Are Men Allies in the Fight Against Domestic Violence?

Most victims of domestic violence are women, so some see it as a “women’s thing.” Yet the idea that women are the only ones needed to fight this scourge is a fallacy. Violence against women should be an issue that grieves the heart of all humanity. This seminar will explore initiatives and stories of men and women around the globe coming together to discover what happens when (Christian) men become allies with women in the stand against domestic abuse.

SPEAKERS

Bekah Legg

Domnic Misilo

Matt Britton

Matt Britton is an actor, theatre-maker, writer, and activist. He first became aware of male violence against women whilst employed as an applied dramatist working with Domestic Abuse perpetrators on probation groups. Since then he has delivered the ‘Disruptor! Bystander intervention program’ for Press Red, as well as delivering ‘emotional literacy’ and ‘healthy relationships’ workshops in preschool and primary school settings. His play, ‘Control,’ explores behaviours and attitudes supporting coercive control in a faith context and has been performed at the Home Office, Anglican Communion HQ Office, as well as churches nationwide. Most recently he has headed up ‘BeLikeBoaz’ campaign, an initiative to engage men in the church to become disruptors of everyday misogyny. Married with four children, Matt can also be found touring Mark’s Gospel, teaching theatre and acting at UCEN Manchester University as well as creating content for ‘Proximity: the urban mission resource hub.’ 

Peter Grant

Peter Grant grew up in Birmingham, England, and has been married to Stella for 40 years with two grown children. His career has been mainly focused on International Development with senior roles with the UK government and with Tearfund and more recently as a consultant. He has lived for two years in Malawi and three years in Bangladesh. In 2010, he co-founded Restored, a Christian charity working to end violence against women and led its work with men until leaving the charity in 2018. In 2011, he launched First Man Standing, a Restored campaign to engage men as allies in ending violence against women. He is currently on the Leadership team of Streatham Baptist Church in South London.

Valérie Duval-Poujol

Valérie Duval-Poujol is a French Baptist theologian. Passionate about the Bible and the author of several books, she holds doctorates in History of Religions and Theology and serves on various theological faculties. A Bible translator, she was also the chief editor for the revision of the French Bible Nouvelle Français courant. Active in the fight against domestic violence and sexual abuse, she created an initiative raising awareness on that topic called the “Red Chair Project” and is a member of the steering committee for the BWA Women Stand Against Domestic Violence initiative and website.

FACILITATORS

Jenni Entrican

Rev. Jenni Entrican is a semi-retired Baptist Minister in the UK. Between 2015-2016, she served as President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and from 2017 to 2019 as President of the European Baptist Federation.  Since then she has concentrated on issues pertaining to the place of women in church and society.  Alongside Valérie Duval-Poujol and other global leaders, she helped launch BWA Women’s Stand Against Domestic Violence network. 

J. Merritt Johnston

J. Merritt Johnston has served in ministry leadership roles within the Church and nonprofits for the last 25 years. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Baptist World Alliance Women, helped launch BWA Women’s Stand Against Domestic Violence Network, and is a member of the Christian Network to End Domestic Abuse. Merritt and her husband, Jeremy, make their home in Brenham, Texas, where they are raising their three children and are often found eating Blue Bell Ice Cream.