wfn.org | Finnish president underscores role of churches in promoting

[FRANK.IMHOFF@ecunet.org]

justice

LWF COUNCIL MEETING, TURKU, FINLAND, 14-21 JUNE 2000
PRESS RELEASE NO. 9

TURKU, Finland/GENEVA, 17 June 2000 (LWI) - The president of Finland, Tarja
Kaarina Halonen has said the Christian churches have a major role in
promoting equality, justice and stability for the common good of humankind.

Halonen made these remarks when she received on 17 June at the
president's official summer residence participants in the meeting of the
Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) taking place in Turku.

She noted that relations between churches in Finland are "happily
excellent." About 85 percent of Finland's population of 5 million people
belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF), which is
hosting the Council meeting. The second largest denomination, the
Orthodox church, has about 55,000 people.

Nevertheless, the Finns face many challenges today, according to
Halonen. "We need to promote solidarity, tolerance and a more positive
attitude towards refugees," she said. The president referred to
Finland's geographical position  on the borderline between East and West
in northern Europe and noted that many battles were fought on "our soil.
Today however, we see that our position can give us an advantage in
efforts to build bridges between rival ideologies." The churches, she
added, are in the vanguard of the ecumenical movement and have a
prominent role in striving for church unity and bringing about a spirit
of re-awakening.

In a vote of thanks, the LWF president, Bishop Dr. Christian Krause said
the good relationship between the Federation and Finland goes back to
the period after the Second World War as mentioned by Halonen herself.
"This (the capital, Helsinki) was one place where we could meet," Krause
said, referring to the Federation's work among war refugees at that
time. In addition, he emphasized the LWF's continued commitment to
identify with the weak and forgotten, particularly in the changing
context of globalization.

Earlier in his report to the Council, convening from 14 to 21 June 2000,
the LWF general secretary, Dr. Ishmael Noko had raftered to his meeting
with Halonen on 17 March during which she accepted the LWF invitation to
bring a greeting to the Council

Halonen, a law graduate, is the eleventh president of the multi party
republic of Finland. She assumed office in March 2000 after she emerged
winner in a second round of elections the preceding month. She made her
debut in parliament in 1979 and has served in three governments since
1987. She was the minister for foreign affairs from 1995 up to the time
of her election. Her predecessor was President Martti Ahtisaari.

(The LWF is a global communion of 128 member churches in 70 countries
representing 59 million of the world's 63 million Lutherans. Its highest
decision making body is the Assembly, held every six or seven years.
Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council which
meets annually, and its Executive Committee. The LWF secretariat is
located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material
presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its
various units. Where the dateline of an article contains the notation
(LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

*       *       *
Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/