The goal of ecumenical work is to bring Christians into mutual fellowship towards the visible unity of the Church. According to the Bible Christian unity is both a gift and a calling.
The churches functions are witness and service. The work towards Christian unity is based on the prayer of Jesus Christ: “I pray that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21)
The word ecumenical is derived from the Greek term oikoumene, which may be translated as “the whole inhabited world”. Being ecumenical means working towards a visible Christian unity as well as an attitude which emphasises and wishes for Christian unity.
Ecumenical movement is a joint movement of diverse Christians and Christian associations. It is a relatively young phenomenon in the history of Christianity. It emerged at the turn of the 20th century and established itself as a significant inter-church communication channel after the World War II. The movement has also formed into various organizations. Ecumenism is activity in which churches and Christian organizations attend according to their own confessions.
History
The Ecumenical Council fo Finland was established in 1917, when the Finnish Committee of the World Alliance Movement was founded. The World Alliance for Promoting International Fellowship through the Churches (WA) aimed at fostering peace work through inter-church friendship.
In 1933 the national committee was named the Oecumenical Council of Finland and in 1963 the name was changed into the Finnish Ecumenical Council, since 2023 we use the name Ecumenical Council of Finland.
Purpose and aim
The Ecumenical Council of Finland promotes Christian unity on the national as well as on the local level. The Council realizes these aims through its publications, programmes, meetings and assemblies.
The Council serves as a meeting point where a rich diversity of Christians can gather together for example for consultation and for common prayer.
The activities of the Council focus on ecumenical theology and dialogue, social-ethical issues, spirituality and common witness.
The aim of these activities is for the Churches and the Christians to grow stronger and deepen the unity which Jesus Christ himself prayed for.
Member Churches
Churches and Christian communities, which, according to the Bible, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as the God and the Saviour are welcomed as members of the Council. Due to this common testimony, these Churches and Christian communities are striving together to fulfil their common calling for the glory of one God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Council has eleven member Churches:
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Finnish Orthodox Church (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Evangelical Free Church of Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Catholic Church in Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Swedish Speaking Baptist Union of Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Salvation Army in Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
United Methodist Church in Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.) (Swedish speaking)
United Methodist Church in Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.) (Finnish speaking)
Mission Covenant Church (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.) (Swedish speaking)
Anglican Church in Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
International Evangelical Church in Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Observer Churches
The Council may approve as Observer Churches Finnish Churches, Christian communities and ecumenical organizations. The observers have the right to attend and speak, but not to vote, in the General assembly.
The Council has five Observer Churches
The Seventh Day Adventist Church (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
The Finnish Speaking Baptist Union (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
The Society of Friends, The Quakers (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Swedish Speaking Pentecostal Mission (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.) in Finland
Partner Organisations
The Council may approve as Partner Organisation Christian registered associations and foundations which work for Christian unity. The Council has 29 Associate Partner Organisations:
Caritas Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Christian Student Missionary Association (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Christian Peace Movement (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Deaconess Foundation (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Filantropia (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Filoksenia (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Finn Church Aid (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
The Finnish Seamen’s Mission (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Finnish Bible Society (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Finnish Retreat Association (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Forum for Culture and Religion FOKUS (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Herättäjä-Yhdistys (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Kirkon alat (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Parikanniemisäätiö (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.) (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Logos Ministries of Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Media Mission the Messengers (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Missionary Association for Businessmen (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Mustard Seed Association (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Lasten ja Nuorten keskus (Young Church) (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
St Henry Pilgrimage Committee (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
Thomas Community (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
The National YMCA (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
The National YWCA (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
World Vision Finland (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
The Sections
monitor national as well as international discussions within their particular sphere of interest. They also arrange meetings and seminars, linked to current issues.
- The Sections are:
- Section for Education
- Section for Equality
- Youth Section
- Section for Theological Issues
- Section for Local Ecumenism
- Section for Social Issues
- Section of Finlandssvensk Ecumenism (Swedish-speaking)
Decision-making
On the top of the Council’s decision-making body is the General Assembly, which assembles twice a year. The decisions are made by the member Churches and Communities. The Executive Committee is elected by the General Assembly. The Chair of the Executive committee is also the Chair of FEC. The General Secretary of the Council is also elected by the General Assembly for five years’ period.
- The Chair (2019- ): Archbishop Tapio Luoma (Lutheran)
- The General Secretary (2022- ): Mayvor Wärn-Rancken (Methodist)
Contact
Office: Eteläranta 8,
Post Box 210
FI-00131 Helsinki
The email addresses are in the form: firstname.lastname(at)ekumenia.fi