“Close to people – near God”
In accordance with our motto, we aim to promote the growth of spiritual life and the love for one’s neighbour. We work together to make the Christian message available to all the inhabitants of Tampere.
We work with other organizations in the Tampere area and internationally as a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.The Federation of Tampere Evangelical Lutheran Parishes is comprised of five local parishes, four of which are Finnish and one Swedish-speaking. Together the parishes form an administrative and economic entity called the Federation of Tampere Evangelical Lutheran Parishes. There are a large number of activities and various communities within these parishes.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church makes itself seen and heard in Tampere. Roughly 70% of the inhabitants in the city - some 146 000 people - belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Many of the services provided by the parishes are centralised. Such services include child and youth work, special deaconal work, family counselling, membership registry, religious services at hospitals, information services and social work. The real estate and graveyard units are responsible for the maintenance of the churches and other premises owned by the parishes.
Administration
Local parishes are governed by the vicar together with the parish council. In the Federation of Parishes, the highest decisive power is wielded by the joint Church Council and the Church Board elected and appointed by the Council. Members of the Church Council and Board are elected in a parish election held every four years. All parish members over the age of 18 have the right to votein parish elections.