Tapio Luoma elected Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

Bishop of Espoo Tapio Luoma has been elected Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. In the election held on Thursday, 1 March, Luoma received 56,1 % of all votes. The results were confirmed by the Diocesan Chapter on 2 March.

Bishop Luoma ran against bishop of Porvoo Björn Vikström in the second election round. The first election round was held in February and also included mission director Ville Auvinen, university instructor Heli Inkinen, and member of parliament Ilkka Kantola.

In the elections, a total of 1,527 people were entitled to vote.

Bishop of Espoo Tapio Luoma was born in 1962. He was ordained pastor in 1987 and consecrated Bishop of Espoo in February 2012. Bishop Luoma acted as vicar for Seinäjoki Parish in 2002–2012, as an assessor for the Diocese of Lapua in 2001–2007, and as county dean in the Deanery of Southern Ostrobothnia in 2010–2012. Moreover, he has held a seat in the General Synod and several other church bodies. In 2000, he was chosen pastor of the year.

The newly elected Archbishop will take office on 1 June 2018, when the current Archbishop, Kari Mäkinen, retires. The Archbishop will be consecrated in the Turku Cathedral on 3 June 2018.