The Women's Ministries Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Spain is implementing a Counseling Service for the Prevention of Gender Violence and the promotion of good treatment. This is coordinated by Sara Hernandez, a member of the current WM management team.
The need for this service
This service was set up in response to the need to recognize that our Christian community, as part of a society where there are numerous cases of gender violence, is affected by this social problem. Therefore, it needs to give a response to women and minors that within the church go through situations of this type. On the other hand, and based on the principle of personal restoration based on love of neighbor and following the model of Christ, we assume the responsibility to get involved. We do so to respond to the society in which we are immersed. We make visible our concern and willingness to help those who need attention and guidance.
The Orientation Service for the Prevention of Gender Violence and the promotion of good treatment is intended to be a point of reference in each church. Women who are victims of violence and minors in their care can go there. We will make them feel heard, understood, and oriented. The membership can turn to us for advice about existing resources in the community to which they belong. In this way, they will be able to help family members, friends, or acquaintances.
Objectives
To provide a service that facilitates care for women and children who are victims of gender violence. Especially to those who belong to the church membership. But also to the community where the churches are located.
To be a point of access to the resources of the community to which each church belongs. We will establish a protocol that allows the church to function as a referral point to the entities that have professional resources that women can access.
To make socially visible our position of complete rejection of violence against women and minors in their care.
Appointment of counselors. To carry out the task of developing this service, each church is being encouraged to appoint a counselor. This person will be identified as a mentor and will receive the necessary training to perform this service safely and effectively. The training will come from the Women's Ministries team at the national level.
It should be noted that the mentor, like the position of Women's Ministries director in each church, is a position to be appointed by the church board. It is recommended that the women chosen to occupy both positions carry out their responsibilities in a mutually supportive manner.
To date, 22 churches have appointed a female counselor. They are all receiving the training required to start the Counseling Service in their local churches. This training covers different aspects of the project:
Objectives.
Preliminary organization.
Contact and presentation to the local entities to which referrals will be made.
Establishment of the Service.
Dissemination and scope.
Attention and referral.
Materials required.
Preparation and presentation of reports on the service provided.
Training
The training provided is organized in three meetings, each one held by a professional from the social field: Sara Hernández, Technician in Equality and Social Integration and Vocational Training Teacher; Clara Nicolae, Psychologist with a Master's Degree in Gender Equality; Elizabeth Sandoval, Psychologist with a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology and attention to children and adolescents in crisis, who is currently working at ATENPRO (Telephone Service to Victims of Gender Violence).
The first training session was held on January 25. On this occasion, the counselors received instruction on the objectives of the service and how to organize and establish the service within the church and the community where it is located. They also learned how to properly manage the resources provided by Women Ministries and the Platform against Gender Violence. All of this was included in the Action Protocol that was subsequently sent to them.
On February 15, the second meeting was held where the guidelines for an effective service were given and how to attend to the different problems and circumstances that may arise. They were also provided with the necessary resources to carry out their work. The counselors were trained to be prepared to attend to people who arrive loaded with worries and problems. Difficulties that affect social, economic, and legal aspects of their personal lives. We train them to make people feel cared for and accompanied. And above all, we advise them and refer them to the most convenient service in each case. This is the great responsibility of each counselor and this is what was discussed in this second meeting.
Finally, on March 16, we will culminate with the third training meeting, learning how to create and manage a support network for women. This will be established as a necessary complementary element to promote a space for listening, mutual support, and accompaniment.
At this stage, the counselor will need to count especially on the support of women from the local church who are willing to get involved. The creation of a support network is undoubtedly a decisive point. This will be an opportunity to show how willing we are to support this ministry and to show Christ's love for women who are hurting or endangered.
We encourage congregations to support the work of the counselors as part of the evangelistic ministry that the Lord has entrusted to us. The churches that have not yet appointed their counselor are encouraged to contact the Women's Ministries department to request information.
We are sure that, placed in the Lord's hands, we will be instruments of His grace for the communities in which our churches are located. We also hope to be a living testimony to show that, following in the footsteps of our Master, we take care of what matters: to show how much our Creator loves us and cares for each one of his daughters.
Author: Sara Hernandez Venencio, member of the team responsible for the UAE Women's Ministry, from Revista Adventista: https://revista.adventista.es/servicio-de-orientacion-del-ministerio-de-la-mujer/