For several decades, Thursdays in Black has influenced church and ecumenical initiatives
The 45th General Council opens on Thursday, August 7. That day, the Council will take time to further reinforce the commitment of The United Church of Canada to the Thursdays in Black campaign. This is a campaign started by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in the 1980s.
United Church General Secretary, the Rev. Michael Blair, is an ambassador for the Thursdays in Black worldwide campaign.
Thursdays in Black peacefully protests gender-based violence—especially during wars and conflicts. The campaign focuses on ways through which individuals may challenge attitudes that cause violence and gender-based violence.
Intimate partner violence is a declared emergency in cities and regions across Canada. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) completed its work in 2019, but Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people continue to face an epidemic of violence in Canada.
As part of your commitment to Thursdays in Black, we ask you to raise your voices and speak out against colonization, racism, and the injustice of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S) people:
- Become an informed ally.
- Spread awareness.
- Share missing persons news and posters as they are released.
Through its global witness, the United Church also actively amplifies collective efforts by ecumenical and global partners to confront intersecting injustices that contribute to gender-based violence. By engaging in collaborative advocacy and ecumenical solidarity, the church amplifies efforts to challenge systemic oppression and promote gender justice worldwide.
At the 43rd General Council in 2018, more than 375 people showed their solidarity. When the 45th General Council begins on August 7—and every Thursday after—everyone is encouraged to wear black to support the work of eliminating gender-based violence, and to show solidarity with survivors. In addition, the are many ways of taking tangible actions in your own context.
Explore the WCC resource page or The United Church of Canada’s resources to find out how you or your community of faith can participate in this campaign, to raise awareness of worsening gender-based violence and to continue to act.