith communities and community resources.
It will give special attention to the general problem of domestic violence and to the role that
theological understandings of suffering, obedience, and ownership may play in such violence. It
will utilize pastoral case studies to provide those in ministry with the tools they need to respond
to people in their care and understand how to make appropriate referrals. A major focus is the
religious and theological concerns of victims/ survivors and their questions about suffering,
power, forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope.

Course outcomes: This course allows students to:

1. Increase awareness of the nature and extent of sexual and domestic abuse.
2. Examine how sexual and domestic abuse are experienced from different
standpoints: abused, abuser, witness, helper/advocate.
3. Deepen understanding of how Christianity respond to intimate violence and
educate/advocate for personal and social change.

Course Requirements:
1. Four assignments or projects (40%). May be presented in class.

2. Pastoral Program on Dealing with Domestic Violence and Intimate Partners Abuse: (30%)

An essay approximately 15-20 typed, doubled-spaced pages, in which you focus on a

realist response to the challenge of domestic violence from the perspective of your
major area. Include the following in your paper: (1) an analysis of the problem/issue; (2)
a description of your congregation/conference/target-group (3) review of pertinent
literature [a minimum of 10 scholarly journal articles]; (4) analysis of the ethical issues,
with biblical-theological foundations; and (5) a constructive proposal (program) for
prophetic pastoral ministry in response to this concern.

Written work will be evaluated in terms of:

Overall clarity of your thinking and expression.

Your critical engagement with texts, including demonstration of your understanding of
the authors main points and ability to evaluate them fairly.
Your ability to state and give an accounting for your own position.

COURSE OUTLINE
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I. Analysis of Domestic Violence and/or Intimate Partner Violence

Readings:

Mary John Mananzan[et al.] ed.Women resisting violence : spirituality for life (Maryknoll,
N. Y. : Orbis Books, c1996.)

Not a minute more: ending violence against women. (New York : United Nations
Development Fund for Women, c2003)

Catherine Clark Kroeger, Nancy Nason-Clark. No Place for Abuse: Biblical & Practical
Resources to Counteract Domestic Violence [Kindle Edition]

II. The nature and extent of domestic violence

Readings:
Chaps. 1. Hearing the Silenced Voices, James Poling. The Abuse of Power: A Theological
Problem (Abingdon Press, 1991)
Lynne Harne and Jill Radford. Tackling Domestic Violence: Theories, Policies and
Practice
-Chap 1. The nature and extent of domestic violence
-Chap 2. Impacts, coping and surviving domestic violence

Jill Radford, Melissa Friedberg, and Lynne Harne. Women, violence, and strategies for
action : feminist research, policy, and practice (Buckingham [England] ;
Philadelphia : Open University Press, 2000.)

Internet Resources:
Statistics on violence against Filipino women
(http://www.pcw.gov.ph/statistics/201304/statistics-violence-against-filipino-
women)

United Nations Children's Fund, 1996.Breaking the silence: the realities of family
violence in the Philippines
http://hdn.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/1997_PHDR/L.%20Chapter%207%20Breaking
%20the%20Silence%20The%20Realities%20of%20Family%20Viole.pdf

WOMEN'S CRISIS CENTER (Manila, Philippines) http://wccmanila.com/

National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (http://www.ncrfw.gov.ph/

Situation of Child Abuse in the Philippines

http://www.preda.org/archives/research/creport/a.html

Margi Laird McCue, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: A Reference Handbook, Chap 1 & 2

III. Listening and Learning from the Survivors: Issues Justice and Forgiveness
Reading:
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Chaps. 1. Hearing the Silenced Voices, James Poling. The Abuse of Power: A
Theological Problem (Abingdon Press, 1991)

Chaps. 1-6. Albert R. Roberts and Beverly Schenkman Roberts. Ending Intimate Abuse:
Practical Guidance and Survival Strategies Publisher: Oxford University Press | ISBN:
0195135474 | edition 2005

IV. Batterers and Perpetrators: Issues of Accountability

Reading:

Chap. 4: Stories of Recovering Perpetrators in Polings The Abuse of Power

Profile of a Batterer excerpt from Domestic Violence -- A Guide for Clergy, published
by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Domestic Violence
Prevention Program, May 1987, Deborah J. Pope-Lance and Joan Chamberlain
Engelsman, authors.
Jeff Hearn. The violences of men : how men talk about and how agencies respond to
men's violence to women (London : Sage Publications, 1998.)

Assignment #1: Why does this issue matter? In preparation of writing, sit for a time with
the following questions: (5pts)

1. What were your first experiences as a witness of violence? What were your reactions?
Do you remember feelings?
2. Have you ever been on the receiving end of violence? Reflect on that experience(s)
and how you have been affected.
3. Have you ever been violent toward anyone? What was that experience like?
4. Have you had further contact with the person harmed? Under what conditions are you
capable of violent behavior?

After reflecting about these questions, write a brief paper (2-4 page typed, double-
spaced) in which you answer the question, Why does this issue matter to me and
others? Summarize your own thoughts about violence, including theological
assumptions that have influenced your thinking.

V. Power, Vulnerability and Intimacy: Biblico-Theological Concerns

Assignment#2. Prepare one Bible Study, sermon, or liturgy which discusses two or three
theological claims/messages and reflect on how these may be helpful or hurtful to
women who have been battered and/or sexually assaulted.(6-7 pages long) (20pts)

Readings:

Chaps 2-3, in James Poling. The Abuse of Power: A Theological Problem, (Abingdon
Press, 1991)
Elizabeth Soto Albrecht, Family violence: reclaiming a theology of nonviolence.
Maryknoll, N.Y. : Orbis Books, c2008.
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VI. A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence

Reading: Chaps 6-9. Polings The Abuse of Power: A Theological Problem

Assignment #3: (January)

a. Field research and interview (Does the Church have an advocacy program? Is there a
program for the protection of women and children? ) (10 pts)
b. Presentation of your Prophetic pastoral program incorporating the field research and
interview. (15 pts)
VII. Exploring Responses to Sexual and Domestic Violence: What Helps? Issues of
Accountability and Justice

Assignment# 4 Service Learning Activity: (February) (20pts)

a. Field Research. Identify local resources (local government, religious institutions,

schools and local community-barangay, civil society groups, and NGOs)
b. Organized a symposium/forum by inviting a legal expert. You will be one of the
reactors.

Readings:

Letty C. Tumbaga & Marilou M. Sabado Freedom from fear : establishing a quick
response team for violence against women : a guide for local government
([Manila] : Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Program 2003)

Chester C. Arcilla (et al). Intervening to stop violence and empower women and
children : selected cases of good practice ( University of the Philippines.
University Center for Women's Studies)
Reading: Chap. 5. Preventing domestic violence. in Lynne Harne and Jill Radford.
Tackling Domestic Violence: Theories, Policies and Practice

RA 7610 An Act Providing for the Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination
RA 9262 "Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004."
RA 9710 An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Women of the Philippines