Resolution 2022-3

Province II Synod
Proposed Resolution submitted by Yvonne O’Neal
Resolution 2022-3
Submission of Resolution to the 80th General Convention
Participating in Thursdays in Black (PDF)

Be it resolved, That The International Atlantic Province – the Second Province of The Episcopal Church – submit the following resolution to the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church meeting in 2022:

Be it resolved,  the House of ________________ concurring, That this 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church encourage members of Provinces, Dioceses, Congregations and all other institutions of The Episcopal Church to participate in the Thursdays In Black Campaign of the World Council of Churches, a global movement for a world without rape and violence; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church commit to work toward increasing awareness, accountability, and action across the church about the alarming degree of gender-based violence in church and society; and be it further
Resolved, That The Episcopal Church commit to work toward education about and elimination of gender-based violence.

Explanation
Thursdays in Black grew out of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women (1988-1998), in which the stories of rape as a weapon of war, gender injustice, abuse, violence, and many tragedies that grow outward from such violence became all the more visible. But what also became visible was women’s resilience, agency, and personal efforts to resist such violations.

The idea behind Thursdays in Black is to encourage people to wear black clothing on Thursdays as reminder of the need to act against sexual violence in all its forms.  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 color of resistance and resilience.

The Thursdays in Black movement is found throughout the Anglican Communion. Submitted with this Resolution as a Document is an  article about the campaign from the Anglican Communion News Service. (pdf of the article)