Another Vikström elected as new Bishop of Porvoo

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Björn Vikström has been elected as the new Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Porvoo Diocese to succeed the present bishop, Gustav Björkstrand, who is to retire at the end of October.
     
Currently, Björn Vikström, 46, is a researcher at Åbo Akademi, the Swedish-language University of Turku. His subjects include sustainable development and environmental ethics.
      Vikström earned his doctorate of theology degree in 2000, receiving an award for his doctoral dissertation from the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland.
      Björn Vikström was ordained in 1988, and at the beginning of his career he served as a pastor in the Matteus congregation in Helsinki. For the following 15 years, Vikström worked as an assistant vicar in the Kemiönsaari congregation.
     
Björn Vikström is known for his liberal thoughts. Particularly his positive views on the church’s blessing for gay couples have sparked a heated debate among the conservative members of the Evangelic Lutheran Church of Finland.
      For example, Dean Johan Candelin from Kokkola regards Vikström’s liberal interpretation of the Bible as problematic, claiming that many members of the church might regard Vikström as an official rather than a spritual leader.
      Vikström is to a accede to the post of the leader of Finland's Swedish-speaking Lutherans in early November.
      Björn Vikström spent his childhood in Porvoo. He is married and has three children.
      Archibishop emeritus of Finland John Vikström is the new bishop’s father, who also worked at Åbo Akademi from 1963 until he was elected as the Bishop of Porvoo Diocese in 1970.
      From 1982 to 1998 he was the Archbishop of Turku and Finland.
      Björn Vikström’s uncle Erik Vikström also followed his brother’s footsteps, acting as the Bishop of Porvoo Diocese from 1983 to 2006.


Links:
  Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
  Diocese of Borgå (Porvoo) (Wikipedia)

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