The Role of the Church in Addressing Domestic Violence in Imo State

This study investigates the role of the Christian church in identifying, responding to, and preventing domestic violence in Imo State, South East Nigeria. Domestic violence remains a serious and frequently under-reported social problem in Nigeria, and the church, as one of the most trusted social institutions in the South East, occupies a critical position in its prevention and response. A descriptive research design is used, with data gathered from 240 respondents including church members, pastors, and social workers across ten churches in Owerri, Orlu, and Okigwe zones. Structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews form the primary data collection instruments. The study finds that churches rarely address domestic violence directly in preaching or counselling, partly because of theological interpretations that prioritise marital endurance and partly because of cultural norms that treat family disputes as private matters. Cases reported to pastors are often handled through informal prayer and reconciliation rather than referral to legal or medical services. The research recommends that churches in Imo State develop explicit pastoral policies on domestic violence, train clergy in trauma-informed care, and establish referral pathways to civil society organisations and government social welfare agencies. Keywords: domestic violence, church response, pastoral care, Imo State, gender-based violence