wfn.org | Jukka Paarma appointed as archbishop of Finland

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Consecration scheduled for January

GENEVA, 2 November 1998 (lwi) - Dean of the Cathedral of Turku and doctor
of theology, Jukka Paarma (55) has been appointed as the new archbishop of
the archdiocese of Turku and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
(ELCF). On October 30, the president of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari, made the
appointment after Paarma had received the most votes in the archbishop's
election in September. John Vikstrom, archbishop of Finland, will retire at
the end of November, and Jukka Paarma will take office at the beginning of
December. He will be consecrated on Epiphany (January 6) of next year.

Paarma was ordained in 1967, and before serving as the dean of the
cathedral of Turku, he served as parish priest in Lahti and as vicar in
Valkeakoski. He has been a member of the church synod since 1986, and is a
member of several church committees and working groups. He was awarded a
doctorate in theology in the field of church history in 1980, his thesis
was entitled: "Diocesan Administration in Finland 1554-1604." He is married
and has two daughters and one grandchild.

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