Restored: A Christian Response to Domestic Abuse

To all Clergy and Readers,
 
I am a Reader at St Stephen's Norwich and for two years have been involved with a Charity, Restored which I helped to set up and of which I am one of the founding Trustees.

Restored (which is being 'incubated' by Tearfund) is an international Christian Alliance committed to transform relationships and to end violence against women. While we have a very small staff and limited resources, we are doing what we can both in this country and overseas, in particular working through the local Church (for which you will find a 'Church Pack' on the website at www.restoredrelationships.org).
 
Peter Grant and Natalie Collins of Restored will be coming to Norwich on Thursday 18 October to present a two-hour seminar to Church Leaders within Norfolk followed by a sandwich lunch, at St Stephen's in Norwich.

• Date: Thursday 18th October 2012
• Registration: 10.30am -11am
• Time: 11am -2pm (sandwich lunch included)
• Venue: St Stephen’s Church, Norwich, NR2 1QP
• Charge: None (donations to Restored welcome)

Peter and Natalie will say something about the problem of violence against women and will suggest a strong Christian response to domestic abuse, with the opportunity for questions and discussion. I do hope that you and perhaps a colleague may be able to come to this Seminar: if you can, could you please let me know as soon as possible, ideally by Friday 12 October – space is limited and I need to plan both for chairs and for the number of lunches.

I should say also that in this I am working with Rev Adrian Miller (Team Vicar, Tas Valley Team Ministry) who put together the Breaking the Silence initiative in Norfolk last year. I am also keeping in close touch with Bishop Jonathan who has given this Seminar his full support. 

Adrian Miller writes “I've met Natalie, and spent time getting to know her, her story and her passion. I've also been immensely impressed by the timely vision of Restored and the quality of their resources. I am really looking forward to meeting Peter. I do commend this training day to you with the utmost conviction, and hope that you will be able to make it a priority to come and hear about this part of God's work in our day and what role we may have to play. I hope to see you there.”
 
And from Bishop Jonathan: “Do you think you could recognise a victim of domestic abuse? You might think it would be obvious, but this seminar will help you to see that this recognition is much more difficult than you realise. It will also demonstrate the extent and the reality of such abuse, and begin to help us think through what our part in helping might be. I will be in Papua New Guinea (where amongst other things I hope to discover more of the reality of domestic abuse there), and so not with you, but I will be really sorry to miss the meeting: it is, I know, going to be stimulating, heart-wrenching and challenging. A key plank in our Ministerial Development – be there!”

Matthew Hutton

To reserve a place contact please contact me on: