Each year, 16 days are set aside for a global campaign to take action against gender-based violence (25 November to 10 December). Many events and activities take place all around the world. As a way for the Christian community in Melbourne to engage meaningfully with this campaign, Holding the Light is held annually – an ecumenical service to remember, name and pray for the women who have been killed in Australia as a result of gendered-based violence over the past 12 months.
This year the congregation sat in silence in the Wesley Church, Melbourne as a gong sounded 74 times at the opening of the service – once for each of the women killed since the last time this service as held on 28 November 2024. Along with this count, the names of these women (where known) were read aloud. For the first time at this service, these names were also accompanied by photographs provided by Sherele Moody, founder of the RED HEART campaign. These images were held for all to see and then carefully placed on the steps of the church sanctuary, forming a moving memorial for the women who have lost their lives.
Those gathered heard directly of the painful reality of family violence as Lee Little courageously shared about her daughter Alicia, who was murdered by her partner. She spoke of the horror of the day when Alicia was killed, the inadequacy of the legal system in providing any sense of justice and the ongoing grief and trauma that her family experiences.
Rev Dr Robyn Whitaker’s theological reflections highlighted the Biblical story of Hagar, an Egyptian slave to Sarah and Abraham – ‘I am always astonished that within the pages of an ancient text that reflects the patriarchal world of its time, we discover a story that loudly proclaims that God sees the struggles of a powerless, abused, black, enslaved mother. And there are others.’ Robyn spoke about the way that God sees women like Hagar, both in history and in the present, and emphasised that expressing despair, pain and complaint to God is an important part of a faithful response to the loss and violence experienced in the world – ‘To lament and cry out to God, even in anger, is an act of faith. To remember is an act of love.’
Those present for the service were invited to participate by coming forward to light a candle and ‘hold the light’, a symbol of hope for those impacted by gender-based violence. The lit candles surrounded the images of the women bringing a further dimension to the tribute laid on the steps.
The words of the final blessing formed a commitment and challenge to continue to work for a society free from violence:
Let us go from here, as people who can change the world;
And as people who can bring love and healing.
Above all, let us go as bearers of the light for those in dark places.
Let us go in strength; let us go in courage; let us go in peace.
The Holding the Light Planning Team would like to thank all those involved in making the service possible. Plans are already underway for the Holding the Light service in 2026.
