Religious Abuse in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Study of Black-American Clergy Perspectives

Background & Purpose: Research has shown that perpetrators of domestic violence use religion against their intimate partners as a controlling and abusive tactic.  However discussion on this type of abuse has been limited within the academic literature. Although it could be stated that psychological or emotional abuse encompasses religious abuse, the attack on one’s spirituality is significant enough to be explored separately. This qualitative study aimed to elicit clergy member’s perspectives on IPV related religious abuse and their responses in encountering the issue. Intending to obtain the Christian perspective, the primary research question was two-fold: How do Christian clergy view IPV related religious abuse and what have been their responses when presented with the issue?

Methods: Thirteen clergy members were recruited through purposive sampling. Data for this study was obtained through semi-structured in-depth interviews. The informants predominately reported their ethnicity as Black/African-American=9 (1 Human, 1 Other). Reported age ranged from 31-84 (M=55, SD=13.79). Majority were women (9 women, 4 men). Most respondents were of the Pentecostal denomination (7). Participants were invited to attend a 60 minute interview. Interviews ranged from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours. Interviews lasting longer than one hour were done at the participants request to provide more data. Data was independently coded by two researchers. Upon consultation with each other, major themes were then identified and consolidated.

Results: All (N=13) of the clergy members reported having been approached for professional counsel on IPV at some point in their position as clergy. Despite the diversity in personal experiences, most (9 of 13) participants also verified that they have specifically encountered religious related intimate partner abuse (IPV-RA) during ministerial duties or counseling. Emergent themes centered on: 1) IPV-RA as a very serious issue 2) Characterization of IPV-RA as demonic (“witchcraft”) and a MIS-interpretation of God’s Word 3) The importance of confident interpretation of scripture as a victim’s own tool for survival. 4) A desperate need for and desire to incorporate domestic violence training as a part of foundational teaching for clergy.

Conclusions & Implications: With a richer understanding of IPV related religious abuse, clinicians, researchers, and clergy can work together in developing new interventions to address this issue, while improving existing program strategies. Despite the reluctance of some congregants and church leaders to define IPV-RA because of its complexity, the implications for forming a more cohesive understanding of this type of abuse and its manifestation has the potential of informing social work practice in unique ways. Partner abuse intervention curriculum could be expanded to discuss this form of abuse and group facilitators could be trained on how to challenge participant’s justifications for perpetrating IPV-RA. Victim services could use the related research to further their understanding of survivor’s experiences and prepare themselves for responding to those who have been subjected to this type of abuse. Collaboration with clergy on this issues is critical for improving social service responses.  Most importantly, continued understanding of IPV must involve an acknowledgment of religious abuse as a legitimate form of violence worthy of attention.