Christian Marriage Practices and Domestic Violence Among Church Members in Enugu State

Domestic violence within Christian homes in Nigeria is a persistent social problem that receives insufficient attention from church authorities, often shielded by cultural norms and theological misinterpretations regarding marriage and headship. This study examines the relationship between Christian marriage practices, theological teachings on submission, and experiences of domestic violence among church members in Enugu State, South East Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed, with structured questionnaires administered to 180 married women from five denominations including Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, Assemblies of God, and Living Faith churches in Enugu metropolis. Interviews were conducted with ten female church members who self-identified as survivors of domestic violence and six pastors with counselling experience. Findings reveal that 42 percent of respondents reported experiencing physical or emotional violence within their marriages. Sermons emphasising unconditional submission were associated with increased tolerance of abuse by 64 percent of victim respondents. Many women report being discouraged from seeking civil legal remedies by church leadership. Pastoral counselling quality is rated as inadequate by 71 percent of affected respondents. The study concludes that certain theological emphases in Nigerian churches unwittingly sustain domestic violence by prioritising marital preservation over the safety and dignity of victims. Recommendations include mandatory domestic violence training for all Nigerian seminary students and the establishment of church-affiliated domestic violence response centres in Enugu State.

Keywords: domestic violence, Christian marriage, theological teaching, church counselling, Enugu State