WCC NEWS: Thursdays in Black ambassador Tomi Järvinen: “Churches are a powerhouse globally”

Tomi Järvinen, executive director of Finn Church Aid, is a Thursdays in Black ambassador. He reflects on the power of churches in moving toward a world free from rape and violence. Photo:Ivars Kupcis/WCC 06 November 2025 Järvinen has bee working on gender issues and on preventing gender-based violence since 1996. He believes churches have the potential to make a real difference. “Churches are a powerhouse globally and they can use their power in either a progressive or a regressive way,” he said. “They can influence change for the positive or negative, and I think we need to invest in the positive influence of the churches.” In fact, Järvinen believes that investing in the positive influence of the churches is not subject to political changes. “That’s why it’s very important,” he said. “It’s something that’s sustainable.” Finn Church Aid has produced a traveling exhibition with photos related to the prevention of gender-based violence, and the exhibition has traveled to churches across Finland as well as to the general synod. “We have also just updated our gender policy in Finn Church Aid so we are boosting the knowledge of gender-based violence,” Järvinen added.  He also noted that reaching young people is a priority when it comes to Thursdays in Black.  “Finn Church Aid is also very big in education, so last year alone, we had more than 500,000 students we were supporting in schools one way or another,” he said. 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