Author: Rev Adebayo Adeeko
A Christian Leader’s Responsibility
As a Christian leader, I understand that pastors, ministers, and church workers are often regarded as moral guides within their communities. Many congregants expect us to model holiness, wisdom, and good judgment. This expectation is not limited by denomination; across Christian communities, people look to us through the lens of godliness and trust us to speak on matters of faith, family, discipline, and justice.
I have seen how the church community, and even people outside the church, look up to Christian leaders for advice, complaints, and dispute resolution. Because our judgment is often seen as spiritually grounded, we must use our influence with care, humility, and courage. In a society where violence against women and girls continues to affect homes, workplaces, streets, markets, and worship spaces, I believe silence is not neutral. Scripture reminds us to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” and to defend the rights of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:8–9). Our leadership must reflect God’s command to uphold human dignity. Preventing violence is therefore not only a social duty; it is a Christian responsibility rooted in justice, compassion, holiness, and accountable service.
When Neglecting Christian Values Becomes a Barrier to Prevention
I consider violence against women and girls an act of wickedness, and I believe God frowns on those who perpetrate it. The Christian faith teaches salvation, love, self-control, justice, and care for the vulnerable. Scripture says the fruit of the Spirit includes love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). Prevention becomes difficult when we preach these values but fail to practise them. When abuse is excused, hidden, spiritualised, or treated as a private family matter, survivors are discouraged from speaking out, and perpetrators are protected from accountability. Harmful social norms also continue when leaders avoid difficult conversations about power, control, discipline, and dignity. Violence against women and girls thrives where silence, stigma, and fear are stronger than truth and compassion. If churches are to help prevent violence, Christian values must move from sermons into decisions, counselling, discipline, reporting systems, and everyday relationships within the community.
Christian Leaders as Champions of Prevention
For me, the goal is not to wait until violence happens before we respond; the goal is to prevent it. This calls for a mindset shift in the beliefs, practices, and socialisation patterns that allow violence against women and girls to continue. Christian leaders are well placed to champion this shift because we speak regularly to men, women, youths, children, couples, and families. Our platforms can challenge harmful teachings, promote respectful relationships, and help congregations recognise abuse as wickedness rather than normal behaviour. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed” (Isaiah 1:17) gives us a clear biblical mandate for this work.
Through the work of the Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN), with support from the Ford Foundation, I have seen the value of engaging religious leaders as partners in prevention. The Partnership for Enhanced VAWG Prevention among Religious and Traditional Stakeholders in Ogun and Osun States, Nigeria (PVP Project) brought Christian leaders from different denominations together through town hall meetings, consultative sessions, and capacity-building workshops in which I participated alongside other leaders.
These engagements helped us reflect on our influence, identify harmful norms, and develop practical strategies for prevention. They also reinforced my conviction that prevention must not end with preaching or awareness creation. It must become visible in church policies, counselling approaches, leadership conduct, safeguarding practices, reporting pathways, and community mobilisation.
What Changed: Evidence from Christian Community Engagement
One important outcome from this engagement with Christian leaders is the Code of Conduct for Christian Leaders. The Code gives us practical guidance for preventing physical abuse, sexual exploitation, harassment, and other forms of violence within Christian communities. It applies to church leaders, workers, staff, volunteers, congregants, and church-affiliated groups, with particular attention to children, women, girls, and other vulnerable persons.
The capacity building held for the Social Ministers of the Ogun Baptist Conference spurred interesting conversations and resulted in decisions that will prevent the occurrence of violence and abuse against women, such as setting up gender desks to address violence-related issues in the church. Pastors are also ensuring that this messaging is embedded in every sermon they preach. As we institutionalise this process, there will be further significant reduction in the occurrence of violence against women and girls.
I adopt the Code because it promotes dignity, respect, zero tolerance for abuse, confidentiality, transparency, accountability, and compliance with Nigerian laws and Christian values. This aligns with the call to “act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). It outlines expected conduct, professional boundaries, safe practices, appropriate recruitment and supervision, and accessible facilities for persons with disabilities. It also requires churches to establish confidential reporting channels, respond promptly to allegations, protect survivors and whistle-blowers, and ensure appropriate consequences for offenders. To me, this shows a shift from informal moral appeals to structured prevention systems that can guide leaders, strengthen trust, and make church spaces safer.
From Project Activity to Taking Action
In my view, the Code of Conduct must now move from document to practice. Christian leaders can begin by studying it with church councils, workers, youth leaders, women’s groups, and safeguarding teams. Churches should adopt clear standards for behaviour, create confidential and accessible reporting channels, and ensure survivors are treated with dignity and protection, as we are doing in the Social Ministry of the Ogun Baptist Conference. We should also organise regular safeguarding training for pastors, workers, volunteers, and congregants, while using sermons, counselling, marriage classes, youth meetings, and community outreaches to challenge harmful norms. As James 2:17 reminds us, faith without action is dead. Prevention becomes real when every church system reflects zero tolerance for violence.
I call on Christian leaders to stand clearly on the side of dignity, safety, and justice. Every pulpit, counselling room, leadership meeting, and church programme should communicate that violence against women and girls is unacceptable before God and harmful to the whole community. We must model integrity, reject victim-blaming, protect those who report abuse, and hold offenders accountable. We should also work with other Christian leaders, traditional stakeholders, civil society organisations, and relevant institutions to strengthen prevention. The church has the reach, trust, and moral authority needed to influence behaviour. We must now use that influence intentionally to prevent violence and protect the vulnerable.
The Christian Community We Hope to See
The Christian community I hope to see is one where women, girls, children, and all vulnerable persons can worship, serve, learn, and live without fear of violence, exploitation, or silence. It is a community where leaders preach love and practise accountability, where survivors are heard and protected, where harmful norms are challenged, and where prevention is woven into everyday church life. Such a community reflects the heart of Christ, who brings good news to the poor, freedom to the oppressed, and restoration to the broken (Luke 4:18). By embracing the Code of Conduct and acting together, Christian leaders can help build safer churches and stronger communities across Nigeria.
