WCC NEWS: On Valentine’s Day and always, “Love is the central theme in our Christian faith”

In a short video message, Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee, reflects on the Thursdays in Black Valentine’s Day theme for 2025: “Spread love, choose kindness.” Photo: WCC 13 February 2025 Love is a central theme in our Christian faith,” he says. “I would even go further: love is the central theme in our Christian faith.” He notes that Valentines Day is an opportunity to show our love for others: a message that  seems simple and yet often very painful and complicated for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.  “To talk about it is still a taboo—when it happens in families, at churches, in schools, in sports, in other places in society,” he said. “The truth must be on the table to even open a door for a healing process to begin.” He urges people to stand by the victims of sexual violence. “Spread love, choose kindness—let’s embrace this motto and act upon it,” he concludes.  WCC's Thursdays in Black Valentines Day resources Learn more about Thursdays in Black Celebrate love: share Thursdays in Black Valentine’s Day messages (News release, 12 February 2024)  Spread Love, Choose Kindness | Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm’s Valentine’s Day Message See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland