Liminka congregation members file church complaint over chaplain selection process

A group of parishioners in Liminka, northern Finland, has filed a formal church complaint against the local parish council’s decision to appoint a chaplain, alleging procedural violations in the selection process, Yle reports.

The Liminka parish council, dominated by a conservative Laestadian majority, selected pastor Mikko Kinnunen—a member of the same revivalist movement—for the permanent chaplain position by a single vote on 24 February. The other candidate, acting parish pastor Minna Lainimo, had been deemed the most qualified by both the Diocese of Oulu’s chapter and parish rector Eeva Mertaniemi, based on experience and education.

Mikko Nissinen, the contact person for the complaint, stated that the legal challenge targets the council’s decision-making process rather than the individuals involved. “Decisions must be fair and properly justified. Our view is that the obligation to provide reasoning was not fulfilled,” Nissinen said. He added that over 100 congregants, representing diverse backgrounds, signed the complaint, which was submitted to the Northern Finland Administrative Court.

Nissinen emphasised that the complaint is not politically motivated but an exercise of the legal recourse available to parish members.