The General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland failed to agree on a solution to the marriage debate. On 8 May 2025, the General Synod voted on the proposal suggesting two parallel approaches to marriage, a proposal prepared by the General Synod’s Committee for Legal Affairs. The proposal was defeated in the final vote by 62 to 40, with six abstentions. For the proposal to pass, it would have needed a qualified majority of three quarters – in this case 77 votes.
In its May 2024 proposal to the General Synod, the Bishop’s Conference suggested adding to the Church Order a provision on parallel approaches to marriage. One of the approaches defined marriage to be a union between a man and a woman; the other treated it as a union between two persons. According to the proposal, pastors would have been allowed but not obliged to marry and bless same-sex couples. The right of same-sex couples to have a church wedding would have been established as an obligation for parishes, with the vicar in charge of ensuring this. The Committee for Legal Affairs suggested extending the protection of conscience to cover not only pastors but also church musicians.
Archbishop Tapio Luoma believes that a church wedding and the blessing of God sought in it to be of great importance to all couples getting married, and that it was thus very unfortunate that the proposal was rejected.
The Archbishop considers it noteworthy that the Bishop’s Conference put forward a proposal that would have enabled equal treatment for all couples getting married, without anyone being forced to act against their beliefs.
The amended Finnish Marriage Act that enabled same-sex marriages entered into force in 2017, challenging the Church’s notion of marriage and giving rise to two approaches to marriage within the Church. Several pastors have already married same-sex couples, which has resulted in complaints being made to diocesan chapters. The Bishop’s Conference stated as early as 2020 that diocesan chapters should exercise moderation in resolving these complaints.
“The General Synod’s decision means that status quo continues”, says Archbishop Luoma.
“In the future, we must be able to find a solution to the marriage dispute that does not compromise our unity and allows everyone to be treated as equals,” he continues.
The General Synod selected Dr. Niilo Pesonen as the Church Council’s new Director General. Pesonen (b. 1968) has acted as the vicar of the Tuira parish since 2014 and holds a PhD in theology.
Pesonen will take office on 1 September 2025. The recruitment process for a new Director General began when the current director general, Pekka Huokuna, submitted his notice of retirement to the General Synod in November 2024.
The Director General is the Church Council’s senior officeholder, responsible for leading and developing the operations of the Office of the Church Council, as well as overseeing public relations and interest group representation.
The Bishops’ Conference submitted for the General Synod’s information the final report and recommendations of the Sámi at the Church project entitled Sämmiliih kirhoost, Sä’mmla ceerkvest, Sápmelaččat girkus, Saamelaiset kirkossa in the four relevant languages.
A Sámi delegation attended the General Synod: they were in Turku for the church service that concluded the project, which included an apology to the Sámi people.
The project’s final report included recommendations: some were general goals for the entire Church; others were concrete proposals for action for the Church Council, diocesan chapters, parishes and parish unions.
The project enabled a deeper understanding of the relationship between the Sámi and the Church through a truth and reconciliation process.
The General Synod proposed to the Finnish Government that it take measures to enact legislation permitting the adoption of an electronic voting register in parish elections and the direct elections of vicars. The aim is to streamline and accelerate the organisation of these elections. The next parish elections will be held on 15 November 2026.
The General Synod also decided to ask the Church Council to prepare possible changes to the parish structure. This inspired lively debate over three different sessions and elicited almost 60 responses.