Tapio Luoma
{{short description|Finnish prelate (born 1962)}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Bishop
| honorific-prefix = The Most Reverend
| name = Tapio Luoma
| honorific-suffix =
| title = Archbishop of Turku and Finland
| image = Espoon hiippakunnan piispa Tapio Luoma.jpg
| image_size = 230px
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| caption = Luoma in 2013
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| church = Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
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| elected = 2018
| term_start = 1 June 2018
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| predecessor = Kari Mäkinen
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| consecration = 1 February 2012
| consecrated_by = Kari Mäkinen
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|06|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kurikka, Finland
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| nationality = Finnish
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Tapio Juhani Luoma (born 15 June 1962) is a Finnish prelate, who has been the Archbishop of Turku and Finland and Primate of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland since 1 June 2018.
Biography
Born in Kurikka, Luoma was ordained priest in 1987. He acquired a doctorate in theology in 1999 with his dissertation concerning the relationship between theology and natural sciences. Luoma's dissertation is titled Incarnation and Physics: Natural Science in the Theology of Thomas F. Torrance and is published by Oxford University Press in 2002.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arkkipiispa.fi/en/archbishop-tapio-luoma/introduction/|title=Introduction|last=|first=|date=2020|website=Turun ja Suomen Arkkipiispa|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=15 March 2020}}
He has worked as a chaplain in Peräseinäjoki between 1987 and 1998, and in Ilmajoki between 1998 and 2002. In 2002, he moved to Seinäjoki as parish priest. He also served as Broadcaster of the Broadcasting Corporation between 1986 and 1987.
On 1 February 2012, he was consecrated as bishop of Espoo by Archbishop Kari Mäkinen and installed as bishop on 12 February in Espoo Cathedral.[http://espoonhiippakunta.evl.fi/piispa/ "Piispa Tapio Luoma"], Diocese of Espoo. Retrieved on 20 August 2017. He was elected as Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland on 1 March 2018, and assumed office in June 2018 upon the retirement of Kari Mäkinen.{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/tapio_luoma_elected_new_archbishop/10098024|title=Tapio Luoma elected new Archbishop|last=|first=|date=1 March 2018|website=YLE News|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=15 March 2020}}
Luoma is a published author, having authored four books.{{Cite web|url=https://minervakustannus.fi/haku/index.php?q=Tapio+Luoma|title=Tapio Luoma|last=|first=|date=2020|website=Minerva Kustannus Oy|language=fi|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=15 March 2020}}
Views
Earlier, Luoma did not support the church's blessing of same-sex unions and regarded marriage as solely between a man and a woman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uusisuomi.fi/uutiset/konservatiivisempi-tapio-luoma-on-uusi-arkkipiispa-torjuu-homoliitot/68938316-b9ca-3ec8-a006-fc3529606c4f|title=Konservatiivisempi Tapio Luoma on uusi arkkipiispa – torjuu homoliitot|last=|first=|date=1 March 2020|website=Uusi Suomi|language=fi|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=15 March 2020}} The decision of the church assembly in May 2018 was also negative towards such unions.{{Cite web |title=Kirkko ei ala vihkiä samaa sukupuolta olevia pareja, päätti kirkolliskokous |url=https://www.kaleva.fi/kirkko-ei-ala-vihkia-samaa-sukupuolta-olevia-parej/1814512 |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Kaleva |language=fi}}
However, Luoma's stance has since changed.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-21 |title=Arkkipiispa on huolestunut mielipiteiden kärjistymisestä: "Olisi tylsää, jos vain yksi lintulaji livertäisi" |url=https://www.apu.fi/artikkelit/arkkipiispa-tapio-luoma-on-huolestunut-mielipiteiden-karjistymisesta |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=www.apu.fi}} He now hopes that the church would allow the blessing of same-sex couples for those priests who wish to perform it.{{Cite web |last=Lauhio |first=Eveliina |date=2022-08-05 |title=Arkkipiispa Tapio Luoma: "Olisi hirvittävää olla tässä virassa sellaisella ajatusmaailmalla, joka minulla oli nuorempana" |url=https://www.eeva.fi/jutut/arkkipiispa-tapio-luoma |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Eeva.fi |language=fi}} According to Luoma, the change is inevitable.{{Cite web |last=Karkkola |first=Minna |date=2024-03-13 |title="Tuntui vieraalta" – Arkkipiispa Tapio Luoman kanta homoliitoista muuttui, toivoo nyt kirkon virallista linjausta |url=https://www.uusisuomi.fi/uutiset/tuntui-vieraalta-arkkipiispa-tapio-luoman-kanta-homoliitoista-muuttui-toivoo-nyt-kirkon-virallista-linjausta/f2f688e1-a71c-4ad8-8826-3bc9bdf53309 |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Uusi Suomi |language=fi}} He has also supported a civic initiative banning conversion therapy.{{Cite web |last=Kotimaa |date=2021-08-05 |title=37 kirkolliskokousedustajaa, joukossa viisi piispaa, antaa tukensa kansalaisaloitteelle eheytyshoitojen kieltämiseksi – Katso nimet |url=https://www.kotimaa.fi/37-kirkolliskokousedustajaa-joukossa-viisi-piispaa-antaa-tukensa-kansalaisaloitteelle-eheytyshoitojen-kieltamiseksi-katso-nimet/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Kotimaa |language=fi}} He has pointed out that homosexuality has not been considered a sin in the church's official statements for decades.{{Cite web |last=Lehtovirta |first=Maija |date=2021-08-04 |title=SK: Arkkipiispa Luoma kannattaa kirkon avioliittokäsitykseen mallia, joka olisi varovainen kompromissi konservatiivien ja liberaalien välillä – "Tämä on ainoa malli, joka voisi olla mahdollinen" |url=https://www.suomenmaa.fi/uutiset/sk-arkkipiispa-luoma-kannattaa-kirkon-avioliittokasitykseen-mallia-joka-olisi-varovainen-kompromissi-konservatiivien-ja-liberaalien-valilla-tama-on-ainoa-malli-joka-voisi-olla-mahdollin/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Suomenmaa.fi |language=fi}}
Luoma has also weighed in on the racism debate. According to him, racism is a sin in the Christian faith because human worth is not determined by mutual agreement among people but is given to individuals as beings created by God.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-05 |title=HS Turku {{!}} Suomessa rehottaa "samalla mitalla maksaminen", sanoo Tapio Luoma – Arkkipiispa ottaa nyt kantaa rasismiin |url=https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/turku/art-2000009757516.html |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}
In October 2023, Luoma criticized the government program of Orpo's administration on his website, particularly emphasizing the elevation of work to excessively high esteem. He also defended the church's right to take a stand on societal issues.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-04 |title=Arkkipiispa arvostelee voimakkaasti hallitusohjelmaa ja puolustaa kirkon oikeutta yhteiskunnallisiin kannanottoihin |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20053475 |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}
Honours and awards
- 55x55px Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-01 |title=06.12.2023 Itsenäisyyspäivä – Självständighetsdagen 06.12.2023 - Ritarikunnat |url=https://ritarikunnat.fi/ritarikunnat/annetut-kunniamerkit/vuonna-2023-annetut-kunniamerkit-forlanade-utmarkelsetecken-2023/06-12-2023-itsenaisyyspaiva-sjalvstandighetsdagen-06-12-2023/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |language=fi}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|luth}}
{{s-bef|before=Kari Mäkinen}}
{{s-ttl|title=Archbishop of Turku and Finland|years= 2018 – present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-bef|before=Mikko Heikka}}
{{s-ttl|title= Bishop of Espoo|years= 2012 – 2018}}
{{s-aft|after= Kaisamari Hintikka}}
{{s-end}}
{{Archbishops of Turku}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Luoma, Tapio}}
Category:Lutheran archbishops and bishops of Turku