Pekka Nummela

UNIVERSITY AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CHAPLAINCY IN THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF FINLAND

The parishes and parish unions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland employ 50 full-time university and vocational education chaplains. They are complemented by four deacons and two church musicians. There are 14 university chaplains. Vocational education chaplains, who work in vocational colleges, polytechnics and adult education centres, number 25. In addition, there are chaplains with responsibilities in both vocational education and university work, most often on an extension campus. Full-time chaplains are supplemented by part-time workers.

There are 320 000 students engaged in tertiary level academic studies, of whom 176 000 are in universities and 144 000 in polytechnics. There are 20 universities and 31 polytechnics. On the higher secondary level there are 160 000 students in 173 vocational colleges, and 40 000 in 34 vocational adult education centres.

Parish unions and parishes began to establish permanent university worker positions in the late 1960s. Before this the responsibility for student chaplaincy services had lain with various Christian student organizations. They are still actively involved in leisure time services for university students and work together with the parish university chaplains. The first permanent vocational education chaplaincy positions were established in parish unions in the mid 1960s. The vocational education chaplaincy work branched off from the field of industrial chaplaincy, which had also included vocational schools and colleges. The chaplains operate in the educational environment not only for the benefit of the students, but also for the faculty and the staff as a whole. The premise for their work can be found in a theology of presence.

Educational chaplaincy in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland holds as its mission the promotion and support of the values education and all-round cultural development of students in educational institutions. Secondly, its goal is to promote the mental, spiritual and social well-being of the entire educational community, including both students and staff. Thirdly, it aims to promote the realization of human dignity, justice, environmental responsibility and love for one’s neighbour in educational communities and institutions, and in society at large.

Apart from the two positions in vocational education chaplaincy, local parishes provide the remuneration for college chaplaincy workers. Full-time college chaplaincy workers are expected to pass a 60 ECTS credit point (ca. 3 years) specialization programme, organized by the Church Council, for university and vocational educational chaplaincy. The course utilizes multiform learning, based on on-the-job learning and personal professional development within the educational environment, and includes personal occupational counselling consultations and mentoring.

The secretary for university chaplaincy and the secretary for vocational education chaplaincy are responsible for the development, coordination, educational needs, community relationships and influence on educational policy of the university and vocational educational work at the level of the church at large.

Secretary for University Education and Young Adults

Rev. Riku Suokas, riku.suokas@evl.fi, tel. + 358(0)9 1802430; +358 50 59993493

Secretary for Vocational Education

Rev. Pekka Nummela, pekka.nummela@evl.fi, tel. +358(0)9 1802342; +358 50 4645467

Office of the Church Council, Satamakatu 11, P.O.Box 185, FIN-00161 Helsinki