Helsinki, August 27, 2020
ort.fi
At the beginning of the summer, the Finnish Parliament adopted its fourth supplementary budget for 2020, including resources to support parish diaconal services in emergency situations and in this period of recovery from the coronavirus epidemic.
On August 5, the Finnish Orthodox Church appealed to the Ministry of Education and Culture with a presentation of its humanitarian diaconal activities and other new forms of ministry that could be developed with state support. In response, the Ministry decided to allocate $77,743 (65,688 euros) for the organization and development of various activities, reports the site of the Finnish Church.
Financial assistance will be distributed by the Church to deaneries based on their population and plans drawn up by the deaneries.
When planning a diaconal service, it is necessary to take into accounts its material, spiritual, and social aspects, the Church press service writes. It is also necessary to assess ongoing humanitarian work in order to identify how to address local needs, such as distributing humanitarian aid, supporting families with small children, organizing the delivery of such assistance, helping young people on the verge of losing touch with society, etc.
