Thursdays in Black Campaign

“We are aware that there has been increased violence against indigenous women and transgender persons. Our increased awareness of these issues that disproportionately affect women will impact our response as global advocates.” 

–Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
Associate General Minister, Wider Church Ministries and Operations
Co-Executive Global Ministries

In every country, gender-based violence is a tragic reality. This violence is frequently hidden, and victims are often silent, fearing stigma, and further violence. Globally, 30% of women experience physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to data from the World Health Organization. Such violence can increase during public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

We all have a responsibility to speak out against violence, to ensure that everyone is safe from rape and violence in homes, schools, work, streets – in all places in our societies.

Thursdays in Black grew out of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women (1988-1998), in which the stories of rape as a weapon of war, gender injustice, abuse, violence, and many tragedies that grow outward from such violence became all the more visible. But what also became visible was women’s resilience, agency, and personal efforts to resist such violations.

Join Wider Church Ministries, and our partners, in the campaign by doing the following:

Pause

Pause for a moment of silence on Thursdays at noon your local time to remember and honor those who have died at the hand of sexualized or gender-based violence.

Pray

Pray with us:

We stand with invisible victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
We see you. We hear you. You are not forgotten.

Post

Post your prayers, photos, or inspirations on social media using the hashtags #ThursdaysinBlack, #UnitedChurchOfChrist, and tag us.

Pledge

Make the Thursdays in Black pledge here, and invite 5 friends, co-workers, or family members to do the same.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, please seek help immediately. You can call the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).