The General Synod considered several representatives’ proposals during its November 2025 meetings week. Some of the proposals were forwarded to committees, while others were dropped. Two proposals prompted especially lively debate: one concerning increased legal security in the Church’s decision-making and another one regarding the use of church space. After a vote, however, both these proposals were dropped.
On opening night of its meetings week, 3 November, the General Synod held its first-ever panel discussion, which focused on the Church’s pain points, i.e. its most controversial topics. The discussion was followed closely, also via livestream, and commentary on these topics continued in preliminary debates over the course of the week.
The week also included a visit from Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz and a briefing by Church Council Director General Niilo Pesonen on the Church Council’s reform initiative aimed at reducing costs.
The General Synod decided that the Act on the Church Pension Fund should be amended to make the Church Pension Fund a more independent organisation. A bill will be submitted to the Finnish Parliament to be passed into law. The Church Pension Fund of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is the organisation responsible for funding Church staff pensions and investing the pension funds.
The Ministry of Finance has launched a programme entitled ‘Easing the management of the affairs of a deceased relative’. In its statement to the Ministry of Finance, the General Synod supports the programme’s objective to simplify and streamline administration of the estate of a deceased person. The programme will produce new e-services, including a register of claimants. At the moment, the Church supplies the necessary family history information for estate inventory purposes through genealogical records compiled by the regional register offices.
The General Synod decided to make changes to the selection process for Church Council plenary session members. It also resolved to amend the Church Order with respect to the number, attendance and speaking rights of members of parish and parish union governing bodies.
The General Synod also resumed discussion of the Church’s latest four-year report, with the Futures Committee calling for serious consideration of the uncertainties identified in the report. According to the Futures Committee, the four-year report introduces promising opportunities for the Church to respond to the spiritual exploration and growth of both communities and individuals – if the Church is prepared to change its practices.