The Joint Parish Council 2023–2026

The Joint Council of Parishes is the highest decision-making body in the Espoo Church.

Chairman Juhana Malme
Vice-chairman Seppo Särkiniemi
Secretary Sari Anetjärvi

There are 61 members in the council representing the local parishes:

  • The Swedish Parish in Espoo  7
  • Espoonlahti Parish          10
  • Cathedral Parish             16
  • Leppävaara Parish           9
  • Olari Parish                     10
  • Tapiola Parish                  9

The Joint Parish Council

  • approves the budget and the financial statement and determines the level of church tax
  • establishes new positions
  • makes decisions about building projects or purchases of buildings or land

The resolutions of the Joint Parish Council are prepared and carried out by the Joint Parish Board.

"The goal of the Espoo parishes is to kindle and cherish faith and love in people's hearts and to create prerequisites for living as a Christian."

Mission statement of the Espoo parishes

 

The Joint Parish Board 2023–2026

The Joint Parish Board is the executive body governing the administration in the Espoo Church. Its fourteen members are elected by the Joint Parish Council for a period of two years.  

Chairman Kalervo Salo
Vice-chairman Päivi Raunu
Secretary Outi Hakio

The Joint Council of Parishes is the highest decision-making body in the Espoo parishes.
The Joint Council of Parishes is the highest decision-making body in the Espoo parishes.

The Parish Board

Each parish is governed by a Parish Board, the members of which are elected by the members of the parish in local elections every four years. 

The tasks of the Parish Board are to

  • manage the affairs of the parish
  • promote the spiritual life of the parish
  • decide on the use of parish funds 
  • give statements concerning matters to be decided by the Joint Parish Council
  • decide on the recruitment of church staff with the exception of the vicar
  • decide on the premises to be rented for parish activities
  • decide together with the vicar on the use of the parish church.