Erica Hamence is an Associate Minister at St. Barnabas' Anglican Church in Broadway, Sydney. She is also a spokesperson against domestic and family violence through Common Grace, a non-denominational institution that stands for Jesus and justice.
She discusses “coercive control” (how the heart of domestic abuse is an abuse of power to control another person), as well as gender and social justice in the church.
Erica shares how pastoral care in the church should exercise a great amount of patience in order to give victims a sense of ‘agency’.
She adds; “What’s important is to know and tell that all are broken and can only be fixed by Jesus. There should also be accountability for ministers to ensure there is no gaslighting or abuse of power, that men and women in ministry (and their spouses) each have their voice heard.”
