Irja Askola
Irja Askola (born December 18, 1952 in Lappeenranta ) is a Finnish clergyman and the former Lutheran bishop of the Helsinki diocese in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland .
Life
After finishing school, Askola studied Protestant theology in Finland and obtained her master's degree in 1975. She then worked as an assistant for church sociology at the University of Helsinki . In 1988 she was ordained . From 1991 to 1999 she worked in Geneva as Executive Secretary of the Conference of European Churches , then at the Diaconal College. In 2004 she became theological advisor to the Bishop of Espoo Mikko Heikka .
Askola was elected to succeed Bishop Eero Huovinen in the diocese of Helsinki at the beginning of June 2010 . She was inducted into office in September, making her the first female bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. She retired in 2017; her successor is Teemu Laajasalo .
Askola was considered a liberal bishop. She advocated the blessing of same-sex couples , and in 2013 she ordained a homosexual couple for church service for the first time.
Web links
- Official website of Irja Askola (Finnish) (archived version on atrchive.org )
- Askola, Irja. In: Uppslagsverket Finland , accessed February 18, 2018 (Swedish)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Standard: First woman elected Evangelical Bishop in Finland
- ↑ Irja Askola is Finland's First Female Bishop .
- ↑ Lähetystyöhön siunattu homopari aiheutti eropiikin - conservatiiveja erosi kirkosta. In: Eroakirkosta.fi , June 11, 2013, accessed on February 18, 2018.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Askola, Irja |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Finnish clergyman, bishop of the Helsinki diocese |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 18th December 1952 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Lappeenranta , Finland |