Finnish Church rejects proposal to recognise same-sex marriages equally

By admin On May 10, 2025

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland rejected the proposal to recognise same-sex marriages. Photo: Elias Lahtinen / Str / Lehtikuva

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has voted down a proposal to formally include same-sex unions alongside heterosexual marriages in its constitution.

The Church Council voted 62–40 in favour of the measure on Thursday, falling 15 votes short of the required three-quarters majority. The decision means the Church will not adopt parallel definitions of marriage, one as a union between a man and a woman, and the other as a union between two people regardless of gender.

The proposal had been advanced by the Bishops’ Conference in 2023 as a compromise intended to respect doctrinal differences within the Church. It would have allowed parishes to conduct same-sex marriages while permitting individual priests and cantors to decline participation based on personal convictions.

The current system remains in place. Priests willing to marry same-sex couples, often referred to as “rainbow priests,” may continue to do so. No parish is required to conduct such ceremonies, and bishops have made clear that clergy who perform them will not face disciplinary consequences.

Heikki Holma, a Council member from the Diocese of Oulu, said the debate was conducted respectfully. “I don’t see this as a battle,” he said. “There are no signs of conflict or even wounds in the Church Council.”

Suvi Routasalo, representing the Archdiocese of Turku, supported the proposal and expressed hope that it will pass in a future vote. “I believe it represents the present and the future,” she said.

Archbishop Tapio Luoma also supported the proposal. In comments to Yle, he said he expects the matter to return to the Church Assembly until it is eventually approved. “I am convinced that, in time, the church will allow the marriage of same-sex couples in Finland as well,” he said earlier this week.

Finland’s civil law recognises marriage regardless of gender, following the introduction of gender-neutral legislation in 2017. While the state permits all couples to marry, the Church has not updated its doctrinal definition to reflect this change.

The Church remains divided on the issue. Supporters of reform argue that aligning Church practices with Finnish law and social norms is necessary for credibility and inclusion. Opponents maintain that altering the definition of marriage would compromise theological principles.

Despite Thursday’s rejection, advocates say the push for equal recognition of same-sex couples within the Church will continue. The next opportunity to revisit the matter will come at future sessions of the Church Assembly or Council.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi