Finland's First Female (Lutheran) Bishop

[Ronja]

Irja Askola has been elected Bishop of Helsinki for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. This makes her Finland's first-ever female Lutheran bishop. In a YLE (Finland's "PBS") interview, she said she would practice "a dialogue with society".

Details here: http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/06/ ... 33850.html

Personally, I don't care much, as I left that church over 25 years ago. But a woman bishop is in some ways a good sign - and more really reactionary people will be leaving the church because of this, which drives the membership numbers down and strengthens the "separate the Lutheran church from state" side of the argument in Finland.

So a small *happydance* after all!

(crossposted to RS)

[maiforpeace]

Irja Askola has been elected Bishop of Helsinki for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. This makes her Finland's first-ever female Lutheran bishop. In a YLE (Finland's "PBS") interview, she said she would practice "a dialogue with society".

Details here: http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/06/ ... 33850.html

Personally, I don't care much, as I left that church over 25 years ago. But a woman bishop is in some ways a good sign - and more really reactionary people will be leaving the church because of this, which drives the membership numbers down and strengthens the "separate the Lutheran church from state" side of the argument in Finland.

So a small *happydance* after all!

(crossposted to RS)

Yes, it is hard to decide whether this is a good or bad thing. While many may leave the church because they don't want a woman bishop, others may decide to join because there is one, don't you think?

[Ronja]

Irja Askola has been elected Bishop of Helsinki for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. This makes her Finland's first-ever female Lutheran bishop. In a YLE (Finland's "PBS") interview, she said she would practice "a dialogue with society". ...

Yes, it is hard to decide whether this is a good or bad thing. While many may leave the church because they don't want a woman bishop, others may decide to join because there is one, don't you think?

We are about to find out... I'm keeping a keen eye on eroakirkosta.fi for a few days now - that's the Finnish the site where people can get out of the Lutheran church of Finland simply by filling in a web form. It's provided by the Tampere Freethinkers association.

[Mysturji]

Irja Askola has been elected Bishop of Helsinki for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. This makes her Finland's first-ever female Lutheran bishop. In a YLE (Finland's "PBS") interview, she said she would practice "a dialogue with society".

Details here: http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/06/ ... 33850.html

Personally, I don't care much, as I left that church over 25 years ago. But a woman bishop is in some ways a good sign - and more really reactionary people will be leaving the church because of this, which drives the membership numbers down and strengthens the "separate the Lutheran church from state" side of the argument in Finland.

So a small *happydance* after all!

(crossposted to RS)

Yes, it is hard to decide whether this is a good or bad thing. While many may leave the church because they don't want a woman bishop, others may decide to join because there is one, don't you think?

Especially if she's HAWT!

[colubridae]

I think it's important to give women the opportunity to be every bit as bonkers as men!

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Men bishops get to wear dresses. Does that mean she will get a false moustache and a pipe?

[JimC]

..."as the actor said to the bishop"...

Sort of a higher ranking Vicar of Dibley?

[Ronja]

Oh GREAT! Not exactly surprising, but shitty anyway:

The Finnish Catholic Church says that selecting a woman to serve as a bishop puts even more distance between the two churches.

“We are sorry to see that a woman was picked to serve as a bishop. We have nothing personal against Irja Askola, but this decision breaks with tradition,” says Teemu Sippo, the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Catholic Church in Finland.

However, Sippo did not say he would refuse to work with Askola.

Well, if "not refusing" is the good news... These representatives of the religion that is about "peace & love & respect" just make me want to and

Source: http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/06/ ... 51343.html

[Mysturji]

Throw her into a volcano!

[Tero]

Well, we will all be excited to see how much maternity leace a bishop gets. And will they even allow a prgnant bishop in public. How old is she? Almost 60. Never mind then.

Congrats Irja. Them Finnish Lutherans are pretty mild mannered. Almost like Unitarians.

here she is, could only find it in Finnish
http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irja_Askola

[colubridae]

Just have faith

looking for the father.jpg (12.26 KiB) Viewed 1483 times

[hiyymer]

As I understand it European religious organization is quite different than the US. Still have state sponsored religion. My first wife was Finish and she claimed that while almost everyone was a member, and almost everyone got married and buried in the church, no one actually ever went to church on Sunday except old people. I know that European countries have generally had restrictions on the operation of other religions, but that those restrictions are being lifted here and there and in some places American style evangelical religion is taking off (albeit in small numbers). Does anyone know what the situation is in Finland in that regard?

[colubridae]

As I understand it European religious organization is quite different than the US. Still have state sponsored religion. My first wife was Finish and she claimed that while almost everyone was a member, and almost everyone got married and buried in the church, no one actually ever went to church on Sunday except old people. I know that European countries have generally had restrictions on the operation of other religions, but that those restrictions are being lifted here and there and in some places American style evangelical religion is taking off (albeit in small numbers). Does anyone know what the situation is in Finland in that regard?

no.

[Tero]

There are no restrictions in Finland, but Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox are both state churches. You can choose to donate 1% of income to them. They will then have to give you a cemetery plot.

Other religions in Finland collect their own donations. There are several strong sects.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_i ... ommunities
Pentecostals are 50 000. But it all adds up to just a couple of percent. Atheism is higher.

[hiyymer]

Thanks tero. That's what I loved about Finland. Such a nice homogeneous country, with almost no minorities, and nothing much changing except relationships with the neighbors. And in the summer it's amazing. Great memories....