The book “The Pastor’s Yesterday” by Jāna Jēruma-Grīnberga, pastor and bishop emerita of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, has been released. On 8 June 2022 at 18:00, the Association of Latvian Lutheran Women Theologians invites you to the book launch celebration in Riga, at St. Saviour’s Church, Anglikāņu iela 2.
It tells of the history and journeys of the Jērums family and of Jāna Jēruma-Grīnberga’s path into the office of pastor, encompassing important periods in the history of both Latvia and Latvians, as well as of the Lutheran church.
As the author notes in the book’s introduction: “This book is dedicated to all of you – to everyone who has joined hands in this Latvian procession through camps, houses, and dance halls, leaving Latvia and returning again. For our dance must not be forgotten. It is part of the unending polonaise of the Latvian people, which has not been cut short by wars, nor occupation, nor the fat years, nor the lean ones.”
Jāna Jēruma-Grīnberga is the first woman bishop in the history of England, and for many years she also served in Riga, at St. Saviour’s Anglican Church. She was born in London and raised in a Latvian family. Her father – the composer and conductor Alberts Jērums; her mother – Lauma, née Grigore, the daughter of the founder of the Christ congregation. Jāna first studied biochemistry at the University of London, then completed nursing school and worked both in intensive care and in general practice. In 1993 she enrolled in the Pastoral Theology course at Oak Hill College.
After her ordination in the autumn of 1997, she first worked in the London Latvian Evangelical Lutheran congregation, later in the St. Anne and Agnes congregation of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, while also carrying out the duties of dean. In 2008 she was elected bishop of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, thereby becoming the first woman bishop in the history of England. On 17 January 2009, the consecration ceremony for the bishop took place.
The book “The Pastor’s Yesterday” also includes the stories of Jāna Jēruma-Grīnberga’s companions and relatives about the pastor, compiled by the pastor’s sister – the writer Inga Jēruma. The book was published by the Association of Latvian Lutheran Women Theologians, and its publication is financially supported by Egils Gulbis. Artist: Rauls Liepiņš.