Dear Colleagues and Members of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church: This message concerning October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month is provided by the Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns and the Women’s Missionary Council of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month During the month of October, we encourage women to take charge of their own breast health, by practicing regular self-breast exams, making sure to schedule an annual mammogram, adhering to prescribed treatment and knowing the facts about recurrence. Breast cancer is the second deadliest cancer in women (behind lung cancer). An estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2008. An estimated 40,480 women will die from breast cancer. For additional information about breast cancer awareness initiatives, preventive and maintenance measures, please visit http://nbcam.org/ . Domestic Violence Awareness Month We thank Rev. David C. Isom, pastor of St. Stephen CME Church in Fairfield, CA, and Director of Safe Partners against Domestic Violence for Associated Ministries in Pierce, County, WA, for providing us with the following information on domestic violence. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and is a good time to raise this issue in your churches, though any time of the year is a good time. Once you break the silence you will be surprised at the people who approach you to talk about issues of abuse in their own lives or their family’s and friend’s lives. It is a wonderful opportunity for healing ministry. There are many ways you can address violence. You can write about it in your newsletter; and adult study; talk to the youth group; preach on the subject. Here are a few statistics that can be referenced: Prevalence: 1 in 4 women experience physical assault, rape, or stalking at the hands of an intimate partner during a lifetime. �� 1.8% of women experience abuse each year. �� 5.3 million victimizations; 2 million injuries. �� 64% of rapes, physical assaults, and stalking of women is perpetuate by intimate partners. And here are some tips of what you can do to begin to address this problem: �� Become educated about domestic violence, the dynamic of abusive relationships, and local resources for victims and batterers. �� Preach about domestic violence – regularly. Weave references to domestic violence into sermons about peace, justice, etc. �� Make sure that religious education programs for adults and children includes age-appropriate discussion about abuse and violence in families. �� Meet separately with individuals at least once before starting premarital or couple’s counseling. Ask each partner how disagreements are settled, if they are aver afraid of their partner, and if there has ever been violence in the relationship. �� Offer a class about domestic violence. �� Have posters, brochures, or other information about domestic violence displayed in your office and/or throughout the building. �� Educated the congregation – use newsletters or bulletin boards. �� Host community forums on domestic violence or offer space for community organizations to offer such forums. �� Urge your congregation to find ways to work against domestic violence in the larger community – adopt a shelter by providing them with volunteers, clothing, or other resources. Thank you for bringing the issue and very real personal cost of domestic violence out into the open and breaking the silence In His Service, Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr. Chair, Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns Dr. Elnora P. Hamb President, Women’s Missionary Council | 
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