Danish law allows churches to refuse female pastors
The pastor Ava-Maria Schwarz speaks during the service at Vor Frue Kirke, or the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen. Photo EPA, Nils Meilvang
Northern Europe
Some congregations of the Church of Denmark believe that church offices are only for men. They do not want a female pastor in their pulpit. Now, the law comes to their support.
The Equal Treatment Act in Denmark, which aims to ensure equality between men and women, has one exception for churches: the Church of Denmark and other faith communities may refuse to hire a female pastor. And even though there are several voices to change this section, the government does not seem keen on amending it the coming parliamentary year, Kristeligt Dagblad writes.
However, the Social Folks Party does not want to wait and has taken the matter into its own hands. “I have spoken to the Minister about this many times”, says Church spokesperson Theresa Berg Andersen. “But she says that she is working on something that can benefit all parties and protect the minority that exists. I am happy that we are now putting forward our own motion to remove the exception to the Equal Treatment Act”, she adds.
Inclusive
Several parties in the Danish Parliament have already voiced disdain over the exception in the Act, and so have some national bishops. Church Minister Lousie Schack Elholm has also emphasised that she does not agree with congregations that refuse female priests. At the same time, she wants the folk church to be inclusive and says she must talk to all stakeholders before making a decision.
The Moderate Party argues, however, that the exception should remain in place. “We have something called freedom of religion, which is in the Constitution”, he pointed out earlier to Altinget.
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