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

WCC NEWS - Celebrate love: share Thursdays in Black Valentine’s Day messages

On Valentine’s Day—celebrated 14 February in many countries—the World Council of Churches Thursdays in Black campaign is celebrating love with a new set of ready-to-send social media cards. 06 February 2025 Love is patient; love is kind It doesn’t take advantage. It doesn’t rejoice in evil. Beautiful flowers can carry strong messages—messages connoting what love should be, and what it isn’t. The Valentine’s cards are free to download, and ready to send to loved ones, friends, family members, and churches across the world. “Whether on Valentine’s Day, for the whole month of February, or for the entire year 2025, it is truly a time to celebrate the type of love that never fails, that always trusts and hopes,” said Sara Speicher, WCC communication officer. “Spread love, choose kindness: that’s the kind of message we all need to send and receive these days.” Thursdays in Black stands for a world free from rape and violence. The campaign has grown, with increasing numbers of global ambassadors speaking out, in many regions and languages. For too many people, “love” comes with abuse and violence. The Valentine’s Day messages—part of the WCC’s work toward gender justice—have become an annual tradition that helps define love that brings wellbeing and human dignity. For download: Thursdays in Black 2025 Valentine's resources 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

Minute for Mission: Thursdays in Black

The GACEIR winter meeting honoring Thursdays in Black. (provided)

A couple of weeks ago, the General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations (GACEIR) met via Zoom for our winter meeting. In addition to working to review our work on actions referred to us from GA225, we spent time in worship and devotion. On Thursday, we remembered the church’s commitment to stand in solidarity with our siblings who are experiencing violence by wearing black. We invite you to join us each Thursday to stand with and pray for the end of violence in all areas of our lives.

Violence is so prevalent in our daily experience. Consider your favorite TV show, music, movie, sport or game, or reports of mass shootings and gun violence. They all numb us and make us think of violence as OK or normal. What if we, in our daily lives, loved others like God in Christ loves them? Would we turn a blind eye to the violence and injustice we know is happening around us? What if we lived in a world that did not tolerate violence? What if the church stood as a voice against violence? What if you did?

Thursdays in Black is a global movement for a world without rape and violence. It began as a result of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women from 1988–98. Wearing black in this campaign is used as a color of resistance and resilience, rather than the historical negative connotations we have been taught.

In 2021, WCC produced a Thursdays in Black Bible Study Series to help individuals and congregations reflect on sexual and gender-based violence. The reflections are designed to help us listen to the word of God and to discern how to apply our faith and vision of justice, peace and love to the ever-increasing violent world we live in.

It is our work to make more visible the tragic reality of violence and to facilitate alternative ways to handle life’s circumstances. This study series and other resources are available to you. 

Resources and stories that highlight this important work can he found here.

As we participate in this work together, let us make the Thursdays in Black Pledge:

I commit to Thursdays in Black.

In solidarity, in protest, in mourning, for awareness and in hope

By supporting Thursdays in Black I stand:

•  In solidarity with 1 in 3 women worldwide who face violence in their lives.
•  In protest against systems and societies that encourage violence in any form.
•  In mourning for men, women and children who are harmed and killed in sexual violence.
•  For awareness and knowledge about the challenges of sexual and gender-based violence.
•  In the hope that a different reality is possible.

Dianna Wright, Director of Ecumenical Relations, Interim Unified Agency

Let us join in prayer for:

• Anna Edlin, Systems & Delivery Support Officer, Trust Services, Presbyterian Foundation
• Keith Edwards, Director, Affiliated Markets National Sales, Board of Pensions 

Let us pray:

Loving God, pour out your love and compassion upon us, that by the power of your spirit, we may bring an end to the violence and hatred we bring to bear on each other. Amen. 

Minute for Mission: Thursdays in Black

February 8, 2024

The GACEIR winter meeting honoring Thursdays in Black. 

(provided)

A couple of weeks ago, the General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations (GACEIR) met via Zoom for our winter meeting. In addition to working to review our work on actions referred to us from GA225, we spent time in worship and devotion. On Thursday, we remembered the church’s commitment to stand in solidarity with our siblings who are experiencing violence by wearing black. We invite you to join us each Thursday to stand with and pray for the end of violence in all areas of our lives.

Violence is so prevalent in our daily experience. Consider your favorite TV show, music, movie, sport or game, or reports of mass shootings and gun violence. They all numb us and make us think of violence as okay or normal. What if we, in our daily lives, loved others like God in Christ loves them? Would we turn a blind eye to the violence and injustice we know is happening around us? What if we lived in a world that did not tolerate violence? What if the church stood as a voice against violence? What if you did?

Thursdays in Black is a global movement for a world without rape and violence. It began as a result of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women from 1988–98. Wearing black in this campaign is used as a color of resistance and resilience, rather than the historical negative connotations we have been taught.

In 2021, WCC produced a Thursdays in Black Bible Study Series to help individuals and congregations reflect on sexual and gender-based violence. The reflections are designed to help us listen to the word of God and to discern how to apply our faith and vision of justice, peace and love to the ever-increasing violent world we live in.

It is our work to make more visible the tragic reality of violence and to facilitate alternative ways to handle life’s circumstances. This study series and other resources are available to you.

Resources and stories that highlight this important work can he found here.

As we participate in this work together, let us make the Thursdays in Black Pledge:

I commit to Thursdays in Black.
In solidarity, in protest, in mourning, for awareness and in hope
By supporting Thursdays in Black I stand:
– In solidarity with 1 in 3 women worldwide who face violence in their lives
– In protest against systems and societies that encourage violence in any form
– In mourning for men, women and children who are harmed and killed in sexual violence
– For awareness and knowledge about the challenges of sexual and gender-based violence.
– In the hope that a different reality is possible.

Dianna Wright, Director of Ecumenical Relations, Office of the General Assembly

Today’s Focus: Thursdays in Black

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Teresa Bidart, Bilingual Mission Specialist, Self-Development of People, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Ricky Blade, Customer Service Consultant, Communications Ministry, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray

Loving God, pour out your love and compassion upon us, that by the power of your spirit, we may bring an end to the violence and hatred we bring to bear on each other. Amen.

Minute for Mission: Thursdays in Black

February 9, 2023

Every Thursday, I try to wear black to stand in solidarity with my siblings who are experiencing violence. Some days I forget, but working from home gives me the opportunity to correct it. But those who experience violence can’t forget, because they live with the trauma of it every day. What if we, in our daily lives, loved others like God in Christ loves them? Would we turn a blind eye to the violence and injustice we know is happening around us? What if we lived in a world that did not tolerate violence? What if the church stood as a voice against violence?

Thursdays in Black is a global movement for a world without rape and violence. It began as a result of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women from 1988–98. Wearing black in this campaign is used as a color of resistance and resilience, rather than the historical negative connotations we have been taught.

In 2021, WCC produced a Thursdays in Black Bible Study Series to help individuals and congregations reflect on sexual and gender-based violence. The reflections are designed to help us listen to the word of God and to discern how to apply our faith and vision of justice, peace and love to the ever-increasing violent world we live in.

It is our work to make more visible the tragic reality of violence and to facilitate alternative ways to handle life’s circumstances. This study series and other resources are available to you.  

Resources and stories that highlight this important work can be found here.

As we participate in this work together, let us make the Thursdays in Black Pledge:

 I commit to Thursdays in Black.
In solidarity, in protest, in mourning, for awareness and in hope

By supporting Thursdays in Black, I stand:
– In solidarity with 1 in 3 women worldwide who face violence in their lives
– In protest against systems and societies that encourage violence in any form
– In mourning for men, women and children who are harmed and killed in sexual violence
– For awareness and knowledge about the challenges of sexual and gender-based violence
– In the hope that a different reality is possible.

Dianna Wright, Director of Ecumenical Relations, Office of the General Assembly

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Melanie Roney, Mission Specialist, Special Offerings, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
Chris Roseland, Acting Senior Director, Mission Engagement & Support, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)

Let us pray

Loving God, pour out your love and compassion upon us, that by the power of your spirit, we may bring an end to the violence and hatred we bring to bear on each other. Amen.

Minute for Mission: Thursdays in Black

February 10, 2022

Every Thursday, I try to wear black to stand in solidarity with my siblings who are experiencing violence. Some days I forget, but working from home gives me the opportunity to correct it. But those who experience violence can’t forget, because they live with the trauma of it every day. What if we, in our daily lives, loved others like God in Christ loves them? Would we turn a blind eye to the violence and injustice we know is happening around us? What if we lived in a world that did not tolerate violence? What if the church stood as a voice against violence?

Thursdays in Black is a global movement for a world without rape and violence. It began as a result of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women from 1988–98. Wearing black in this campaign is used as a color of resistance and resilience, rather than the historical negative connotations we have been taught.

Last year, WCC produced a Thursdays in Black Bible Study Series to help individuals and congregations reflect on sexual and gender-based violence. The reflections are designed to help us listen to the word of God and to discern how to apply our faith and vision of justice, peace and love to the ever-increasing violent world we live in.

It is our work to make more visible the tragic reality of violence and to facilitate alternative ways to handle life’s circumstances. This study series and other resources are available to you.

Resources and stories that highlight this important work can be found here.

As we participate in this work together, let us make the Thursdays in Black Pledge:
I commit to Thursdays in Black.
In solidarity, in protest, in mourning, for awareness and in hope
By supporting Thursdays in Black, I stand:
– In solidarity with 1 in 3 women worldwide who face violence in their lives
– In protest against systems and societies that encourage violence in any form
– In mourning for men, women and children who are harmed and killed in sexual violence
– For awareness and knowledge about the challenges of sexual and gender-based violence
– In the hope that a different reality is possible.

Dianna Wright, Director of Ecumenical Relations, Office of the General Assembly

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Hyo Jin Kang, Senior Administrative Assistant, Asian & Korean Intercultural Congregational Support Offices, Presbyterian Mission Agency
So Jung Kim, Associate, Theology, Theology & Worship, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray

Loving God, pour out your love and compassion upon us, that by the power of your spirit, we may bring an end to the violence and hatred we bring to bear on each other. Amen.