
Bishop struggles to fill church councils
Bishop Henrik Stubkjær is addressing the challenge of finding members for menighedsråd (church councils) in Denmark, after the September 17th elections revealed a shortfall, with 299 vacant positions in the Viborg Diocese alone. An extraordinary meeting is being called in about one-third of Denmark’s 1,561 church councils to recruit more members. The lack of council members could potentially lead to church closures and mergers. Stubkjær emphasizes the importance of churches for ceremonies like baptisms, burials, and confirmations, and urges the necessity for community responsibility in maintaining these services. Despite efforts, there’s a concern that some small communities might have to combine with larger ones. On a similar note, the bishop in Fyn has proposed making 25 churches open only during holidays, while in Roskilde Diocese, the bishop urges locals to step up, as exemplified by the shortfall faced by Sankt Peders Kirke in Slagelse.