This project is lead by Rosie Clare Shorter and Erin Martine Hutton.
Through this project we are aiming to investigate how the Bible is, or can be, a source for healing from gender-based violence
(particularly domestic and family violence/domestic abuse/intimate partner violence). We are interested in exploring how ministry staff, who have experience responding to disclosures of violence and/or supporting victim-survivors, support victim-survivors of gender-based
violence. What strategies or resources have been useful for support or healing, and to what extent are they reading the Bible and/or drawing on biblical/theological knowledge/literature to support victim-survivers to support healing and/or recovery.
The Bible can be both a source of harm and of healing (Rambo 2020, Pepper and Powell 2021). International research suggests that a mode of
survival for Christians experiencing (spiritualised) abuse and (religious) coercive control is to know that there are alternative interpretations of biblical texts, and to have a level of “interpretive confidence” to understand them, apart from harmful interpretations (Sharp 2014; Paynter 2020).
Australian research indicates the need to “encourage engagement with religious texts and teachings to promote gender equality” (Truong et
al 2020, 3). However, we do not know how, or to what extent, ministry staff supporting victim-survivors are encouraging using the Bible for
healing or to discuss gender equality, or whether they feel confident to do so.
Additionally, we do not know how a person moves from receiving the Bible in a way that contributes to harm, to reading for healing.
Our research explores how scripture—faithfully and alternatively interpreted—can help people heal from harmful (mis)uses of scripture. We hope to document lived experiences of engaging with the Bible for
support and/or healing after violence.
Do you work for a church or Christian organisation?
Have you ever responded to a disclosure of violence?
- If you answered yes to both questions we would love to hear from you.
- We are interested in hearing about how clergy and ministry staff have responded to disclosures of violence or supported survivors of gender-based violence.
- Complete the EOI to take part in a focus group! (please complete the EOI by Friday 27 February 2026).
This study adheres to the ethical review process of the Australian University of Theology and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and has been approved by the AUT HREC.
If you have any questions about this study, please contact Erin Hutton or Rosie Shorter.
If you have any concerns or complaints, please contact
the AUT Ethics Committee
Ethics ID number: EC2511-09.04 AUT Register Code: EC00327
Information for Participants
Support to Survive 