scholarly journals Experiences of (Mis)recognition of Same-Sex Partnerships in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

Exchange ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 258-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina Hellqvist ◽  
Auli Vähäkangas
Keyword(s):  
Social Contexts ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Same Sex Couples ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
Registered Partnership ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Struggle For Recognition ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran ◽  
Interpersonal Recognition

Abstract The article discusses the recognition of same-sex partnerships in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF). The main focus is on the experiences of recognition and misrecognition of same-sex couples when the couples have asked for a prayer on behalf of their registered partnership. The findings of this study confirm that the researched experiences of recognition have two dimensions, vertical and horizontal. Vertical recognition deals with institutional recognition and experiences with the sacred. Horizontal recognition entails experiences of interpersonal recognition. Narrated experiences often contained both horizontal and vertical dimensions of (mis)recognition. Recognition is a social phenomenon. Participants of the study had two distinct social contexts for recognition. One is the more loosely defined “rainbow community”, the other the formally authoritative, institutional ELCF. Most of the interviewees had positive experiences of recognition from the informal community but mainly negative experiences of misrecognition from the institutional ELCF. The difficult balancing between the conviction of the equal human dignity of each individual and the understanding of marriage as a social category for heterosexuals only led to same-sex couples’ experience of not being treated as equal members of the church. The study affirmed the importance of experiences and feelings as indicators in identifying a valid struggle for recognition.

Contemporary and Traditional Voices: Reactions to Same-Sex Marriage Legislation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Orthodox Church of Finland

Exchange ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-257
Author(s):  
Pekka Metso ◽  
Laura Kallatsa
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Orthodox Church ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Same Sex Marriage ◽  
Early 21St Century ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran ◽  
The Church

Abstract This article studies the debate on same-sex marriage in the early 21st century, within the two national churches of Finland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church. Legislation facilitating the so-called “gender-neutral marriage” came into effect in Finland in March 2017. In their official teachings, both churches emphasize marriage as a union between a man and a woman. An awareness of the rights of sexual minorities has, however, increased in both churches, and has given rise to the debate on how same-sex marriage should be perceived. While holding on to the traditional view of marriage, both churches have sought ways to recognize and affirm the position of sexual minorities. This has caused tension within the churches. As the majority church, the Lutheran church in particular faces strong pressure to accept same-sex weddings in the church. For the advocates of sexual minorities within the Orthodox Church, recognition of sexual minorities seems to be the main objective, rather than promoting same-sex weddings.

scholarly journals Luther, Same-Sex Marriage, and the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland: A Gender-Sensitive Historical Analysis

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Sini Mikkola
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
Committee Report ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran

The issue of whether to accept same-sex relationships as marriages has been under discussion worldwide in recent years, including in the Nordic countries, such as Finland. While in other Nordic countries, the Lutheran churches officiate same-sex marriages, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF) has rejected it on theological grounds that are largely based on Reformation Era sources. This article examines the constitution committee report that was used as the basis of the decision made by the General Synod of the ELCF in May 2018 to not accept same-sex marriages. Through close reading of the report and performing content analysis from a gender-sensitive historical perspective, the article claims that the validity of the arguments of the report can be called into question, due to the lack of a hermeneutical awareness of the differences between the sixteenth and the twenty-first centuries, and the highly selective use of the sources from the Reformation Era in the document. The article concludes by pointing out that making use of the Reformation heritage in theology, instead of replicating the arguments of the sixteenth century, would have produced a theologically and historically more solid report, which could well have been in favor of extending the view on marriage in the ELCF.

scholarly journals Same-sex marriage and the Lutheran Church in Finland: How rapid change in values and norms challenges the church and its decision-making

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimmo Ketola ◽  
Eila Helander
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Finnish Population ◽  
Same Sex Marriage ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
Registered Partnership ◽  
The Right ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
The Church

AbstractThe effect of legislative changes on same-sex unions on people’s attitudes toward homosexuality is a fairly well-researched topic. There is less research on how state legislation on same-sex unions has affected churches’ attitudes and policies on registered partnership and same-sex marriage. In this paper we focus on attitudinal polarisation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF) in the matter of same-sex marriage and why there is a gap in the attitudinal development of the church and the society. The analysis is based upon six sets of representative surveys among the Finnish population, the employees of the ELCF and the elected officials of the ELCF between the years 2012–2017. Whereas the majorities (55%) among the Finnish population and among the ELCF members (54%) are already favourable to the idea that same-sex couples should have the right to marry in the church, the ELCF has not approved of it. This situation has polarised the ELCF from within. Empirical analysis shows that the reason for the discrepancy between popular opinion and the ELCF stance stems from the fact that ELCF decision makers are older and more religious than the general membership. However, the data also shows that even among the most religious, younger age groups are already more favourable towards the same-sex marriage. Therefore, it is likely that the polarisation will lessen over time as more and more religious people accept same-sex marriage.

What Happens in a Youth Community of Learning When Mobile Technology Is Implemented? The Case of a Finnish Evangelical-Lutheran Church Confirmation Training

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eveliina Ojala
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Research Area ◽  
New Ways Of Working ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
Community Of Learning ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Youth Community ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran

AbstractThe aim of this article is to discuss confirmation training from the perspective of mobile technology and social media. Previous research has focused on comparing confirmation training practices implemented in different Lutheran Churches. This article contributes to this research area by providing a new viewpoint to the discussion. Results indicate that (1) workers, in particular, received new ways of working with enthusiasm, (2) but the actual use of mobile devices and social media like Facebook proved to be low and not innovative, and (3) mobile technology cannot be integrated into confirmation training until new content and methods that are meaningful to young people have been developed.

God is Doing a New Thing in the ELCA: Trends from the FACT Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-266
Author(s):  
Deborah L. Coe ◽  
Brad Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
Congregational Studies ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
The Past ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Protestant Denominations ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran ◽  
The Church

For decades, mainline Protestant denominations in the United States have experienced steady membership declines. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is no different, and our research team has been exploring this topic for years. Faith Communities Today (FACT) is an interfaith project consisting of a series of surveys conducted by the Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership, of which the ELCA is a long-standing member. In this article, we examine data collected from the three decennial FACT surveys to discern where, despite declining membership, God is, to quote the prophet Isaiah, “doing a new thing.” We find that over the past twenty years, the typical ELCA congregation has had a gradually increasing: sense of vitality, belief that it is financially healthy, desire to become more diverse, willingness to call women to serve as pastors, openness to change, and clarity of mission and purpose. Because there are multiple possible explanations for these positive trends, we recommend approaching such trend lines cautiously, viewing them through a critical-thinking lens. Even though there is an increased perception of congregational well-being, overall finances and the number of people involved in the church continue to decline. There is still much work to be done.

scholarly journals INTERVIEW WITH DIETRICH BRAUER, ARCHBISHOP OF THE EVANGELICAL-LUTHERAN CHURCH OF RUSSIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 10-18
Author(s):  
Maria A. Burganova ◽  
Dietrich Brauer
Keyword(s):  
Federal Republic ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Lutheran Church ◽  
Religious Associations ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran Church ◽  
Evangelical Lutheran

The journal traditionally opens with an academic interview. In this issue, we present Dietrich Brauer, Archbishop of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Russia, member of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation, chevalier of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, who kindly agreed to answer questions from Maria Burganova, the Editor in chief of The Burganov House. The Space of Culture journal.

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