Kari Mäkinen
| The Most Reverend Kari Mäkinen | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Turku and Finland | |
 Kari Mäkinen in 2013. | |
| Archdiocese | Turku |
| Installed | 6 June 2010 |
| Predecessor | Jukka Paarma |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
5 January 1955 Pori, Finland |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Denomination | Lutheran |
| Spouse | Eija Mäkinen |
Kari Mäkinen (born 5 January 1955 in Pori, Finland) is the archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. On 11 March 2010 he was elected the 14th Archbishop of Turku and Finland, and he was installed on 6 June 2010. His predecessor was Jukka Paarma. Previously Mäkinen served as vicar of Ulvila and since 2006 as Bishop of Turku.
History
He graduated as a Bachelor (today Master) of theology in 1979 and licentiate in 1987. After his thesis defence in 1989 he became a Doctor of Theology. He worked in the parishes of Roihuvuori and Lauttasaari, Helsinki in the years 1979-1984. After that he worked in the parishes of Länsi-Pori and Ulvila in 1989-1993. He also worked as a full-time researcher between 1984 and 1989. He was elected as the vicar of Ulvila in 1994, and remained in the position until 2005. During his years a vicar of Ulvila he simultaneously worked as assistant in the Archdiocese of Turku. He has also had several positions of trust in different organisations. In 2010 he was voted the Archbishop of Turku and Finland over his opponent on the second round of voting, Miikka Ruokanen. On 26 March 2013, he was the first Archbishop to voice public support for (civil) same-sex marriage.[1] However he has since moderated his stance.[2]
On 28 October 2014, when the Finnish Parliament narrowly approved a citizen's initiative to legalize same-sex marriages, Archbishop Kari posted on his Facebook page "I know how much this day means to the rainbow community, their loved ones and many others. I rejoice with my whole heart for them and with them".
In March 2016, Mäkinen promised that the church would protect refugees whose request for asylum was rejected by the Finnish immigration officials. Around thousand Finns resigned their church membership in the days following Mäkinen's statement.[3]
Personal
Archbishop Mäkinen is married to hospital chaplain Eija Mäkinen. They have four children (born 1981, 1984, 1988, 1988).
Publications
- Hämärässä kypsyy aamu. Helsinki: Kirjapaja, 1986. ISBN 951-621-648-X. (collection of poems)
- Unelma jälkikristillisestä kulttuurista ja uskonnosta. Tulenkantajien oppositio kansankirkollista arvomaailmaa vastaan 1924–1930. Helsinki: Suomen Kirkkohistoriallinen Seura, 1989. ISBN 951-902-173-6.
(doctoral dissertation)
References
- ↑ "Arkkipiispa tukee tasa-arvoista avioliittolakia" (in Finnish). MTV3. 2013-03-26. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
- ↑ http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2013032616832636_uu.shtml
- ↑ Eroakirkosta.fi - Uusinta: arkkipiispan pakolaispuheista taas eroaalto
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kari Mäkinen. |
- Turun arkkihiippakunnan kotisivu
- Arkkipiispa Kari Mäkinen | Evl.fi
- "Kari Mäkinen - the new Archbishop of Turku and Finland" (PDF). Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
| Religious titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jukka Paarma |
Archbishop of Turku and Finland 2010–present |
Incumbent |