Council of Europe24.5.2007

Co-ordinator for Intercultural Dialogue

67075 Strasbourg

France

Preparing the “White Paper on intercultural dialogue”

of the Council of Europe

The reply of the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland to the questionnaire addressed to religious communities

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland also endorses the joint reply made by the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches and the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe.

The vast majority (82, 4 %) of the Finnish population are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, which often is described as a majority folk church. The legal status of the Evangelical Lutheran Church is defined in the Constitution and in a separate Church Act. The Church has its internal autonomy and is not a state church, although there are both administrative and economic ties to and a long-term close relationship with the state. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland plays a both active and prominent role in the Finnish society and carries a special responsibility to serve the nation as a whole, working with children and young people, social work (diakonia), family counselling and international humanitarian activity. The work with people of immigrant background and intercultural issues are becoming increasingly important.

Under the Finnish Constitution everyone living in Finland has freedom of religion and conscience. The state is neutral with regard to religions and churches. The freedom of religion is enshrined in the Freedom of Religion Act of 2003, which is based on the concept of positive freedom of religion.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church also has an overall responsibility for burials. Parishes have a legal obligation to maintain public cemeteries and, if need be, to establish non-denominational burial grounds. According to the Burial Act, which came into force 2004, parish cemeteries function as public graveyards, and everyone has the right to be buried in the graveyard of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation of their home town. From this year onwards, it will also be possible to buy a burial place in special non-denominational graveyards. Graveyards may also be maintained by Orthodox congregations, local authorities and, when authorised by a provincial state office, also other organisations and foundations.

As for education, the Freedom of Religion Act confirms the individual’s right to religious education. Schools provide religious education in accordance with the religion of the majority of the pupils. Members of religious minorities also receive education according to their own religion if there is a group of at least three pupils wishing to participate. Non-members of religious communities are entitled to replace religious education with a subject called ethics and comparative religion.

The fundamental work of the Church is carried out in the 517 local parishes. The Church Council is the authority responsible for the Church’s common administration, economy and strategy. It maintains contacts with the public administration, prepares statements and participates on the public debate in various issues.

The overall policy vision on cultural diversity in democratic societies

  1. What is the overall vision of your religious community on the future of the multicultural society and the democratic management of cultural diversity?

Societies everywhere, including Finland, are becoming more multicultural. We would like to stress the positive aspects of cultural diversity. Our Church’s work on a national level is based on the Finnish democratic way of thinking and on our national legislation, promoting freedom of religion, human rights, non-discrimination and equality. In this respect, the Finnish Constitution and the Freedom of Religion Act, promoting positive freedom of religion, are of special importance. Regarding freedom of religion, we would like to stress the importance of the right to change religion or belief enshrined in article 18 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations and in article 9 in the European Convention on Human Rights.

The fundamental principles of love for one’s neighbour, equality, justice and the value of all human beings, being images of God, arise from the confession of the Church.

  1. In your community’s view, how important is the global context of cultural diversity for the situation in Europe

In today’s world, the global context is becoming increasingly important. Regarding intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, we maintain that the global context is of great importance. An ongoing dialogue between European countries and African and Asian countries is of special importance, as is a continuous dialogue with Islam on a worldwide basis.

3. Does your religious community impart cultural diversity? How do you deal with cultural diversity within your religious community?

Our Church would like to promote cultural diversity in a positive way. Our aim is to promote cultural diversity within the Church on all levels from parish and diocese to the national and ecumenical level (see further the reply to question 9).

The concept of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue

  1. Does your religious community use a specific concept (definition) of “intercultural dialogue”? How does it compare to the proposed definition contained in the “consultation document”?[1]

We do not have any specific concept of intercultural dialogue of our own, but find the definition proposed in the consultation document a rather good one. We would, however, like to stress the comprehensive character of the concept of intercultural dialogue, containing all activities that promote understanding and interaction between persons from different cultural and religious backgrounds. We would also underline the importance of the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue, maintaining that religion is an inseparable part of culture, and that cultural interaction is often a precondition for inter-religious dialogue. In our view, the words ‘world perception’ might be too vague and inexact, and would suggest a re-phrasing explicitly mentioning ‘values and ways of thinking’, as stated in the consultation document.

  1. In addition to the fundamental values of the Council of Europe, are there in your view other values that are important for the promotion of intercultural dialogue?

Regarding the promotion of intercultural dialogue, we would like to stress the need to include also the poor and the most vulnerable in our society in intercultural and inter-religious dialogue. Other fundamental values that are of importance in this respect are responsibility and love for one’s neighbour, solidarity, justice and freedom. The balance between rights and duties should also be reflected in the dialogue between cultures.

  1. Does your religious community place particular emphasis on one or several aspects of intercultural dialogue, such as non-formal education, gender equality, human rights protection or interreligious dialogue?

As a Church, we would obviously stress the importance of inter-religious dialogue, also emphasizing protection of human rights and gender equality.

  1. Has your religious community published any major statements, reports, research papers etc. on intercultural dialogue?

Not on intercultural dialogue per se, but a lot of different statements, reports etc. have over the years been issued in various questions relating to inter-religious dialogue, both by our Church and by the Finnish Ecumenical Council. One example is the guide ‘Orientating in the world of religions’ (Suunnista uskontojen maailmassa – dialogiopas seurakunnille), the aim of which is to promote inter-religious dialogue in local parishes, which was published in Finnish in 2001. Another example is ‘The Declaration of Espoo’, which was launched at the Cultural Forum in Espoo in November 2006.

Promoting cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion at international, national and local level

  1. What is the place of religious communities in a policy promoting intercultural dialogue? Does your religious community propose specific or innovative measures for the promotion of intercultural dialogue, or has it done so in the past?

As we maintain that religion is an important and inseparable part of culture, we find the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue to be of the utmost importance. Accordingly, churches and other religious communities could have a significant role in promoting intercultural dialogue, especially taking into account the contacts churches have to citizens, starting from grass-root level with members of local parishes. Churches do have a lot of expertise and long-term practical experience regarding intercultural and inter-religious dialogue on both local, national, ecumenical and international level.

Archbishop Jukka Paarma suggested in the opening of the Bishops´ Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland in February 2006 that Finland, where the co-existence of Churches and other religions has worked in an exemplary co-operative and peaceful manner, would consider bringing the drafting of a Charter of good practices for inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue to its agenda. This was also mentioned in the leaflet ‘Churches in Finland and the Finnish EU-Presidency 2006’ published by the Finnish Ecumenical Council, and brought up in various discussions during the Finnish EU-Presidency in the latter half of 2006.

  1. Which significance has the dialogue between religious communities? Is your religious community engaged in dialogue with other faith groups (interreligious dialogue)?

We maintain that the dialogue between religious communities and with other faith groups is of great importance, on both local, national and international level. Our Church is, since many years, involved in inter-religious dialogue in various ways and on many different levels.

On the local parish level and on diocesan level, a lot of inter-faith work is done, especially regarding work with migrants. Our Church’s work with migrants is human-oriented and based on the principles of love for one’s neighbour and equality. One aim is to promote a true dialogue. The work also includes training, education, providing information and awareness-raising at a general level.

All individuals are welcome to take part in this work that is being done in the local parishes and dioceses, regardless of whether they are members of our Church or any other church or religious community. They are also welcomed to take part in the confirmation classes.

In our Church’s work with migrants, special attention is paid to the wishes of the migrants themselves. One aim is to promote true involvement and participation of migrants in the spirit of togetherness, instead of just using migrants as an ‘extra’, for example in the form of music, food, or dance programmes. Within the Church, this can for instance mean that migrants are invited to preach or to assist in administering the Communion.

In many parishes, inter-cultural discussion groups meet on regular basis to reflect on various issues. One very popular form of activity is recreational camps involving migrants; each year, hundreds of these are arranged throughout Finland. Some are multicultural camps, and some are intended for a restricted target group, such as migrant women with children, migrant families, Afghani women or Somali men.

All these activities offer a possibility for spiritual and physical rest for the migrants, and local parishes can in this respect be described as places of anchorage for the migrants, who can truly be themselves without any pressure for integration or resettlement. The migrants have possibilities both for pastoral care and to engage in discussions about various issues together. They are also assisted in dealing with the authorities in different kinds of practical matters.

On national level, the Church Council is, since 30 years, engaged in inter-faith dialogue. In 1977, a Working Group for dialogue between Christians and Jews was established, and in 1988 a similar Working Group for dialogue between Christians and Muslims was founded. Both working groups are also engaged in inter-faith issues on a European and global level. In the last ten years, national dialogue meetings with Muslims have been arranged twice a year on a regular basis. All imams in the southern part of Finland are invited to these meetings, which alternately take place in a Church or in a mosque. The last meeting, which took place in May this year, focused on burial issues.

The Church Council also publishes material in various languages for use at a parish level.

The leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church in Finland meet, together with representatives for the Finnish Ecumenical Council and for the Jewish and Muslim Communities, on a regular basis twice year in order to discuss inter-faith issues. These meetings were initiated by President Tarja Halonen in the autumn of 2001 following the 9/11 incidents in USA. In these consultations, the religious leaders have stressed the significance of the perception of peace and reconciliation that is shared by the three monotheistic religions.

We would here like to stress the need for openness, tolerance, confidence and respect when meeting other religions and engaging in inter-religious dialogue. This interaction also calls for knowledge about one’s own religious identity and conviction. Inter-religious dialogue requires both long-term commitment and patience. Mutual understanding also requires a sharing of factual information in an open and confident atmosphere.

  1. In the view of your religious community, what are the biggest obstacles to intercultural dialogue?

One problem tends to be finding the right counterpart for dialogue, especially regarding Islam. However, for instance all imams from the southern part of Finland are engaged in the regular dialogue with the Church Council’ s Working Group on Islam as described above.

Another obstacle is, in our view, that a true dialogue between cultures and religions presupposes a willingness to listen to and learn from each other, showing tolerance and respect. Having respect for what is sacred for the other is in this respect especially important. This also requires knowledge of one’s own identity and conviction. In this respect, we would stress the importance of education, both regarding one’s own religion and other religions and beliefs. Interaction and meeting each other in the everyday life is also important.

Expectations towards the Council of Europe

  1. How can international organisations, such as the Council of Europe, support initiatives by religious communities for the promotion of human rights, cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, social cohesion and gender equality?

In our view, the Council of Europe could well support such initiatives by arranging meetings and offering fora for discussion and dialogue, and by inviting churches and other religious communities to participate in consultations such as the current one. Awareness-raising is also important. A more structured dialogue would also be appreciated.

  1. In the framework of initiatives previously taken by the Council of Europe, it has been proposed to organise a dialogue between the Council of Europe and the actors of religious life, dealing with the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue and referring to the values of the Council of Europe. To what extent would the organisation of such a dialogue meet the interests of your religious community, and which aims should this dialogue have?

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland would warmly welcome such a dialogue, enabling an open exchange of views regarding inter-religious dialogue and emphasizing the importance of the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue. In this respect, we would like to stress the importance of involving young people. An exchange of best practices would also in our view be important, motivating both Member States and churches to promote comprehensive policies and concrete strategies. Our Church would indeed be willing to engage in such a debate and dialogue, making good use of our national, international and ecumenical expertise and long-term practical experience in this respect.

The aim of such a dialogue would in our view be to strengthen intercultural and inter-religious dialogue based on respect, tolerance and mutual understanding, in order to remove misunderstandings and prejudices and to promote mutual understanding between different religious, cultural and ethnic groups. We believe that this can help preventing sudden conflicts and lead to a more tolerant, stable and secure society, both in Europe and in the rest of the world.

  1. How can the Council of Europe and the religious communities best cooperate in order to promote cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and human rights?

By arranging meetings and discussions and by exchanging best practices. One concrete proposal could be the drafting of a Charter of good practices for inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue.

Examples of good practice

Enclosed please find three examples of good practices from our Church.

[1] This definition has been included in the briefing paper sent to you along with this document. The Consultation paper can be found on the Council’s website: [CEC]