A Lutheran community in the far north works with young people and serves the world
The Lutheran World Information Centre
At only 29 years of age, Þuríður Björg Wíum Árnadóttir is one of the youngest Lutheran pastors serving in one of the least populated and most isolated remote northern regions. She lives in the small town of Vopnafjörður, located on a rocky peninsula on the north-eastern coast of Iceland, an eight-hour drive from the capital, Reykjavik.
She is convinced that the church in her country has a bright future. The church continues to serve people regardless of their background, and in Iceland religious traditions are still deeply ingrained in the sense of national identity. She talks about her journey of faith and about what it means for young people in Iceland today to be a Lutheran.
Sketch out church life in your congregation
I live in a very small town with around 700 inhabitants, around 500 of whom belong to our congregation; the situation is similar elsewhere in the country. Sunday services here are held every other week, and on average around 70 people attend them regularly. Youth work is a significant part of my work, and around 95% of pupils come to church to take part in it. The children are very open, and some say they do not believe in God but want to come to church; we welcome everyone, and so they feel at home. I remember one day when I was at work and felt hungry. Coming into the kitchen, I looked for a snack, but found an empty fridge. I wanted to be angry with the children, but then I decided I shouldn’t; it is good that they feel at home here and that they know the church will be open to them, whatever their needs may be in the future.
What does it mean to be a Lutheran in Iceland today?
That is a good question, and I am not absolutely sure that I know what it means to people. I think for us it is part of our nationality. For most of us, being a Lutheran is simply being what we have been for centuries, so I try to teach them what it means today and what role we Lutherans have, not only in Iceland, but in the world.
Tell us about your path to ordination – did you grow up with the wish to be a pastor?
Not at all. Growing up in this town, I went to church at Christmas and Easter, but there was not much going on there for children and I was not from a devout family. I always knew I wanted to work with people, so I went to university to study social work, but I felt that something was missing, and I ended up in the theology department. I had not planned to become a pastor, but I got to know the church while studying and saw both its importance and how lovely it is, how it touches so many aspects of our lives. I come from a very musical family, I played the flute and learned to sing, and I also like to write and read, and all of this came together in me. I was ordained in November 2017.
Here you are the only pastor, serving three small congregations – does this not seem to you a daunting and sometimes lonely task at your age?
It can be, because this is a very isolated place, a few hours away from the nearest town. Social media, of course, help, because I cannot get away from here too often. I am always at work, and I have only one weekend a month free. But the fact that I am a member of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council helps me a great deal; it is my way of connecting with the world.
Where do you draw the strength to cope with the difficulties you encounter?
I would say both from colleagues and through prayer. My family is here, and everyone knows one another, which is both a benefit and not! But my congregation is missing one age group, because in my town almost everyone leaves for college after school, so we do not have very many people aged between 16 and 20.
Does this not make it difficult to keep young people in contact with the congregation?
Most of the children are baptised, and a large proportion are confirmed. I think it stays with them, and when they encounter difficulties, it can help them. But some get more involved; for example, in my congregation there is a 16-year-old girl who is now an observer at our synod. The younger children are very active and love the church. Once a year we have a friendship week, where they focus on doing good deeds for their neighbours, helping out in local shops or hugging people and putting up inspiring messages around the town. This is one way to teach them what it means to be a Lutheran.
Icelandic society is changing rapidly – from the traditional way of life in your remote region to a more secular urban environment. What are the greatest challenges that the church faces in the wider context?
Everything has changed a great deal, including the way people talk about religion. Humanist [atheist – ed. note] groups are growing larger, but this does not affect the need for our ministry, because almost all weddings and funerals still take place in the church. The ELCI (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland) is the state church, and so around 70% of people still belong to it, but the number of our members is falling, just as everywhere in the Scandinavian context. We nevertheless continue to serve everyone and never ask people whether they belong to the church or not. The church is closely connected with the people and society, so I think the future is bright.
Do many people belong to other churches or religious communities?
In my town there are many who belong to the Catholic Church, and we have a Pentecostal congregation, whose leaders I meet every week, and we have a good relationship. The ELCI has a pastor who works on immigration and works with all the refugees who arrive, and really helps people. I would say the church is very open and Christian traditions are still part of our culture. The government has just changed the rules about Christian holidays, so now bingo may be played on religious holidays, which was previously forbidden.
Are climate change also a significant problem for you? Yes, for the church it is a decisive priority, and so we try to find practical ways to express our commitment to addressing it. Our bishop drives an electric car, and we recycle a great deal, but we also preach about how important it is not to turn God’s creation into a commodity. It is very easy to talk about it, because we know about the changes, our glaciers are melting and it is getting warmer.You took part in the LWF Council in June – what can you take home with you after this meeting?We can learn a great deal from other churches, especially in the south, where they are growing, while we are diminishing. This is especially important for those of us who are isolated – to be in contact with the world, so being part of what LWF World Service does is, for us, a way to help and serve others. Vopnafjörður, Iceland / Geneva 02.08.2019. Source: Lutheran World newsPhoto: LWF / Albin Hillert