Pastoral Care Response to Victims of Domestic Violence in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State Nigeria

Pastoral Care Response to Victims of Domestic Violence in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State Nigeria

CAHAPTER ONE

Purpose

The purpose of this thesis is to enable pastoral caregivers within the Anglican Church of Nigeria to deal with domestic violence within marriage in a responsible and caring way.

CHAPTER TWO

INVESTIGATING THE ROOT CAUSE OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE

Introduction

This research study seeks to assist the Anglican Church of Nigeria to develop a responsible pastoral care strategy to enhance its practice of pastoral care to victims and perpetrators of intimate partners within marriage, should the ability of ACN to do is found to be limited.

This chapter seeks to investigate the root cause of intimate partner violence. For ACN to engage in responsible pastoral practice, it has to respond to the root cause of intimate partner violence. If there is a correlation between the root cause of intimate partner violence and the theological framework of the pastoral practices of ACN, the said ability will be compromised. This situation will require recommendations for an alternative pastoral approach to be proposed. It is therefore necessary to determine what the root cause of intimate partner violence is, in order to determine the possible inability. This knowledge of the root cause and its dimensions will also assist in determining recommendations, should an alternative approach be necessary. Although the research in this chapter was not done in the context of ACN, its findings will impact on the following chapters.

It has been determined that intimate partner violence is a widespread phenomenon in the Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau state, Nigerian context. Authors such as Jewkes, Levin & Penn-Kekana (2002:11) , Davies and Dreyer (2014:2) ⁷ and Gass et al (2011:2766)⁸ refer to research statistics and documentation to indicate the extremely high prevalence figures of intimate partner violence in Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau state, Nigeria. According to Statistician General Pali Lehohla (cited in Makhubu, 2016⁹), the rate of spousal abuse has risen from 2011 to 2015, with 11 % of assault and murder of women at home rising to 31 % in 2015. Phiri (2000:85) states, “Domestic violence affects the majority of women regardless of race, educational background and economic status.”

Given the extent of this phenomenon across the scope of race, educational background and economic status, as indicated by Phiri, it is understandable that the causes of intimate partner violence would also be extensive in its scope.

Jewkes describes the causes as a “constellation of factors,” and cites Heise, who describes the causes as an “ecological framework,” the meaning of which becomes clear in the following paragraph (Jewkes et al., 2002:13). What is clear from both Jewkes and Heise is that the main cause of intimate partner violence is male dominance, expressed in the power and control of men over women. Jewkes (2002b:1424) refers to male dominance, which is rooted in gender inequality and masculinity, as an “ideological base point.” This base point of male dominance is at the root of and forms a “constellation” or an “ecology,” intertwined with a number of risk factors such as socio-economic circumstances, a culture of violence, tradition, culture, alcohol abuse, and conflict. These risk factors make it clear that intimate partner violence is “entirely a product of its social context” (Jewkes, 2002b:1423). It can be concluded that it is a complex social phenomenon resulting from a set of complex inter-related causes.

The methodology used for this research study is a feminist analysis, which includes the dynamics of diagnosis, critique, and reconstruction. This chapter falls under the dynamic of “diagnosis,” as it will assist in determining the Health Survey. Examining 1 715 currently married or cohabiting adults, 26.5 percent of men reported being perpetrators, while 29.3 percent of women reported to be victims. ⁹ Viewed from: http://mini.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/sa-leads-in-number-of-women-killed-bytheir-partners-2018455 [Accessed on 06 May 2016]

possible inability of ACN with regard to pastoral care. The investigation will focus, firstly, on male dominance as the root cause of intimate partner violence within its context of the construction of gender and gender roles; secondly, it will focus on the risk factors in relation to male dominance; and thirdly, it will look at the effects of intimate partner violence.

CHAPTER THREE

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PASTORAL RESPONSE OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF NIGERIA TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE

Introduction

This research thesis seeks to assist the Anglican Church of Nigeria to develop a responsible pastoral care strategy to enhance its pastoral care for victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence within marriage, should this enhancement be necessary. In order to determine whether this is necessary, it has to be researched whether the current pastoral response and practice is responsible, meaning that it is directed toward: healing, sustaining, reconciling, guiding, resisting, empowering, nurturing and liberating. For ACN to engage in responsible pastoral practice, it has to respond to the root cause of intimate partner violence, which has been determined as male dominance supported by the societal structure of patriarchy.

This chapter seeks to explore the pastoral practice and response of ACN in relation to gender-based violence. For ACN to engage in responsible pastoral practice, it has to respond to the root cause of intimate partner violence, which in the previous chapter was determined as male dominance supported by the societal structure of patriarchy. It has to engage hermeneutically with its own practices, theology and theory to determine any possible institutional patriarchy that will limit its ability to exercise responsible pastoral care in this context.

Having investigated the root cause and risk factors of intimate partner violence as male dominance supported by patriarchy, this chapter will seek to ascertain whether the church in its pastoral practice responds to and addresses the root cause of intimate partner violence, the structural support of intimate partner violence by patriarchy and possible institutional patriarchy. Based on the findings, together with additional research, it will be determined whether ACN is able to engage in responsible and adequate pastoral practice and if there is a need for recommendations for an alternative approach.

CHAPTER FOUR

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PASTORAL PRACTICES OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF NIGERIA

Introduction

This chapter seeks to investigate and critique the practices that provide the theological framework for the pastoral care of victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence within the context of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. The purpose is to determine whether the theological framework and practices of ACN are indeed patriarchal in nature, resulting in the inability of ACN to exercise responsible pastoral care to victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence within marriage. This will result in the need to make recommendations for an alternative pastoral approach.

This investigation and critique is done in line with a feminist analysis methodology, which includes the dynamics of diagnosis, critique, and reconstruction (Graham, 2012:201). Ackermann (1992:17) emphasizes the importance of “suspicion” as part of the hermeneutical process that she describes as “the continuous questioning of Christian doctrine.”

It has been established that the root cause of intimate partner violence is male dominance, expressed in the power and control of men over women, which is in turn rooted in gender inequality. Structural support is given to male dominance and therefore intimate partner violence is an outcome of patriarchy. Research has shown that the pastoral responses experienced by women have not been helpful and responsible. The suggestion is that women perceive clergy to be unhelpful in stopping the abuse (Shanon-Lewy & Dull, 2005:653). These experiences by women indicate the need for the development of a responsible pastoral care response. They also indicate the theological issues that the church should be engaging with, such as headship, submission, marriage, and divorce.

CHAPTER FIVE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE PASTORAL APPROACH

Introduction

This research thesis attempts to investigate how a pastoral approach can assist the Anglican Church of Nigeria to develop a responsible strategy for pastoral care that will enhance its ability to care for victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence within marriage. It has been found that, in its official response to gender-based violence, ACN does not acknowledge the causal, sustaining and legitimizing role of patriarchy in gender-based abuse, and therefore fails to address and respond to the root cause of intimate partner violence. A subsequent finding is that the theological framework guiding its pastoral practice is patriarchal in nature. The correlation between the root cause of intimate partner violence and the patriarchal theological framework of ACN compromises its ability to exercise pastoral care in the context of intimate partner violence. The resultant effect is that the ability to offer pastoral care and to pastorally address the problem of intimate partner violence within marriage with integrity, as well as effectively and responsibly, is therefore limited.

Against this background, there is a need for an alternative approach that will be able to offer recommendations to assist ACN in becoming more responsible in its pastoral response and approach to intimate partner violence within marriage. In this chapter, therefore, a pastoral approach will be investigated and offered as the preferred source from which recommendations will be obtained. These recommendations will be offered to assist ACN in the said manner.

A feminist analysis, which was used as methodology for this research study, included the dynamics of diagnosis, critique, and reconstruction (Graham, 2012:201). This chapter resides under the dynamic of reconstruction, in that a feminist approach will suggest theoretical recommendations that can be presented to ACN to assist in the reconstruction of its theological framework that will impact and enhance its pastoral practice.

This research chapter will include: firstly the impact of the patriarchal theological framework of the pastoral practices of ACN on pastoral care; secondly an investigation into a pastoral approach; and thirdly recommendations to ACN based on a pastoral approach.

The impact of the patriarchal theological framework of the pastoral practices of ACN on pastoral care

With this study being located within the discipline of practical theology, and the sub-discipline of pastoral care in particular, it is necessary to affirm the detrimental impact that the patriarchal theological framework guiding the pastoral practices of ACN has on its pastoral care of victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence. This impact will substantiate the need for an alternative approach, which will be able to offer recommendations that will assist ACN to become more responsible in its pastoral response and approach to intimate partner violence within marriage.

CHAPTER SIX

CONCLUSION

Introduction

This study sought to address the possible inability of ACN to pastorally care for victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence within marriage due to the patriarchal nature of its theological framework.

It has been established that the root cause of intimate partner violence is male dominance, which is structurally supported by patriarchy. The purpose of intimate partner violence is to maintain or exert male dominance and female submission, expressed in the power and control of men over women. This dominance is embedded in the unequal gender construction of what it means to be male and female.

It has also discovered that in its official response to gender-based violence, ACN does not address the root cause of intimate partner violence. It fails to acknowledge the causal, sustaining and legitimising role of patriarchy in gender- based abuse. Also absent from this response is the acknowledgment of institutional patriarchy or a need for theological reform with regard to gender. There is no suggestion for engagement with theological issues that facilitate the oppression, violation, and abuse of women. This response in relation to the root cause of intimate partner violence creates a problem in that it diminishes its ability to pastorally care for victims and perpetrators if there should be institutional patriarchy within ACN.

The critique of certain selected pastoral practices—especially, but not exclusively, with regard to marriage—indicated that the theological framework guiding the pastoral practices of ACN is indeed patriarchal in nature. The correlation between the root causes of intimate partner violence and the patriarchal theological framework of ACN limits its ability to exercise responsible pastoral care in the context of intimate partner violence within marriage.

Against this background, a pastoral approach has been investigated to determine how it can assist ACN to develop a responsible pastoral care strategy that will enhance its ability to care for those in this specific context. Recommendations to assist ACN in this regard have been formulated based on the core theological themes and modes of pastoral care.

A responsible strategy will include engaging its own theology and practices, as well as acknowledging the pre-existent patriarchy and reconstructing the theology undergirding its pastoral care and practice in an attempt to eliminate patriarchy from its theological framework. This will be accomplished by applying the recommendations that were made based on a pastoral care response.

The research problem and question

The research problem that was presented is: The possible inability of the Anglican Church of Nigeria to pastorally care for victims and perpetrators of gender-based violence within marriage due to the patriarchal nature of the theological framework guiding its pastoral practice.

The findings of this research did indeed confirm the problem that was presented. The patriarchal nature of the theological framework of ACN causes it to fail in its ability to pastorally care for victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence in a responsible and effective manner.

The research question that was posed reads as follows: “If the ability of the Anglican Church of Nigeria to pastorally address gender-based violence within marriage is limited, how can a pastoral approach assist the church to develop a responsible pastoral care strategy to enhance pastoral care for victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence within marriage?”

The research question guiding this study was answered through the application of a pastoral care response, which was investigated to offer recommendations for more responsible and effective pastoral care. These recommendations were based on the core theological themes and modes of pastoral care. It is strongly believed that implementation thereof will enable the ACN to develop a more responsible pastoral care strategy in dealing with victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence within marriage.

Research goals

By means of this research, the following goals were met:

To offer recommendations that can be presented to the Anglican Church of Nigeria to enable responsible pastoral care for victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence within marriage.
To provide these recommendations as a networking and lobbying tool for ACN.
To promote agency in ACN with regard to intimate partner violence.

Recommendations

The following is a summary of the recommendations that were formulated in Chapter 5 to be offered to ACN:

Agency: ACN should use its power, influence and ability to act to bring about societal, cultural and religious change that will lead to the elimination of the oppression of women and the promotion of gender equality. Agency should start from within by engaging its own theology, acknowledging institutional patriarchy, recognizing the injustice thereof, and challenging its own culpability and complicity in maintaining patriarchal hierarchies. ACN has to transform the thinking and theological reasoning behind the male dominant and female submissive behaviour, bringing about ecclesiastical and societal change, which will provide for gender equality and the flourishing of all people.
Liturgy: ACN should reconstruct the liturgy of the marriage service to shape a collective identity where egalitarian marriage relationships become the norm. To shape a different consciousness with regard to marital relationships, it is recommended that ASCA must transform the androcentric language used in the liturgy of the marriage service to indicate gender inclusivity. Liturgical language, order, and terminology that embody justice towards women, are needed. ACN should also engage with, deconstruct, and re-interpret scriptures that confirm the patriarchal nature of the culture from which it emerged, as these may serve to perpetuate and justify the oppression of women through violent abuse.
The concept of God: ACN has to take the responsibility to instil the theological understanding that all humanity is made equally in the image of God. Furthermore, it has to critically engage with and analyse the images that are used for God. It is recommended that female and gender-neutral images be used along with male images to negate the understanding that men are closer to the image of God. It is important to do this in order to reclaim the metaphorical nature of the language that is used for God, which has been wrongly understood and literally used to describe God’s essence.

It is strongly recommended that ACN engage with the concept of masculinity in relation to the image of God. The paradoxical notion of power and vulnerability in God must be presented to assist women and men to discover their humanity according to a reconstructed image of God. This reconstructed image should present qualities such as affirming love, mutuality, equality and sensitivity, rather than a traditional patriarchal image of God that portrays power, domination and control.

Furthermore, the ACN should reconsider and transform its understanding of marriage which is presented as hierarchical, to be based on egalitarianism as confirmed in the image and understanding of God. It should then strive to transform its liturgical practices accordingly to reflect this egalitarian notion of marriage.

Christology: Engaging with Christology is another recommendation that was made to ACN. If the essence of Jesus’ attitude towards women is re-claimed and deliberately incorporated into the belief and practice of ACN, it will assist to transform the patriarchal understanding of marriage as expressed in its liturgy to a more egalitarian one. Should Jesus as liberator of all humanity be proclaimed through the liturgy of the marriage service, rather than a one dimensional view as head of the church, women will be able to feel included in the salvation that is offered.
The theology of suffering: It is recommended that ACN should engage with the theology of suffering in order to formulate an appropriate pastoral response. ACN should also deliberately and clearly consider and reframe the permanency of marriage in the context of suffering in a marriage marked by violence or any other kind of abuse.

The theology of sin: ACN should reconsider its understanding of sin with regard to divorce in the context of intimate partner violence. A further recommendation to ACN is that it should review the practice of the expectation of women to confess their perceived ‘sin’ of divorce, while having been subjected to the evil of intimate partner violence.
Additional recommendations: Apart from the recommendations

already made so far, the following few points are included for further consideration:

Investigate the theology of forgiveness,
Investigate the theology of sin with regard to gender,
Review the permanency of marriage in the context of intimate partner violence,
Review the process of marriage after divorce,
Review polity and the impact that it has,
Carefully consider the veneration of saints, and
Consider the impact of the exclusive form of address of “Father” for male clerics, and investigate and implement an inclusive form of address for female and male clergy.

Further research themes

It is suggested that further research is necessary in the following areas:

The theological understanding of marriage should be further investigated.
The canons, which are the laws of the ACN, should be investigated to determine whether they uphold patriarchy.
Research should be done on whether ACN holds the belief of the theological legitimacy of patriarchy.

General conclusion

Intimate partner violence within marriage remains prevalent in the Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau state, Nigerian context, and should continue to be a strong research, ministerial, and pastoral focus of religious communities. Due to the vast expansiveness of ACN, it is suitably placed to exercise its influence over numerous communities. Should ACN embrace and implement the recommendations which have been formulated from within a pastoral approach, it will not only effect internal transformation, but also largely contribute to the transformation of society in its understanding of gender relationships. It will gain credibility with regard to its response to intimate partner violence within marriage and gender-based violence in general, as it will perhaps in an increasingly lesser degree endorse male dominance as per the societal and ecclesiastical gender construct. The suggestions and recommendations offered are by no means exhaustive, but they at least offer a starting point for the confrontation of patriarchy and its elimination from the theological framework guiding the practices of ACN. These recommendations will enable ACN to develop a responsible pastoral care strategy to enhance pastoral care for victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence. The implementation thereof will fulfil the hope held by feminist theology that things will get better and that all people shall flourish.

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