Violence against women and children has reached epidemic proportions, harming thousands of individuals each year. Victims as well as perpetrators turn to their pastors for help; pastors turn to their seminaries and ash, "Why didn't you prepare me to deal with these all-too-common problems?" With this path-breaking anthology, Adams and Fortune assert the need for a comprehensive examination of sexual and domestic violence within Christian theological education.

The primary aim of this substantive volume is to prepare more adequately those who minister directly with victims and perpetrators. How have scriptural interpretation and theological and pastoral conceptions of God, suffering, and forgiveness affected victims and perpetrators? Can the Christian faith provide a source that supports healing for victims and survivors. and accountability for the abusers? These are difficult and disturbing questions that both scholars and pastors.