Download the Moderator's 'Thursdays in Black' letter here.
7 July 2022
To all Presbyteries and Church Councils
PCANZ Supports Thursdays in Black
At the Special Assembly in April, Presbyterian Woman Aotearoa New Zealand successfully brought a recommendation that our Church actively support and promote the World Council of Churches’ Thursdays in Black campaign, committing to a world free of violence and rape.
I am writing to draw your attention to this and ask you to support and promote this in your context. The WCC website has this to say about the campaign:
“We all have a responsibility to speak out against violence, to ensure that women and men, boys and girls, are safe from rape and violence in homes, schools, work, streets – in all places in our societies.
The campaign is simple but profound. Wear black on Thursdays. Wear a pin to declare you are part of the global movement resisting attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence. Show your respect for women who are resilient in the face of injustice and violence. Encourage others to join you.
Often black has been used with negative racial connotations. In this campaign Black is used as a colour of resistance and resilience.
Share your Thursdays in Black photos on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, using hashtags #ThursdaysinBlack and #WCC!”
Here’s my photo!
Seems to me this is a great thing for us to support together. It builds on the Church's past commitments to do what we can to end domestic and family violence, which includes our Church's support for White Ribbon and the work of Presbyterian Support Northern's Shine.
See WCC resources here, including Bible studies and templates for badges.
Hamish Galloway
Moderator PCANZ