National Declaration

We proclaim with one voice as national spiritual and religious leaders that violence against women exists in all communities, including our own, and is morally, spiritually and universally intolerable.

We acknowledge that our sacred texts, traditions and values have too often been misused to perpetuate and condone abuse.

We commit ourselves to working toward the day when all women will be safe and abuse will be no more.

We draw upon our healing texts and practices to help make our families and societies whole.

Our religious and spiritual traditions compel us to work for justice and the eradication of violence against women.

We call upon people of all religious and spiritual traditions to join us:

Winnie Bartel
National Association of Evangelicals

Commissioner Carol A. Basset
National President of Women's Ministries,
The Salvation Army

Tillie Black Bear
Executive Director,
White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, Lakota Traditionalist

His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher
Serbian Orthodox Church

Mr. Kirit C. Daftary
President,
Federation of Jain Associations
in North America

Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, Ph.D.
The Rabbinical Assembly,
The Worldwide Association of
Conservative Rabbis

Rabbi Daniel Ehrenkrantz
President,
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar
General Secretary,
National Council of Churches

Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune
Founder and Senior Analyst,
FaithTrust Institute

Senior Bishop Marshall Gilmore
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Dr. Raymond B. Goldstein
International President,
The United Synagogue of
Conservative Judaism

The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate,
The Episcopal Church

Imam Mohamed Hag-Magid Ali
Islamic Society of North America

Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Bishop Roger W. Haskins, Jr.
Western Area,
Free Methodist Church

Rev. Stan Hastey
Executive Director,
Alliance of Baptists

Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson
North America President,
World Council of Churches

Bishop Joseph F. James
Central Area,
Free Methodist Church

Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim
Syrians Orthodox Church

Bishop David W. Kendall
Heartland Area,
Free Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly,
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Christine M. Laitner
President,
The Swedenborgian Church
of North America

Rabbi Norman Lamm
Chancellor and Rosh HaYeshiva,
Yeshiva University


Rev. Michael E. Livingston
International Council of Community Churches

Rev. Brian D. McLaren
Emergent

Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley
General Secretary,
American Baptist Churches in the USA

Most Rev. Robert M. Nemkovich
Prime Bishop,
Polish National Catholic Church

Socho Koshin Ogui
Bishop,
Buddhist Churches of America

Rev. Glenn R. Palmberg
President,
Evangelical Covenant Church

Imam Hassan Qazwini
Religious Director,
Islamic Center of America

Rev. Kathryn Goering Reid
Association of Brethren Caregivers
Church of the Brethren

Skip Sandman
Traditional Healer,
Ojibwe Nation

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal

Tinker Schuman
Ojibwe Elder,
Ojibwe Nation

Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi
President,
The Fiqh Council of North America

Rev. William G. Sinkford
President,
Unitarian Universalist Association
of Congregations

Bishop Richard D. Snyder
Eastern Area,
Free Methodist Church

Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed
Secretary General,
Islamic Society of North America

Rev. John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ

President Stephen M. Veazey
Community of Christ

Archbishop Vsevolod of Scopelos
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of U.S.A.

Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins
General Minister and President Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Bishop Peter D. Weaver
President,
Council of Bishops
United Methodist Church

Rev. David L. Wickmann
President,
Moravian Church, Northern Province

Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson
Moderator,
Metropolitan Community Church

Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie
President,
Union for Reform Judaism

On April 5, 2006 forty-two national religious leaders from around the country declared violence against women as intolerable and pledged their commitment to its eradication. The National Declaration by Religious Leaders to Address Violence Against Women will be distributed to every battered women's program in the U.S. Women will see this list and determine whether their faith community supports them in seeking safety for themselves and their children. When people of faith join with other community leaders to address domestic violence, we will see ancient roadblocks turn into resources that save lives and bring healing.