Speaking out on Gendered Violence
Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli recently spoke with ABC Radio on churches’ role in confronting gendered violence and promoting safety, dignity and compassion
March 22, 2026
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The reality that churches are called to be places of safety and sanctuary sits in painful tension with the truth that they have also been sites of harm. This was the focus of a recent ABC Radio Soul Search conversation featuring Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli and Rev Robyn Whitaker, Director of The Wesley Centre in Melbourne. Together, they explored how theology, culture and silence can contribute to gendered violence – and how churches can be part of the solution.
Gendered violence remains a crisis across Australian society, with one in four women experiencing violence by an intimate partner. While research into church contexts is limited, available evidence suggests rates are similar, if not higher.
President Rev Suli offered a clear and compelling vision for how the church must respond: with courage, honesty and compassion for those who suffer.
“For me, the topic around violence against women is really important because we’re talking about human lives … I recognise that there are other genders who experience domestic and family violence [too],” Rev Suli said. “It’s not just a moral issue for me, it’s a theological issue, and ensuring that the dignity of people is upheld in the way that we care for people, whether it be in the church or in wider society.”
“We must be part of the solution,” she said. “I believe churches can shape moral imagination. We preach about love, we preach about marriage, leadership, forgiveness, and authority … those teachings, I believe, form how people understand relationships.”
Click here to listen to the full Soul Search interview on ABC Radio.
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