The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

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Domestic abuse – ‘Changing The Story’

Friday July 21st 2023

Mothers’ Union is facilitating two conferences in September to celebrate the launch of the Gender Justice programme, Equipping the Church To Take Action and End Domestic Abuse, and the formation of  survivors’ Changing The Story groups.

These will take place on September 15 in Seagoe Parish Centre, Portadown, BT63 5HS and on September 16 in Kilternan Parish Centre, Dublin, D18 ET99.

Changing the Story is being hosted in collaboration with Restored, Tearfund Ireland, Bishops’ Appeal, Mind Matters, Kintsugi Hope, Priorities Fund, Safeguarding Church of Ireland, and the Church’s Ministry for Healing.

The conferences are dedicated to equipping the Church and communities through encouraging awareness, developing confidence, and nurturing the healing and wellbeing of survivors and much more.

The Changing the Story conferences bring together agencies working positively in Ireland to tackle domestic abuse . Guest keynote speakers are two ladies with great expertise in this area – Bekah Legg, CEO, Restored and the Rev Dr Helen Paynter, theologian and author.

Tickets available on Eventbrite (links above) at a cost of £15 /€18 each.

Bekah Legg.

Bekah Legg is the CEO of Restored, a Christian charity with a mission to speak up about violence against women and girls, equip the church to stand against domestic abuse and support survivors. It hosts an online community for Christian women who have been subjected to domestic abuse.

A survivor herself, Bekah is committed to helping other men and women find freedom and live life to the full. 

Bekah lectures on a biblical understanding of domestic abuse and gender-based violence and has spoken at the UN on the important role the Church can and does play in ending VAWG.

Helen Paynter.

Helen Paynter is a Baptist minister and Old Testament specialist. She works as Tutor in Biblical Studies at the Bristol Baptist College and is the founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence (csbvbristol.org.uk). The CSBV produces resources in the areas of the interpretation of biblical violence and where the Bible is used to cause harm.

Helen is the author of a number of books, including The Bible Doesn’t Tell Me So: Why you don’t have to submit to domestic abuse and coercive control.

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