John Vikström

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John Edvin Vikström, (born 1931 October 1, in Kronoby, Finland) was the Archbishop of Turku and Finland from 1982 until 1998 and is now Archbishop emeritus of Finland. He was married to teacher Birgitta Vikström from 1957 until her death in 1994. His Grace found new love at old age and remarried recently. In his own words children are the most important thing in his life right now.

Archbishop Vikström

During Archbishop Vikström's term of office the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has carried out many reforms. The Church has been given a new Bible translation and a new hymnbook, the ordained ministry has been opened to women, church law has been reformed and liturgical reform has been undertaken. The Church of Finland has also been active ecumenically.

John Vikström was diagnosed with prostate cancer some years ago. After the immediate threat about prostate cancer has now declined, of which archbishop has spoken freely about in press, he has appeared to be very busy and visible at Finnish media.

While retired, he is still very active with building a dialogue between business and political world, as well as being a popular speaker. Archbishop emeritus Vikström has also publicly embraced the idea of a basic income as a solution to social exclusion. He said:

"In this way, even working a little would be possible and would make sense. The system would not push people into idleness and divide citizens into winners and losers as cruelly as is the case now. I look at the question from the point of view of human dignity. A basic income paid to everyone would be less humiliating than the present benefit system can sometimes become. Basic income would send every citizen the following encouraging and motivating message: 'You are important. You are not a burden, but a resource. You are important by being a human being for others. Whatever work you do, in whatever situations, whether or not you are paid to do it, you still contribute to building our society.'"

The priority of the archbishop is now being the chairman of Church's socioethical forum trying resolve problems in the status of the elderly and poor in Finland.

[edit] Theological merits

Helsinki University:
- Candidate of theology 1956.
Åbo Akademi:
- Licenciate of theology 1962
- Doctor of theology 1966 (subject of doctorate: Religion and culture)
Stipendiate of World Council of Churches in Tübingen, Germany 1956-1957.

Ordained 12.6.1956.

Ex officio position in Esbo Swedish parish in 1956.
Pastor of diaconia in Borgå diocese 1957-1961.
Assistant of systematic theology in Turku University 1963-1964, lecturer 1966-1970 in Åbo Akademi.
Associate professor of ethics and philosophy of religion in Åbo Akademi 1970.
Bishop of Borgå diocese 1970- 1982, Archbishop of Turku and Finland 1982-1998.

Honorary doctor:
- Leningrad Theological Academy 1985
- Budapests Lutheran Theological Academy 1987
Hallberg-prize 1967
Swedish Cultural Fund's prize 1981
Finland's White Rose -knighthood cross 1986
1st class cross of apostle and evangelist Mark 1989
Jordanian Independence -medal, 1st class 1993
Lambeth-cross 1994
Anders Chydenius-prize 1995
Swedish Finlands award in silver 1996
Finland's Communal Union award in gold 1997
Friends of Swedish folk school award 1998

[edit] Bibliography

Religion och kultur. Grundproblemet i G.G. Rosenqvists religiösa tänkande 1966
Religionssociologin i Finland 1967
Kyrka och revolution 1968
Kyrkan och kulturradikalismen 1968
Effekten av religiös fostran 1970
Tro i kris 1972
Fråga biskopen om tro 1980
Ihmisen usko 1982
Herdestaven 1982
Kuitenkin (Trots allt) 1983
Uusi rohkeus elää 1985
Kirjeen kääntöpiiri (Öppna svar) (with Eero Silvasti) 1987
Suuntaviittoja 1988
Myös maan päällä 1992
Reconciliation and Hope 1998.
At leva är att dö 2000 with Jörn Donner
Vapaus ja vakaumus 2003
Toivo ja elämä 2005