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Voice of churches vital during UN women’s rights talks

As the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) drew to a close, a look back shows that, this year, the World Council of Churches (WCC), through its Ecumenical Office to the United Nations, brought many voices to the table to speak on gender equality, women's rights, and empowerment.

28 March 2024

Interview

Rev. Sally Azar: Thursdays in Black “is universally bringing people together”

Our series of interviews with Thursdays in Black ambassadors highlights those who are playing a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Rev. Sally Azar is a pastor at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and currently serves as a pastor in Jerusalem for both Arabic and English-speaking congregations.

21 March 2024

Feature story

"Africa Six" bishops gather at St Paul’s University: “we carry the flag of women”

Six African Anglican female bishops—fondly known as the “Africa Six”—gathered at St Paul’s University in Nairobi, Kenya on 11 January to share their ideas and inspirations about “Christian Leadership for the 21st Century.”

12 January 2024

Feature story

What is gender-based online disinformation—and what can we do about it?

Lucina Di Meco, co-founder of #ShePersisted, shared research on gendered disinformation and online abuse against women in politics. She also shared suggestions for action during her presentation, part of a workshop for young church leaders on “Tackling Online Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.”

08 January 2024

Interview

H.E. Archbishop Dr Vicken Aykazian is vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee, Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

H.E. Archbishop Dr Vicken Aykazian stands up for Thursdays in Black: “Just go on, do—and we can do it together”

Thursdays in Black ambassadors play a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. H.E. Archbishop Dr Vicken Aykazian is vice-moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee.

23 November 2023

Interview

Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley: “Gender-based violence denies human dignity”

Thursdays in Black ambassadors play a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley is general secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, and vice moderator of the WCC central committee.

19 October 2023

Interview

Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm: Thursdays in Black “a witness to Jesus Christ”

Thursdays in Black ambassadors play a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm is moderator of the World Council of Churches.

12 October 2023

Interview

WCC general secretary: with Thursdays in Black, "a simple step can be transformational”

Thursdays in Black ambassadors play a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay is general secretary of the World Council of Churches.

05 October 2023

Interview

Patrick Watt, chief executive officer for Christian Aid.

Thursdays in Black ambassador Patrick Watt: “We aim to bring about wider societal change”

The World Council of Churches welcomes new Thursdays in Black ambassadors!

Our ongoing series of interviews with Thursdays in Black ambassadors highlights those who are playing a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Patrick Watt is chief executive officer for Christian Aid.

15 June 2023

Interview

FinnChurchAid-visits-WCC-by-IvarsKupcis-01May2023-08.jpg

Thursdays in Black ambassador Tomi Järvinen: “Faith is about belief but it’s also about action”

The World Council of Churches welcomes new Thursdays in Black ambassadors!

Our ongoing series of interviews with Thursdays in Black ambassadors highlights those who are playing a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Tomi Jarvinen is executive director of Finn Church Aid.

08 June 2023

Blog post

Improving financial literacy among rural women in Uganda

Women’s wellness and mental health as part of the mission of the church – a wounded healer’s balm

I received a call from a friend of mine - we both work as medical doctors and had earlier realised that our husbands, who are ministers in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, had been friends for years —this is one of the reasons that drew us to each other. She had been attending the February meeting of the Methodist Women’s Prayer and Service Union (Manyano), Connexional Extended Executive Meeting. My friend said that the general president, Gretta Makhwenkwe, had appointed us to the Wellness Committee.

30 March 2023

Dr Nomonde Mqhayi-Mbambo

Blog post

Living with HIV, Living with Hope

In 1990 at the age of 22, I was diagnosed with HIV. Shortly thereafter, I also discovered that I was pregnant. My whole adult life has been about learning to live well with this virus.

23 March 2023

Toni (Antoinette) Zimmermann

Blog post

On Valentine’s Day, some insights on the power of love

As many celebrate Valentine’s Day, the WCC invited reflections on the power of love. Below are four reflections, all from people somehow involved in or leading, in their local contexts, a Thursdays in Black campaign for a world free from rape and violence. They share the joys, the pain, and the ever-changing perspective on what love is—and what it can become.

14 February 2023

N. Doreen, N. Faith, A. Yayra, Rev. Anaga

Feature story

Looking back with both gratitude and lamentation, Thursdays in Black ambassadors urge continuation of work

As this season of World Council of Churches (WCC) Thursdays in Black ambassadors draws to a close, they reflected on the positive changes they were able to make, as well as the pain of knowing how many women in the world are still suffering from gender-based violence.

07 December 2022

Feature story

Students and staff gathered at the school

School of theology at St Paul’s University leads the way in creating safe spaces for promoting gender justice in Kenya

Every Monday, staff and students at the Joshua and Timothy School of Theology, St Paul’s University, in Limuru Kenya hold their weekly fellowship during which they hold prayers, Bible study, and theological debates, and sometimes celebrate holy communion together.

24 November 2022

Feature story

Church center to the United Nations (UN) where the WCC Ecumenical Office to the UN is located, New York, Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC

In New York City, the spirit of Thursdays in Black is thriving

Walk around the streets of New York City and you may notice that there is one dominant color on the fashion palette: black. In this place, one of the world’s fashion capitals, residents want to show they are edgy, hip, and trendy.

06 October 2022

Feature story

Refugee women survive gender-based violence—and flourish into independence

Their stories are harrowing and painful. Their lives are still not easy. But their triumphs are shining. They are refugees, women, mothers, wives.

29 September 2022

Feature story

#ThursdaysinBlack: Stories flow from the Waterfall Tapestry

The Waterfall Tapestry of Solidarity and Resistance has now been assembled and is on display at the WCC’s 11^th Assembly, in Karlsruhe, Germany.

01 September 2022

Feature story

Carrying the cries of South Sudanese women for peace and justice to the WCC Assembly

At the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe Germany, Jackcilia Salathiel Ebere will be carrying the voices of women from South Sudan who are crying for peace and justice.

26 August 2022

Feature story

Rev. Dr Lydia Mwaniki reflects on deep roots of gender justice—and hope for the future

Rev. Dr Lydia Mwaniki believes her call from God to serve actually began when she was in her mother’s womb. “When my mother was four months pregnant and was splitting firewood, she said to God, ‘if you send me a baby boy, he will serve in your house."

11 August 2022