Transcript PowerPoint-esitys

Real stories
about the church
Special occasions call to mind
God's blessing
76,4 % of Finns belonged to the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Finland at the end of 2012.
• The church had 4.3 million members.
• There was a record number of new members: 14
108.
• There were 14 108 new members and 41 079
resigned from the church.
• The church baptized three out of every four
children, and married every second couple.
• The church conducted 47 310 funerals, or 91 % of
“It’s truly a great
gift that a pastor
can come to a
family
celebration for
free. I’m happy
to pay church
tax!”
Zar Zar, Espoo
Church tax funds many things
This is how the church allocated tax income (€862 million) in 2012:
Church records and civil census administration 2 %
Publicity and communications 4 % Other operations 0,1 %
Mission and international diaconal work 5%
Children’s and youth work 33 %
Music 5 %
Funerals 11 %
Counselling and other diaconal work 13 %
Parish work 27 %
Children are
welcome to bring
their favourite toys
to the family
service at Oulu’s
Karjasilta parish.
Worship provides a pause at the
heart of every day
In 2012, on average 85 people participated in
each service of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church.
The total number of worshippers was more
than
6 200 000.
”We were told
about the Vox
Edeni choir at
comfirmation camp
leader training. My
friend said that it
sounded fun, we
should go and give
it a try. It seemed
like a really nice
idea, because I like
singing a lot. Then
it became my
thing.”
Henna, Espoo
A singing church
There were 1994 choirs in the parishes in
2012.
50 000
About
participated in choral and
other musical activities.
There are about 2 700 Christmas Carol
services each year, attended by nearly a
million singers.
“As we left the
church, we smiled at
each other as if
some weight had
been taken from us.
Our hearts sang
within us.”
Kari, Archbishop,
Turku
The church supports
culture
The oldest remaining churches are in
the Åland Islands. Built from grey
stone, they date from the 13th and
14th centuries.
The church maintains valuable
ecclesiastical buildings on behalf of
society as a whole.
About a dozen new churches have been completed
since 2000. The Kamppi Ecumenical Chapel is
located on Helsinki's Narikkatori.
”You can be
free here, you
don’t need to
spend the
whole time
worrying about
what your hair
looks like, or if
you’re
attractive.”
Maria, Mila,
Niklas and Sere,
Hyvinkää
Young people grow up as part of the
parish
In 2012, more than 140 000 children and young
people took part in group activities organised by
the church.
Parishes organised more than 6000 camps for
children and young people and tens of thousands
of other events.
85.6 % of Finns take part in confirmation
preparation.
“I don’t know
how I would
have survived
without the help
of loved ones
and the parish.
The deaconess
gave me food
vouchers, she
listened to me
and she
understood.”
Janina, Vantaa
Diaconial work helps in many ways
Diaconal workers had more than
client contacts in 2012.
634 000
More than 30 000 volunteers assisted with
diaconal work.
Parishes allocated €7.4 million in financial
assistance
and distributed more than 100 000 food packages.
“We had more
than a year’s
time-out to
weigh things up
and evaluate
them from
different angles.
Now, at least we
know we’ve put
some effort into
the relationship.
You know you’re
not throwing in
the towel
immediately.”
Tomi and Eeva,
Vantaa
Family counselling supports
couples
In 2012, the church had 42 family
counselling centres.
They were visited by a total of
16
500 clients, of which 42 % were men.
Finn Church
Aid improves
the livelihood
of the poor in
Nepal.
The church does international work
both at home and abroad
140 church workers in 40 countries work among
Finnish expatriates.
Seven mission agencies undertake the mission work of the
church. Finn Church Aid specialises in international
diaconal work.
“It is important to
the community
to worship in
Inari, because
speakers live far
apart from each
other. I long for a
place where we
can gather
together.”
Teija, Inari
Community is important to the
Saami
Five clergy work in the Saami language.
Most Northern and Inari Saami belong to the Evangelical
Lutheran Church, while most Skolt Saami are members of the
Orthodox Church.
The church supports the preservation of the Saami language,
and the advancement of translation work.
The Catechism in Northern Saami and Kauneimmat Joululaulut
(a volume of Christmas carols) were published in 2012.
Evangelica Lutheran Church of
Finland
GENERAL SYNOD (109 members)
The Bishop’s
Conference
Central
Church Council
Commission for
Church Employers
Council for
International Relations
DIOCESES (9)
Bishop
Diocesan council
Dionesian chapter
Deaneries
PARISHES 430 (in 2013)
Parishioners (electorate in
parish elections)
Church council
Church board
The church’s confession and
mission
The Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Finland confesses, in
accordance with Scripture, the
Christian faith as set forth in the
three ecumenical creeds and
the Lutheran confessions.
In accordance with its
confession, the church
proclaims the word of God and
administers the sacraments,
working to spread the Christian
message and foster
neighbourly love. (Church law, article
1)
The church has two sacraments: Baptism and the Eucharist.
Tasks of the parish
• organising worship
• the celebration of Baptism, the Eucharist and other
rites of the church
• Christian education and discipleship
• pastoral care, diaconal and mission work, and other
tasks of proclamation and service based on the
Christian message.
A thousand years of Christian faith
in Finland
Christianity comes to Finland in the 12th century
Circa 1157
1488
1520-luvulla
Bishop Henry and King Erik arrive in
Finland
The death of Bishop Henry
Missale Aboense – the
Turku Missal – is Finland’s
oldest printed book
The Reformation begins in Finland
during the reign of Gustav Vasa
1510–1557
Mikael Agricola
1809
Finland separates from
Sweden
1870
1917
The church gets its own General
Synod and legislative power
Church and state are separated
Finland gains its
independence
1923
1994
2003
Freedom of Religion Act
The church gains further administrative
independence
Reform of Freedom of Religion
and Cemeteries Acts
What’s Your
Story?
Tell your own story about the church at
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