WCC NEWS: How a Church of Sweden parish opened new doors to Thursdays in Black

Paulina Shakeri and Marianne Fegth, communications officers in the Malmö Parish of Church of Sweden, recently developed a website and other materials that breathed new life into the Thursdays in Black campaign. They shared their secrets to success, with the hope that other parishes and churches can replicate these efforts.  Photo: Church of Sweden 20 November 2025 What inspired you to adopt the global Thursdays in Black campaign to your local context? Shakeri and Fegth: The primary inspiration came from the fact that our vicar, Gunilla Hallonsten, is an ambassador for Thursdays in Black. Her engagement and clear commitment to the campaign made it natural for us to carry this work forward locally and to integrate it into our parish’s ongoing mission. Beyond that, the campaign’s strong emphasis on dignity, nonviolence, and the right to live free from fear resonates deeply in our context. Malmö is a city where global issues often become local realities, and the message of Thursdays in Black connects directly with our pastoral work and our desire to be a visible and courageous voice against violence. In our parish, we actively integrate Thursdays in Black into a variety of contexts. This includes workshops, cultural events, other projects, and our diaconal work, all aimed at raising awareness and engaging participants in meaningful reflection and action. We also ensure the campaign is visible through social media, our website, and other communication channels, using a combination of text, images, and film to highlight the issues and inspire participation. By combining practical activities with communication, we create multiple opportunities for both staff and community members to connect with the campaign’s message and contribute to efforts against violence toward women and girls. Being part of a global movement that unites prayer, awareness, and public witness also felt both meaningful and necessary. What were the biggest challenges in planning the rollout of your work this year? Shakeri and Fegth: Our main challenge has been balancing the desire to act quickly with the need for a thoughtful, well-anchored process. We wanted to ensure that the message was communicated clearly, consistently and responsibly, both internally among staff and volunteers, and externally to the wider public. Another challenge has been navigating varying levels of prior knowledge and comfort around sensitive topics such as gender-based violence. This required careful preparation, accessible language, and creating space for reflection rather than assuming a shared starting point. Finally, integrating Thursdays in Black into an already busy organizational landscape demanded coordination across departments. Ensuring alignment between leadership, communication, and pastoral work has been essential. What kind of response have you received so far? Shakeri and Fegth: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Staff and volunteers appreciate being connected to a global movement and express that the campaign gives them a concrete, visible way to stand against violence. Many have commented that Thursdays in Black has opened up important conversations that previously felt difficult to initiate. From the wider community, there has been interest and curiosity, especially when we connect the campaign to prayer initiatives, education, and diaconal work. The campaign has also helped strengthen partnerships with other local actors working for safety, justice, and equality. Overall, the initiative has been received as both meaningful and timely, and it has created a sense of shared purpose across the parish. Lean more about Thursdays in Black 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 356 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