Reflections from Thursdays in Black Ambassadors during 16 Days of action against gender-based violence 2022
Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, Geneva secretary, World Methodist Council
What has it meant to you to be a Thursdays in Black ambassador?
A great opportunity to learn from and with other ambassadors, their wisdom, their passion and their contexts. Being part of a team inspired me to think of ways to engage in overcoming gender based violence.
What individual or collective action during your time as Ambassador made the most impact on you?
January 2018, I took part at a Conference of The United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone. On Thursday I was wearing black, but I wasn’t the only one. Most of the female delegates and guests were wearing Thursdays in Black shirts and they had organized a public witness, marching through Freetown, and speaking up for gender justice. From then on, I took up the call to let others in the World Methodist Council know what is already happening, so that we might inspire one another to do more.
What recommendation(s) would you make to a future Thursdays in Black Ambassador and/or to the WCC as Thursdays in Black continues?
I am grateful for the cooperation with people of other faiths and especially for with Religions for Peace and other interreligious bodies. At the same time there is work to do to detect theological arguments that justify patriarchy and gender-based violence. The WCC is a platform where such theological reflection has to happen; we have to hold one another accountable as member churches and church traditions.
Rev. Dr Anders Göranzon, general secretary of the Swedish Bible Society
What has it meant to you to be a Thursdays in Black ambassador?
Already before I was asked to be an ambassador I had made it a routine to dress in black every Thursday. Being an ambassador I felt a more profound responsibility to take a leadership role in promoting the campaign. Thus it has strengthened me in my devotion to continue this important struggle - and always in cooperation with others.
What individual or collective action during your time as Ambassador made the most impact on you?
The experience of the reactions from people to the waterfall tapestry at the 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe was an overwhelming experience. I had few expectations but it really created a focal point at this important event. From delegates and visitors' reactions I could sense that the campaign is important to more people than we maybe understand.
What recommendation(s) would you make to a future Thursdays in Black Ambassador and/or to the WCC as Thursdays in Black continues?
Sometimes it has been difficult to anchor the campaign in the ecumenical organisations and/or member churches. It would be helpful if we as ambassadors could have a conversation around this.
Casey Harden, general secretary, World YWCA
What has it meant to you to be a Thursdays in Black ambassador?
I am honored to be a Thursdays in Black ambassador and to share my voice and the voice of women leaders of YWCA with this unique campaign that mobilizes and demands that ecumenical and religious communities fight against the scourge of gender-based violence for a more gender-equal world. I deeply believe that the ecumenical community can be a leader in transforming power structures and taking on harmful traditional norms that unquestionably contribute to the gender-based violence epidemic we witness in all corners of our world. I have been involved in so many facets of sexual and gender-based efforts for more than three decades and some of the most effective work I have seen has been led by faith leaders and institutions. That witness translates that I am 100% authentically behind the campaign, in addition to representing the unwavering support of YWCA.
What individual or collective action during your time as Ambassador made the most impact on you?
Earlier this year, I was requested time on the agenda of the Governing Board of the ACT Alliance – on a Thursday – to speak about the Thursdays in Black campaign. It was a powerful moment. When I spoke, I felt like my conviction that faith leaders and institutions almost physically entered the room, that it was palpable and my call to action to the leaders in the room that they can make a difference in their church and faith communities was received on a deep level. I am humbled to have had that opportunity to wear my Thursdays in Black mantle and I hope, setting a bit of transformation in motion.
What recommendation(s) would you make to a future Thursdays in Black Ambassador and/or to the WCC as Thursdays in Black continues?
The ravage of gender-based violence seems like it will never abate. As I said when I first became an ambassador I hope any ambassador or campaigner addresses the perpetrators of violence, not just the person that has suffered from violence. It is often the victim, the survivor, who ends up leaving their church or their spiritual home in order to be safe, or in order to unequivocally be believed and supported. Ambassadors can use their influence and the teachings of their faith to not only support a survivor but hold a perpetrator accountable. I would want ambassadors and faith leaders to lead the way toward inclusive and anti-racist spaces that address gender-based violence. I wish to have survivors as key drivers of the agenda, as well. I would also encourage them to work with youth in partnership and trust their leadership in addressing sexual and gender-based violence.
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The individual action that had the most impact on me was dressing in black and wearing the Thursdays in Black button. Al women, and people identifying as women, always carry with us the realization that rape and gender-based violence is a possibility. Mostly we can block that out and carry on with our lives. Dressing in black and wearing the Thursdays in Black button made the theory of rape and gender-based violence concrete and made me mindful of my sisters in my country and around the globe confront this reality on a daily basis.