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The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Information |
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| 11.06.2004 |
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| FEATURE: Finland - Why Belong to the Church? |
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Archbishop Paarma Reflects on Impact of New Law on Religious Freedom
HELSINKI, Finland/GENEVA, 11 June 2004 (LWI) - Recently enacted laws in Finland have contributed to decreased membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF) according to ELCF Archbishop Jukka Paarma. However, the new law on religious freedom and the law concerning funerals have also led to significant debate in Finland on the meaning of church membership for individual Christians.
“What does it mean that one is a church member? Is it only that you pay membership fee, some tax, and get some services in return or is that membership something more? Does membership signify a commitment to the faith that churches represent?” Paarma reflected in a recent interview with Lutheran World Information (LWI).
The law on religious freedom came into force in August 2003 while that on funerals was effected early this year. Previously, religious education in public schools emphasized the concept of “confessional religious education.” With the new law, the teaching of religion continues, but allows all pupils to have access to such instruction in their respective faith tradition. Freedom of religion is understood as an individual’s right to confess and practice faith, and belong to a religious denomination. The role of the state is to ensure freedom of religion and create the right conditions for it, the archbishop explained.
Paarma said the new laws have affected membership in the ELCF, currently with over 4.6 million members representing around 84 percent of the Finnish population. While there were notable declines in membership during significant periods of social, political and economic changes in the country in the past, the current decrease, although not higher than during the 1990s recession, was remarkable.
Requirements for Leaving Church Made Easier
According to the 2004 ELCF Annual Report there were several peaks of cessation of membership between the two laws of freedom of religion (1923 and 2003). The first was after the 1923 introduction of the law of religious freedom, during which time, members of religious minorities in particular left the Lutheran church. The number of those leaving the church increased again after the Second World War, when antagonism to the church was fierce, especially in the labor movement. The number of resignations began to drop at the beginning of the 1960s when church tax levying was transferred from the parishes to the state. A sharp rise in resignations in 1984 was caused by the General Synod’s decision not to accept the ordination of women, which was accepted two years later. By the end of the decade, the number of those leaving and joining the church was nearly equal. In 2003 around 27,000 persons left the ELCF while some 10,000 new members were registered. The report notes that last year’s resignations increased from the previous year’s by over 10,000 individuals.
The new law of religion makes it easy for people to leave the church, the ELCF archbishop explained. The month-long notice period is no longer a requirement for individuals wishing to discontinue membership in a religious denomination. Neither does the resignation letter need to be delivered personally.
Concern over New Regulations on Burial Grounds
Another reason for leaving the Lutheran church are new regulations governing burial grounds, said Paarma. Under the law effective January 2004, Lutheran cemeteries now serve as public burial grounds, and even those who are not church members have the right to a grave there. Accordingly, grave fees are no longer cheaper for ELCF members, and funeral fees are the same for all Finns. “Many church members are disappointed that they’ve paid church tax all their life, and now those who have never paid anything get a grave site and funeral at the same price.” But he pointed out that the state subsidizes for such services “so we cannot say it is not right, but there is a feeling of betrayal on the part of congregation members.”
Church membership fee is paid as tax, of which the percentage varies from parish to parish at between 1 to 2.23 percent. Referring to local surveys, this year’ ELCF report states that 80-90 percent of Finns are of the opinion that the opportunity to have their children baptized, get married in church and have a church funeral are important reasons to belong to the church.
ELCF Commitment to Lutheran Communion and Ecumenical Openness
Paarma reflected also on the ELCF’s membership in the wider Lutheran communion as well as the church’s ecumenical engagement. He noted that the Finnish church is the third largest member church of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and joined the Federation at its founding in 1947. “We are very keen Lutherans. Lutheran tradition in our country has been very deep and its very natural that we are LWF members and very committed in participating in LWF’s concerns,” Paarma said.
Equally important for the ELCF is ecumenical involvement in Finland and outside. The archbishop pointed to the Lutheran church’s open ecumenical relations with the Orthodox and free churches in Finland, and the over 30-year doctrinal dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church. “It is for us important to deepen our roots in the Lutheran communion and at the same time be open to ecumenical dialogues with other churches,” he stressed.
Archbishop Paarma underlined the ELCF’s engagement with its various partners in areas of common concern. When a three-person ELCF delegation including the archbishop visited the LWF Geneva Secretariat this year, they also met with diplomats from countries that have special relations with Finland. During discussions with Ambassadors from Canada, Finland, Namibia, South Africa and the Vatican representative to the United Nations agencies, emerging issues included economic globalization, poverty, human rights and cooperation between church and state, non-governmental organizations and other bodies. “The enormous challenges of globalization call for concerted collaboration at all levels in order to realize the dream for justice and human rights for all people worldwide,” Paarma concluded.
(987 words)
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