Rev. Veli-Matti Hynninen - Vicar, rural dean Veli-Matti Hynninen, 57 Tel +358-400-214-971 - Has worked as a priest in the parishes of Kulosaari and Kallio in Helsinki and in the parish of Loviisa for 35 years - Married to a dentist Camilla Hynninen (46)Two student sons: Matti (27) and Antti (25) - Hobbies include literature, writing, international correspondence, work in the Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni and winter swimming in the sea PERSONAL BACKGROUND I was born in Enonkoski, Finland in 1944. As a son of a teacher, I grew up in school environment. When I was 13-years old (1957) I founded a sports club. I was interested in the parish youth activities and organised clubs, camps and other activities for other children of my age. I went to school in the town of Savonlinna. During my school years my activities included acting as the chairman of the Savonlinna high school branch of Teinikilta (a Christian youth organisation) and working two summers as a community youth activity and sports counsellor. During my national service I attended the reserve officer training course (RUK 115) and the army chaplain course. The rest of my service I worked as a chaplain in units near the town of Mikkeli. I began my studies in the Department of Theology in the 0University of Helsinki in 1965.I began my congregational work in the parish of Kulosaari in Helsinki in 1966 as a youth counsellor. For a period of time I worked as a notary in the Helsinki cathedral chapter. After I was ordained in 1972 I worked as a youth priest and as a teacher of religion in a school in Kulosaari, Helsinki. From 1978 to 1980 I supervised parish social work as the curate of the parish of Kallio, Helsinki. CHALLENGES OF TWENTY YEARS AS A VICAR I have worked my 20 years as a vicar in the town of Loviisa. It is an urban parish with lots of traditions, innovative experimenting and lots of enthusiasm. During this time I have also acted as the chairman for the bilingual association of parishes Loviisa is part of. For the last six years I have been the rural dean for Porvoo region and familiarised myself with the various parishes of the eastern Uusimaa, often officiating services in them. During my years as the priest the town of Loviisa and its parish have internationalised. We cherish our close ties with our sister parishes in Csömör (Hungary), Meldorf (Germany), Haapsalu (Estonia) and Kolpana (Ingermanland). In addition to maintaining relations with Finno-Ugric people I have had the chance to meet people of many different nationalities and cultures as the secretary general of the Loviisa Peace forum. I have continued my studies after my MA in theology. These include history of the church, ecumenical studies, dogmatism, practical theology and social sciences. My thesis deals with communication within the church hierarchy. I have served the church in various positions of trust, these include acting as the vice-chairman and an initiator of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran monastery in Enonkoski. I have been a member of the governing bodies of the Kirkon rauhan- ja ihmisoikeuskysymysten neuvottelukunta (RIO, the Finnish church committee for peace and human rights issues), The Christian Association for Boys and Girls in Finland (Suomen Poikien ja Tyttöjen Keskus) and Herättäjäyhdistys (a Finnish revivalist union). I have also been a member of many Church steering and planning committees. The synod of rural deans and liturgy reformation have also provided me with challenging tasks. I have taken part in the planning seminars of ecumenical talks between the Finnish Evangelic Lutheran church and the Russian Orthodox church. I have also familiarised myself with the Anglican and Catholic churches in various assignments. During my chairmanship of the music and liturgy committee of the Helsinki diocese (1992-1996) I had a better than usual chance to familiarise myself with the challenges these issues can provide.I have also done work in the social field. I have received refreshing new ideas for my work in the parish from my work as an observer in the CSCE and a member and a secretary of the board of the Paasikivi-society. I am the chairman and founder of the Bay of Finland chapter of the e |
