Methodist congregations in the Eastern Cape have united in a powerful stand against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), with church leaders declaring that protecting women and children is fundamentally “God’s business”.
On Thursday, 26 November, Methodist churches from Lorraine, Walmer, John Masiza, Newton Park, Westering and Jeffreys Bay came together for a special service addressing the crisis of gender-based violence in South Africa.
Audrey van Wyk, Mission and Outreach Minister at Walmer Methodist Church, delivered a stark message about the church’s responsibility in tackling the issue.
“The body of Christ is bleeding!” Van Wyk declared. “If over 85% of SA is Christian and if 33% of women in SA have experienced physical violence, that is 7,310,389 women over all nine provinces. And if 15 women are murdered in SA every day, then surely Gender-Based Violence is very prevalent in the body of Christ, and therefore it is our business to prevent and protect women and children!”
The statistics cited came from a 2024 study conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council.
The service featured the John Masiza Methodist Choir and the Yokhuselo Haven, who shared insights about their work supporting victims and included prayers for survivors and families.
Van Wyk grounded the church’s response to GBV in scripture, referencing 1 Corinthians 12:26: “If one part suffers, we all suffer.”
“Preventing and protecting women and children from GBV is the church’s business because this is our God’s business – caring for the oppressed, the marginalised, the widow, and the alien,” she explained.
The minister outlined specific steps for churches to take responsibility, urging congregations to “switch off” harmful attitudes and “switch on” protective measures.
She called on churches to examine “patriarchal ways, habits and roles we instil in our communities using the Bible” and to look at “the words used when speaking about God, women and men in church services and gatherings.”
“Both men and women are equally made in the image of God, and men do not have to forego their identity, place, or worth when women become breadwinners or are placed in leadership positions.”
Creating safe spaces
She encouraged ministers to listen for “subtle calls of distress” in children’s ministry, fellowship group meetings and people coming to worship services.
Churches are being urged to educate women about various forms of abuse, including gaslighting, verbal degrading, denial of job opportunities or less pay due to gender, posting of hurtful online images, online threats, shameful videos and social exclusion professionally or socially due to gender.
As a practical demonstration of this commitment, Walmer Methodist Church has established “Wellspring,” an information, support, counselling and skills development initiative run by the WMC Bread of Life Trust.
The service, which operates from Walmer Methodist Church, offers walk-in support during morning hours at no cost to the local community.
“Let us as the church unite and be visible to care by ‘suffering with’ the parts of the body that are bleeding so that they can be honoured and each woman and child fulfil their God-given purpose,” Van Wyk concluded.
The initiative represents a significant step by South African Methodist churches to address gender-based violence within their communities.
