Includes bibliographical references.

Facing Reality -- Preparing to Serve -- Once an Abuser, Always an Abuser? A Further Exploration -- When the Abuser Is a Male Spiritual Leader -- Thorny Still: The Question of Forgiveness -- Goals and Best Approaches -- Notes -- Appendix A: Checklists -- Appendix B: Selected Resources -- Appendix C: State Coalitions.

"According to the American Medical Association, one quarter of American women will be abused by an intimate partner at some point in their lives. Loving support can make a tremendous difference to survivors as they struggle with the difficult process of healing and regaining trust in themselves and others. Often, however, pastoral caregivers possess the same misconceptions about domestic violence as does the uninformed public. Al Miles addresses the issues related to inadequate pastoral response to this pervasive problem. He explores the dynamics of abusive relationships and the role that clergy members can take to heal this painful situation.The new edition of Domestic Violence builds upon the insights, policies, and programs of the original volume and includes new information on the pathology of domestic violence and the effect the economic downturn is having on victim-survivors and batterers. Miles also focuses on helping clergy and other pastoral ministers develop a more compassionate response to victim-survivors who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. This thoroughly updated edition includes questions for discussion, a list of additional resources, and contact information for state coalitions working to end domestic violence" -- Publisher description.