08.03.2024
Faroe Islands Visit to Explore Closer Relations with Porvoo Communion
Archbishop Michael Jackson visited the Faroe Islands this week with his Porvoo Co–Chair, the Rt Revd Dr Matti Repo, Bishop of Tampere and Lutheran Co–Secretary, the Revd Thorsten Rorbaek. Here he writes of the visit.
The Church of the Faroe Islands has a long historical association with the Danish Church along with very cordial relations. Both of them are Lutheran in their confessional affiliation. The Church of The Faroe Islands is independent of the Danish Church since 2007 and now wishes actively to explore becoming a signatory of The Porvoo Agreement. In order to facilitate this, the Archbishop of Dublin and the Bishop of Tampere, The Right Reverend Dr Matti Repo, along with The Reverend Thorsten Rorbaek, Lutheran co–secretary, visited The Faroes for three days to facilitate this development.
The Church of The Faroe Islands comprises 78% of a population of 55,000 people. Roughly 10,000 people work in the fishing industry, with Faroese Atlantic salmon being world famous. Sheep farming is ubiquitous. Almost all of the islands are interconnected by underwater tunnels. There are 61 small parishes, in some cases four churches being served by one pastor and services otherwise being conducted by a Parish Clerk akin to our Parish Reader system. There is one bishop.
The three days comprised visiting parishes, pastors and people; this enabled us to get a sense of the church on the ground and what daily discipleship is like in a unique ecclesiastical community. In this, we were facilitated and hosted throughout by the dean of the cathedral. We also worshipped with the clergy who came to Torshaven to meet us. The archbishop preached and lead an interactive seminar, Dr Repo gave a lecture on the origins of The Porvoo Agreement. Dr Rorbaek spoke on how and why the Danish Church came to sign The Porvoo Agreement.
Our hope is that our friendly and fruitful engagement will result in closer co–operation across our churches.
The Most Reverend Dr Michael Jackson
You can read the Archbishop’s sermon here.
