Central Pori Church officiates weddings for same-sex couples in Finland

The Central Pori Church will now officiate weddings for same-sex couples. This decision was made by the church council on Tuesday, following a proposal from the Satakunta Setä organization. The initiative aimed to open the church’s facilities to all members equally, with the goal of dismantling discriminatory practices and ensuring equal treatment for all church members. The proposal was approved by a vote of 8 to 6.

Heimo Hietanen, the pastor of Central Pori Church, expressed his happiness regarding this significant decision for the entire Satakunta region. “Central Pori Church is now the first church in Satakunta to officiate weddings for same-sex couples,” he said. Hietanen highlighted that the strategy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland emphasizes the importance of human dignity, stating, “Every person’s dignity is inviolable, and the church defends it.”

The church’s decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conversation about equality and inclusivity within religious institutions in Finland.