From September 5–7, Latvian women theologians, together with guests and foreign partners, celebrated two significant anniversaries – half a century of women’s ordination and thirty years of the theologians’ association. We felt solidarity and gained strength, encouragement, and affirmation for our ministry and our theological work. Ideas and inspiration for further cooperation emerged.
On August 23, 1975, in Riga, ELCL Archbishop Jānis Matulis ordained Helēna Valpētere, Berta Stroža, and Vaira Bitēna as pastors. A year earlier, on May 18, 1974, in Esslingen, the archbishop of the church in exile, Arnolds Lūsis, had already ordained Agnese Pone as the very first Latvian woman pastor. In 1995, in turn, the Latvian Lutheran Women Theologians’ Association (LLSTA) was founded in Riga, made up of women theologians born, educated, and living both in Latvia and abroad.
The conference on September 5 was led by Dr. Aļesja Lavrinoviča. I myself, Austra Reine, gave an overview of the history of women’s ordination in Latvia, as well as told how the theologians’ association came into being and what work its members have done. Rev. Dr. Dace Balode and Rev. Dr. Ģirts Rozners introduced us to their academic research on the views of present-day ELCL Lutheran pastors and laypeople regarding women’s place in the church and their attitude toward women’s ordination. Dr. Kristīna Ēce spoke about Latvian and Baltic German women missionaries who, more than a hundred years ago, with the support of the Leipzig and Barmen missions, set out to China, India, and other lands to preach the message of Christ and to establish schools and hospitals for society’s outcasts. Aļesja Lavrinoviča spoke about the Roman Catholic Church’s rulings on the use of hypnotherapy to ease the pain of childbirth. Rev. Arta Skuja, in turn, gave a preview and invited everyone to the upcoming exhibition at the LaPa museum, “An Inconvenient Calling: Women Clergy in the Lutheran Church,” whose opening is planned for October 2, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The public program of lectures and discussions will be complemented by gatherings at the museum on November 10 and December 11.
On Friday evening, after a shared dinner with local and foreign guests, we watched the thought-provoking film Vacillations, which traces the callings and ministry paths of three Latvian women clergy. This was followed by a conversation with the film’s director Kristīne Briede and two of the film’s “protagonists” – ELCL evangelist Agrita Staško and Rev. Dr. Dace Balode.
On Saturday, September 6, we gathered for a festive worship service at the Riga Luther Congregation church in Torņakalns. With inspiration and love, Bishop emerita Jāna Jēruma-Grīnberga and pastors Elīza Zikmane, Ilze Kuplēna-Juarte, and Urzula Glīneke had composed the order of service, translating and writing various liturgical texts themselves. Especially for this service, deaconess Lilija Tenhāgena newly translated the hymn Lord Christ, the Only Son of God the Father by the poet Elisabeth Cruciger (née von Meseritz) (1500–1535). Cruciger is regarded as the first Lutheran woman poet and author of church hymns.
Photo: Oskars Upenieks.
The service began with a procession of all the women and men clergy – both guests and locals – accompanied by the dramatic playing of organist Ingūna Grīnberga. The sermon was preached by Bishop Kristina Kühnbaum-Schmidt of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany (Nordkirche). Beginning her sermon, she noted: “We are celebrating callings, life paths, sermons, blessings, decisions, and the gift of walking together.” She looked back on the life path of Pastor Agnese Pone and pointed out that the freedom the gospel gives us “is not meant for personal status, but for loving service.” As the congregation received Communion, the Luther Congregation choir delighted with composer Lūcija Garūta’s The Lord’s Prayer.
At the reception, words of support were heard from near and distant guests and partners, including ELCLA Archbishop Kārlis Žols, Bishop Andreas Holmgren of Stockholm, Bishop Kristina Kühnbaum-Schmidt of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany, Bishop emerita Antje Jackelén of Sweden, and, in writing, ELCA Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton. The new ELCL Archbishop Rinalds Grants unfortunately declined our invitation to take part.
Gender Justice and Women’s Empowerment program. Photo:
Oskars Upenieks
On Sunday morning we took the opportunity to attend worship services led by women clergy. One car went to Augstroze to Ivanda Ceijere, another group – to Valdemārpils to Kristīna Ēce, a third – to Usma to Agrita Staško. A fourth group attended a service at St. Saviour’s Anglican Church in Riga, where the service was led by Pastor Elīza Zikmane and the sermon was preached by Bishop emerita Antje Jackelén of the Church of Sweden.
The “Year of Jubilee” worship service at the Riga Luther church in Torņakalns, on September 6, 2025. Photo: Oskars Upenieks
From the heart, we are grateful to everyone who traveled a shorter or longer distance to celebrate this unique, significant anniversary together with us! We likewise thank the German National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation for its financial support, without which this ambitious event would not have been possible. Thanks are also due to MediaHubRīga for the chance to use their beautiful premises for the conference and to the Riga Luther Congregation for the hospitable welcome in the church and the congregation house.
And finally, on my own behalf, I express deep gratitude to the LLSTA board – both current and outgoing – and to all the sisters who devoted great effort and time to preparing the anniversary!
Rev. Dr. Austra Reine
Chair of LLSTA