Denmark Ends Gender Exclusion in Church Hiring: Bishops’ Call Spurs Reform

From now on, it’s over to exclude women when hiring priests in The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark, also called folkekirken – even if it goes against the religious beliefs of the parish council.

Like other religious communities, the The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark has had an exception from the Equal Treatment Act of 1978 for many years, meaning it wasn’t prohibited to consider gender when a parish council selects its new priest. The government is now removing that exception.

This comes after the bishops of the The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark collectively called for the removal of the exception, considering it outdated and unnecessary. Missionary movements have had a different view on the provision, emphasizing its significance for a church perspective that historically has been accommodated in the The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark and is still shared by a small minority.

The Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs has been attentive to both the majority and the minority. After exploratory meetings with the stakeholders of the The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark, the minister assesses that there are no compelling arguments against following the joint appeal of the 10 bishops to lift the exception.

Even though almost 60 percent of priests and over 40 percent of provosts today are women, according to the government, there should be no doubt that there must be gender equality in the The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark.

Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs Louise Schack Elholm says:

-“My conclusion after discussions with representatives from both the majority and the minority in the People’s Church is that the provision today has more symbolic than practical significance for the People’s Church. And of course, there should be gender equality between men and women in the People’s Church just like in other parts of Danish society. This doesn’t change the fact that we still have an inclusive People’s Church where each parish council chooses its priest. Therefore, I have also concluded that it’s right to abolish the exception from the Equal Treatment Act for the People’s Church, as the bishops have urged.”

Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs Louise Schack Elholm is now issuing a new decree that abolishes the exception provision from the Equal Treatment Act concerning priest positions in the The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark.

Henceforth, it will no longer be lawful in theThe Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark to nominate, appoint, or exclude candidates based on their gender.

The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark has more than 4.2 million members, which corresponds to approximately 71.5% of the Danish population.