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Fri, 22 Jan, 2016 12:05:31 AM FTimes – STT Report, Jan 22  File Photo – Lehtikuva. Membership in the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church dropped last year to less than 4 million.
The number of members stood at 3,999,800 people, according to a church bulletin. 72.8 percent of the Finnish population belong to the church.
However, the decline in the number of members slowed last year compared to the previous year.
Last year, membership numbers fell by 34,400 people, while in 2014, the church lost nearly 67,000 members.
More than 17,600 people joined the church last year, more than in 2014. 45,200 people resigned from the church, which was less than in the year before, when the church lost almost 80,000 members.
The church baptised 38,700 children under 1 year of age last year, fewer than in the previous year.
The church board permanent secretary Jukka Keskitalo pointed out that looking at the numbers it can be deduced that people are valuing their church membership.
"This is particularly evident now, when there is so much uncertainty in our society and throughout the world. A clear increase in church membership and a significant reduction in eh number of members who leave the church tells us this in plain language," Keskitalo said in a release.
According to the church, the figures are still being reviewed, and revised population figures and parish-specific information will be announced during sacristy services next week. More News
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Finland Times
| Monday, 29 April, 2024 |
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