Tapio Juhani Luoma (born 15 June 1962) is a Finnish prelate, who has been the Archbishop of Turku and Finland and Primate of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland since 1 June 2018.
The Most Reverend Tapio Luoma | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Turku and Finland | |
 | |
| Church | Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland |
| Elected | 2018 |
| Installed | 1 June 2018 |
| Predecessor | Kari Mäkinen |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 1 February 2012 by Kari Mäkinen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 June 1962 |
| Nationality | Finnish |
Biography
editBorn in Kurikka, Luoma was ordained priest in 1987. He acquired a doctorate in theology in 1999 with his dissertation concerning the relationship between theology and natural sciences. Luoma's dissertation is titled Incarnation and Physics: Natural Science in the Theology of Thomas F. Torrance and is published by Oxford University Press in 2002.[1]
He has worked as a chaplain in Peräseinäjoki between 1987 and 1998, and in Ilmajoki between 1998 and 2002. In 2002 he moved to Seinäjoki as parish priest. He also served as Broadcaster of the Broadcasting Corporation between 1986 and 1987.
On 1 February 2012, he was consecrated as bishop of Espoo by Archbishop Kari Mäkinen and installed as bishop on 12 February in Espoo Cathedral.[2] He was elected as Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland on 1 March 2018, and assumed office in June 2018 upon the retirement of Kari Mäkinen.[3]
Luoma is a published author, having authored four books.[4]
Views
editEarlier, Luoma did not support the church's blessing of same-sex unions and regarded marriage as solely between a man and a woman.[5] The decision of the church assembly in May 2018 was also negative towards such unions.[6]
However, Luoma's stance has since changed.[7] He now hopes that the church would allow the blessing of same-sex couples for those priests who wish to perform it.[8] According to Luoma, the change is inevitable.[9] He has also supported a civic initiative banning conversion therapy.[10] He has pointed out that homosexuality has not been considered a sin in the church's official statements for decades.[11]
Luoma has also weighed in on the racism debate. According to him, racism is a sin in the Christian faith because human worth is not determined by mutual agreement among people but is given to individuals as beings created by God.[12]
In October 2023, Luoma criticized the government program of Orpo's administration on his website, particularly emphasizing the elevation of work to excessively high esteem. He also defended the church's right to take a stand on societal issues.[13]
Honours and awards
edit
Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Introduction". Turun ja Suomen Arkkipiispa. 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ "Piispa Tapio Luoma", Diocese of Espoo. Retrieved on 20 August 2017.
- ^ "Tapio Luoma elected new Archbishop". YLE News. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ "Tapio Luoma". Minerva Kustannus Oy (in Finnish). 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ "Konservatiivisempi Tapio Luoma on uusi arkkipiispa – torjuu homoliitot". Uusi Suomi (in Finnish). 1 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ "Kirkko ei ala vihkiä samaa sukupuolta olevia pareja, päätti kirkolliskokous". Kaleva (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ "Arkkipiispa on huolestunut mielipiteiden kärjistymisestä: "Olisi tylsää, jos vain yksi lintulaji livertäisi"". www.apu.fi. 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ Lauhio, Eveliina (2022-08-05). "Arkkipiispa Tapio Luoma: "Olisi hirvittävää olla tässä virassa sellaisella ajatusmaailmalla, joka minulla oli nuorempana"". Eeva.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ Karkkola, Minna (2024-03-13). ""Tuntui vieraalta" – Arkkipiispa Tapio Luoman kanta homoliitoista muuttui, toivoo nyt kirkon virallista linjausta". Uusi Suomi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ Kotimaa (2021-08-05). "37 kirkolliskokousedustajaa, joukossa viisi piispaa, antaa tukensa kansalaisaloitteelle eheytyshoitojen kieltämiseksi – Katso nimet". Kotimaa (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ Lehtovirta, Maija (2021-08-04). "SK: Arkkipiispa Luoma kannattaa kirkon avioliittokäsitykseen mallia, joka olisi varovainen kompromissi konservatiivien ja liberaalien välillä – "Tämä on ainoa malli, joka voisi olla mahdollinen"". Suomenmaa.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ "HS Turku | Suomessa rehottaa "samalla mitalla maksaminen", sanoo Tapio Luoma – Arkkipiispa ottaa nyt kantaa rasismiin". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ "Arkkipiispa arvostelee voimakkaasti hallitusohjelmaa ja puolustaa kirkon oikeutta yhteiskunnallisiin kannanottoihin". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ "06.12.2023 Itsenäisyyspäivä – Självständighetsdagen 06.12.2023 - Ritarikunnat" (in Finnish). 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2024-02-17.