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| Aini Linjakumpu |
Theology free of abuse
Johanna Hurtig, an expert for the Church Council, and Aini Linjakumpu, a researcher of politics at the University of Lapland, published a report about the church and spiritual abuse (Kirkko ja hengellisen väkivallan ratkaisut) in December 2020. “It is crucial to increase awareness about this phenomenon and create shared practices for bearing responsibility. Victims need to be helped and we need to prevent the making of more victims. The Evangelical Lutheran Church is the largest spiritual operator in Finland, so it is the one that should create solutions.” The report emphasises this and presents solutions for eliminating spiritual abuse. The emphasis is on interfering with and preventing spiritual abuse as well as fixing damages.
“The church has wide-spread connections to other societal organisations which can be of use in preventing spiritual abuse. The nature and consequences of spiritual abuse are already well-known. There have however only been few practical solutions to the problem. This report seeks to respond to this need,” Aini Linjakumpu explains.
The 2021 Common Responsibility Campaign provides financial help for the elderly
Financial troubles caused by different issues afflict the elderly in Finland and abroad. The Common Responsibility Campaign in 2021 will help the elderly struggling with finances both in Finland and crisis areas in developing countries.
“Life can bring illness, unemployment and surprising turns. Illnesses and the pharmacy bills that come with them can drive someone into a cycle of debt. Loans taken out when being employed can suddenly be difficult to pay back if one is retired earlier than expected,” the manager of the campaign, Bishop Matti Repo reminds us.
Significant factors in poverty when retired can be that one has been outside the workforce, a stay-at-home mother, incapable of working, unemployed long-term or in low-income jobs – or a combination of these. Other factors include expensive housing, inherited disadvantage, mental health issues and many surprising events. In Finland, poverty in the elderly appears in different ways in different parts of the country. Interventions are also versatile.
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| Antti Härö, Sari Koski and Marja-Leena Kivilompolo. |
“I am a member of the church and congregation!”, part 1: the church is the choice of one who cares
According to research, the help the church provides is the most important reason for wanting to be a member of the church. The most important reasons for Finns to be members of the church are the church’s work with the elderly, disabled, poor and marginalised people. The church cares on your behalf and as a member you participate in doing good. The largest group of clients for the church’s food assistance is the low-income elderly.
When seeking financial help from the church’s diaconal work:
The diaconal worker of Rovaniemi parish is on-call from Monday to Friday from 9-10: 040 685 4920. You can also call the secretary in the diaconal office: 040 583 0966.
When the diaconal worker has heard the need for assistance, they may decide on the assistance immediately or depending on the need, may make a separate application for assistance to be sent onward.
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