You are warmly invited to take part in the service and events marking the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Latvian Lutheran women ministers!
50 years ago, in 1975, the archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (LELB), Jānis Matulis, ordained the ministers Helēna Valpētere, Berta Strože and Vaira Bitēna in Riga. Although under Jānis Vanags, elected archbishop of the LELB in 1993, this practice was discontinued, the ordination of Latvian women ministers abroad was continued by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia Abroad (LELBP), where the first woman minister – Agnese Pone – was ordained as early as 1974. The ministry of Latvian women theologians as ministers in the Churches of other countries also began more than 50 years ago – with the ordination of Brigita Vēvere in 1974 in the Church of Sweden. The total number of ordained Latvian Lutheran women ministers over these 50 years has exceeded 50.
30 years ago, in 1995, the Association of Latvian Lutheran Women Theologians was formed. For 30 years now the association has served to strengthen fellowship among theologians, to educate its members, and to cultivate contacts with women theologians abroad. The aims of the association are to strengthen and support the professional activity of women theologians in church and society, to inform the public about the association’s work and about women’s role in the church, thereby fostering understanding of women’s rights and gender equality issues in church and society. The association cooperates with the Lutheran World Federation, as well as with Lutheran and ecumenical organizations all over the world.
The anniversary events will take place in Riga from September 5 to 7, 2025:
Friday, September 5
14.00–17.00 Academic conference “Called and Uncovered: Women, Church, Society” at the Media Hub premises, Merķeļa iela 21. Half an hour before the start of the conference, coffee and informal getting-acquainted are planned. The working language of the conference is English.
20.00 Screening of the documentary film “Svārstības” (Oscillations) at the K. Suns cinema (Elizabetes iela 83/85, Riga); to be followed by a discussion with the director Kristīne Briede and two of the main protagonists: the evangelist Agrita Staško and the minister Dr. Dace Balode.
Saturday, September 6
12.00 “Gaviļu gads! Jubilee year!” anniversary service at the church of the Riga Luther congregation (Torņakalna iela 5, Riga).
13.30 Reception at the Riga Luther congregation house
Sunday, September 7
An opportunity to attend services led by women ministers and evangelists.
Please register your participation by August 25 of this year, using this link: https://forms.gle/Eqdg8LjzxvtQ8B146
This will help us ensure the event runs more smoothly.