FINLAND & PALESTINE Proceedings of a Joint Workshop
FINLAND & PALESTINE Proceedings of a Joint Workshop
FINLAND & PALESTINE Proceedings of a Joint Workshop
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Development <strong>of</strong> Relations Between the<br />
Evangelical Lutheran Church <strong>of</strong> Finland (ELCF) and<br />
the Protestant Churches in the Middle East<br />
Martti Tuhkanen<br />
Director, Conference Center Paivakumpu, FELM<br />
Introduction <strong>of</strong> the Evangelical Lutheran Church <strong>of</strong> Finland<br />
In order to understand the present situation between the<br />
Evangelical lutheran Church <strong>of</strong> Finland (ElCF), and <strong>of</strong>ficially<br />
recognized protestant churches in the Middle East, and how<br />
we have reached it, it is essential to know how the ElCF has<br />
organized its activities in and outside Finland. A couple <strong>of</strong><br />
charts will help us.<br />
The Evangelical lutheran Church <strong>of</strong> Finland is divided into nine<br />
dioceses. The number <strong>of</strong> parishes was 517 in 2007. Each local<br />
parish in the ElCF is an independent working unit. The parishes<br />
within the same city, or municipality, belong to the same parish<br />
union. Parishes in the same parish union have a joint parish<br />
board, and a joint parish council, for the common administration<br />
<strong>of</strong> the whole union. In addition, each parish in the union<br />
has a parish council <strong>of</strong> its own, corresponding to the parish<br />
council <strong>of</strong> a single parish.<br />
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