Björn Håkan Vikström (born 17 July 1963) is a Finnish prelate who served as Bishop of Borgå between 2009 and 2019.
The Right Reverend Björn Vikström | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Borgå | |
 | |
| Church | Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland |
| Diocese | Borgå |
| Elected | 2009 |
| In office | 2009–2019 |
| Predecessor | Gustav Björkstrand |
| Successor | Bo-Göran Åstrand |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1988 |
| Consecration | 29 November 2009 by Jukka Paarma |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 July 1963 |
| Alma mater | Åbo Akademi University |
Biography
editVikström was born on 17 July 1963 in Turku, Finland. He was ordained a priest in 1988, after which he has served as a pastor in Hanko and in the Matteus Church of Helsinki, as well as a chaplain for 15 years in the parish of Kimito and Västanfjärd. He acquired his doctorate in theology in 2000 from Åbo Akademi University.[1]
Bishop
editThe election for the new Bishop of Borgå was characterized as a competition between the Conservatives and the Liberals, where the Liberals were clearly victorious. Vikström's liberal Bible-mindedness was an old problem, and the discussion particularly concerned his acceptance of homosexual persons. Vikström's positive stance towards homosexuality raised resistance especially in the Swedish-speaking Ostrobothnia, where, according to one view, "many do not experience Vikström as a spiritual leader." Nonetheless, he won the 2009 bishop's election in the second round against Sixten Ekstrand in 250-199 votes. Vikström was ordained a bishop on 29 November 2009.[2] He is the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Porvoo. Vikström was nominated for Archbishop of Turku in 2018, but lost to Tapio Luoma.[3]
References
edit- ↑ Paavilainen, Ulla, ed. (2014). Kuka kukin on: Henkilötietoja nykypolven suomalaisista 2015 [Who’s Who in Finland, 2015] (in Finnish). Helsinki: Otava. p. 1007. ISBN 978-951-1-28228-0.
- ↑ "Björn Vikström vihittiin Porvoon piispaksi", Yle, 29 November 2009. Retrieved on 26 August 2018.
- ↑ "Tapio Luoma on seuraava arkkipiispa", Yle, 1 March 2018. Retrieved on 26 August 2018.
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