ABSTRACT
This chapter describes three stories from the research data that will help to illustrate the concepts of naming, negotiating and networking as they apply to contemporary Christian women's experiences of domestic violence. Few priests or pastors are willing to refer to secular personnel or agencies - those that are experts in domestic violence - the women who seek their assistance and guidance in the aftermath of abuse at home. Many contemporary conservative Christian churches place a great deal of emphasis on the right to life - encouraging young, unwed mothers not to terminate their pregnancies. Their social action translates into safety for women and their children, opportunities for collaborative initiatives with the secular community and a challenge for men and women everywhere to see that peace and safety ought to triumph in and beyond the Christian home. Rev. Ruth Moore is the pastor of a small local congregation, set in the pastoral countryside.
