Discover and be sur­prised by the diverse job oppor­tunities in the church sec­tor

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• Job seeking

From spiritual roles to administration – meaningful job opportunities can be found for everyone in parishes.

Did you know that the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and its parishes employ a large number of professionals across different fields throughout the country? Especially in the largest parish unions and in the administrative bodies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, new employees are continuously being recruited.

It is often assumed that the church and parishes only employ priests, deacons, and cantors. While a significant number of people work in these professions, the sector also includes various administrative roles, as well as positions in child and youth work and property services. Parishes and parish unions also employ communication specialists, property managers, food service workers, family counselors, mission directors, custodians, and volunteer coordinators.

Dioceses, on the other hand, are responsible for recruiting priests for parishes. Even within priesthood, there are various specializations. Recently, there have been vacancies for school chaplains and, in Southern Finland, even airport chaplains. In the Church Council, a variety of specialist positions are available. The Church Council is the central authority of the church, responsible for its general administration, finances, and activities. It has sought professionals in youth work and education, payroll specialists, and system specialists.

The church and pari­shes as em­ployers

Contrary to common belief, not all jobs in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland require church membership. Membership is mainly required for spiritual roles and official positions. There is also no requirement for employees to live or think in a deeply religious manner; rather, people from all walks of life are welcomed into parish communities. The strength of close-knit work communities lies in the opportunity to meet diverse individuals and work in different roles.

The church and parishes are generally stable and responsible employers that offer diverse and practical job opportunities for interns, summer workers, and permanent staff. Employees are supported in their professional development, and well-being is comprehensively taken care of. Salaries are based on the KirVESTES collective agreement for the church sector.

Summer jobs and intern­ship opportu­nities also available

Parishes actively hire summer workers each year, and many positions are open to applicants under 18. Summer workers are recruited as church guides, for summer café operations, and for cemetery maintenance. Cemeteries and retreat centers also offer longer-term seasonal work.

Parishes, parish unions, and the Church Council offer internships for students in spiritual fields such as diaconal work, church music, and theology. Additionally, students from other fields can apply for internships in administration and property maintenance.

Find open positions and job search support on Kirkkorekry.fi

You can find open job positions in the church and parishes on Kirkkorekry.fi. More information about church professions and career opportunities can be found on the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland’s website.

On Kirkkorekry.fi, you can search for open positions and conveniently filter your search using multiple criteria. When you find an interesting job, you can apply directly through Kirkkorekry’s easy-to-use, newly updated applicant portal. In the portal, you can create your own job seeker profile, which can be easily used as a base for future applications. You can also view your previous applications and track the status of your job search process.

To make job searching as effortless as possible, activate Kirkkorekry’s job alert feature! The job alert will automatically notify you by email about new job openings that match your search criteria.

Learn more about job alerts (in Finnish)

On Kirkkorekry.fi, you can also find support for job searching. There are new articles on job search and working life published weekly. To support your job search decisions, you can explore employer profiles, and the Job seeker’s guide will help you with using Kirkkorekry. For recruitment-specific inquiries, it is always best to contact the hiring employer directly.

Job seeker’s guide (in Finnish)

Explore articles (in Finnish)

Discover employers (in Finnish)

The article is written by Emma Kolehmainen, Communications Manager responsible for jobseeker marketing at Grade Suomi, the provider of the Kirkkorekry service.