Polarised Lutheran Church seeks new referee between reformists and conservatives

Seven in running for Archbishop

print this

By Katja Kuokkanen
     
      An archbishop is needs to stand upright while leading the church in the midst of conflict. The ability to do so will be weighed on Thursday when the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church holds the first round of the election of a new archbishop.
      The opposite ends of the church are so far apart that none of the seven candidates for the post are expected to get more than half of the votes in the first round of voting.
      “The internal debate involves sabre-rattling from the opposite ends. Ever since it was made clear in 2006 that it is not permissible to avoid working together with female clergy, the atmosphere has been unsettled”, says church historian, Dr. Mikko Malkavaara of the University of Helsinki.
     
The most ardent conservatives are bombing several online message boards with such intensity that the reformists at the other end are becoming radicalised. Generally the issues at hand involve women clergy and the right of homosexuals to gain acceptance within the church.
      “The reform-minded are losing patience with the bickering, which has meant that the church is not present in the everyday concerns that people have, which would be important from the point of view of leadership in values”, Malkavaara says.
     
How can anyone lead a group like this? Theologically, an archbishop is supposed to be a shepherd guiding a flock, even if the sheep scurry about here and there.
      “There is no position in which an archbishop would be spared criticism. The role is a combination of the burden of wielding power and of speaking on behalf of a dreary institution to the outside world”, says Jaana Hallamaa, Professor of Social Ethics at the University of Helsinki.
      Hallamaa supports Kari Mäkinen, the Bishop of Turku, for the post of Archbishop.
     
In the 1990s the Lutheran Church was, in Hallamaa’s view, a public rubbish bin.
      Lutheranism was blamed for the perverse Finnish attitude toward work, the nation’s lack of an aesthetic culture, and for the Finns’ inability to express emotions.
      “Now all that is left is generic criticism. It is hard to work under such a heavy load, but an archbishop needs to be able to withstand the criticism that he cannot live up to the expectations”, Hallamaa says.
     
An archbishop can also be expected to raise issues, and show that the nation’s church is living the same everyday life as the people.
      “Our time is fast-paced. Everything needs to be brought out, and let loose here and now. The time of the church is slow, and is based on continuity”, Hallamaa ponders.
     
None of the seven candidates for the post stand out as a shining star. Does the playing field of the extremes need as a referee an archbishop who stands in the middle, pulling the edges together?
      “Perhaps the candidates are grey, because the conflicts have worn down the rough edges. For instance, Archbishop John Vikström was exceptional: he was humane, had a good sense of humour, and he was fearless, thanks to his curiosity. The time of such personalities is over”, Hallamaa says.
      Malkavaara disagrees.
      “If an archbishop has vision, he can have great influence. When navigating through rough waters as the leader of the key administrative bodies of the church, he can bring things raise issues based on what he wants to emphasise. Leaders can anticipate, because they get information in advance.”
     
As for the tasks of the office, an archbishop is not the boss of the bishops, but he is in the leadership positions of the church - he is the chairman of the Synod, the Church Government, and the Bishop’s Conference.
      In addition, he chairs the church’s Council for International Relations, and the Church Information Centre
      “In the Church, the walls are far apart, and all members who want to, can participate. But nevertheless, an archbishop should have the courage to bid farewell to groups who do not fit in”, Malkavaara says to the future shepherd.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 14.2.2010

More on this subject:
 HS put three questions to seven candidates seeking post of Archbishop

Previously in HS International Edition:
  Lutheran bishops take cautious stance on same-sex couples (11.2.2010)

Links:
  Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

KATJA KUOKKANEN / Helsingin Sanomat
katja.kuokkanen@hs.fi