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  • Turku 2025 Registration Form

    European Forum Annual Conference

  • OPEN DOORS AND WIDE WINDOWS

    We want to embrace you all, no matter where you come from, no matter what church you belong to. The doors are open, the windows wide open, so that Christ's boundless love may reach each of our hearts.

     

    Conference Kick-offs: 28-29.05.2025

    Main Conference: 29.05-01.06.2025

    Annual General Meeting: 30.05.2025 (afternoon) 

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    Please fill in the following registration form. Depending on your answers, additional questions may appear. Fields marked with * are required. After finishing the registration, you will receive a confirmation email. 

    The registration fee that corresponds to your chosen duration of stay and accommodation type can be sent via bank transfer to the account of the Organising Committee or can be paid using PayPal account or bank card. 

    Here are the bank account details (they will also be sent to you in the confirmation email): 

    Ekumeeninen Yhteys-liike ry
    c/o Hentilä Kapteeninkatu 26 A 6, 00140 Helsinki
    IBAN: FI7757803820232774
    BIC: OKOYFIHH

    NB: all bank transfer costs/charges must be fully paid by the participant!

    Those participants who want to pay via PayPal, please note that there will be extra costs (5% will be added to your fee) to cover the PayPal transfer fees. 

    Please, use contact us at europeanforum2025@gmail.com with all questions related to the conference or if you haven't received a confirmation email.

    Registration deadline: 30.03.2025 23:59 CET.

    Agape Fund application (through this form) deadline: 07.02.2025 23:59 CET.

     

    Thank you!

    The Organising Committee

  • Basic Info

  • Please find more details on Agape Fund here.

  • Attending the conference in Turku/Linnasmäki

    Please note that the main venue is Hotel Linnasmäki, which is about 4km from Turku train station. Please change at Pasila train station for the train to Turku if you take the train from Helsinki airport. Please contact mari.nurmi@evl.fi if you have questions or need guidance for your travel. Timetables for train, ferries and busses and tips visit www.blogit.utu.fi/studentlife/all-roads-lead-to-turku-5-ways-to-get-to-turku-from-anywhere-in-the-world/
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  • Read more about the programme of the six Conference Kickoffs.

    • 1. Changes in LGBTI+ people’s lives when ageing.  

    •  Growing old your Way

      Let us look and think together at what "getting older" means to us, whatever age we are now: what are your hopes, your concerns, your suggestions and role models? Do you admire or wish to live like anyone special – maybe a well-known person, or an older friend or relative. Maybe you can tell us about them, bring a picture or something else to show the group.


      Facilitators/contact persons:       

      Susan Murphy

      Kuisma Savisalo (on Wednesday only)

       

    • 2. Beating with the Bible 

    • Together, we go through Bible passages that are supposedly presented as challenging for the salvation of sexual and gender minorities while we all are being embraced in God's love. We are looking at the meaning(s) of God's purpose and care for us and letting God's image and likeness shine!

      Facilitators/contact persons:
      Elena Alakomi is a leader of a peer support group for spiritual LGBTI+ people and LGBTI+ people with religious backgrounds in her city. Since her teenage years, she has been interested in the Bible, its background, and how the sacred text has been used both in support and against LGBTI+ people.

      Johan Brandt T. Grevnäs is one of the founders and a board member of the Rainbow Association Malkus, One of two superiors for the employees in the project of Malkus called Resource, Organizer of the Christian LGBTQ+ peer support group in Turku, Organizer of Rainbow Masses, a name in the struggle for equality since 1990s, Academic career as Egyptologist with also theological studies. 

       

    • 3. In the closet, underground or hidden out of necessity 

    • Imagine stepping into the world of the early Christian community — a world where faith had to be practiced in secret, behind locked doors, and in whispers. Together, we will recreate the atmosphere of an underground church, exploring the resilience and courage of believers who worshiped in the shadows. Through scripture, we will reflect on moments when fear and hiddenness gave way to encounters with Jesus. This experience invites us to connect with those who have lived their faith despite adversity, drawing parallels to our own hidden struggles. Come ready to reflect, to listen, and to find hope in the midst of the quiet.

      Facilitators/contact persons:
      Tatjana Lehatkova

      EF participant since 2012, former board member, political advocacy group secretary now, living testimony that European Forum changes lives.

    • 4. Love Yourself as Your Neighbour: Expressive Arts and Creativity 

    • This kick-off is full, you can send an email to europeanforum2025@gmail,com if you want to be put on a waitinglist if someone cancels.Remember to pick an other one you might be interested in so you´ll have something in reserve.

      A relaxing, creative art kickoff where participants will be welcomed to reflect upon self-appreciation, acceptance, self-love and care. Kickoff will offer opportunities to enjoy music and movement, creative writing and visual art making focusing on the creative process. All skill levels are welcome. Maximum of 10 participants.

      Facilitators/contact persons: 
      Efstathia (Stathoula) Antoniadou is a pre-primary teacher and an expressive arts therapy group instructor. As a teacher and group instructor she is creative, gentle, supportive and welcoming.

       

    • 5. Queering Pilgrimage and Spirituality 

    • As in Ephesians 2:19, most of us have experiences of being “foreigners and strangers” to others, to our churches, our societies, even to ourselves or to our own body. In this Conference Kickoff, we take time getting to know each other and travel a stretch of road together, slowly turning from foreigners and strangers to people who have the full right to belong – full members of the people of God. Expect the sharing of stories, prayer, singing, meditation and a little physical pilgrimage. For this Conference Kickoff, bring with you a symbol of your own spiritual & queer identity.

      Facilitators/contact persons: 
      Anni Pesonen is a pastor in Turku, leading and organizing retreats, meditation evenings and courses on contemplative prayer. Doctor of New Testament Studies. In personal life, a practicing mystic and mother of two young trans people.

      Kerstin Söderblom is a university chaplain and lecturer at the University of Mainz, Germany. She is a queer theologian, author and activist, queer affirming pastor and counsellor.

       

    • 6. Living alone: A Challenge or an Opportunity? 

    •  

      Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” (Genesis 2:18)
      In small groups, we discuss the significance of partnerships, the challenges and the opportunities of living alone. Everyone who has found a relationship as well as those living alone are welcome.

      Facilitators/contact persons: 
      Pauli Löija is a Master of Theology and single. He has been involved in founding the Arcus Finland group and starting rainbow mass activity in Finland. In addition, he has given his face and name in the media to improve the position of LGBTI+ people in society and the Church since the 1990s.

       

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    • NB: Agape scholarship recipients are not accommodated in single rooms. 

    • Important information on Market place
      Thursday 29th May
      Please note, that all edible items must be individually packed. Due to health regulations. Thank you for your co-operation. 


      Sauna and swimming pool
      There will be sauna and swimming pool (12m length, 1.3m deep and 24 degrees temperature water) available during the conference. Unfortunately there are only 2 dressing rooms (women/men) by the sauna/pool. If you feel uncomfortable to undress consider bringing a bathrobe etc with you and use your room for changing to swimming gear. Sauna is with swimsuits.

    • I will come with  child(ren), their age(s):      .

    • If you are interested in offering a workshop during the conference, you may submit a proposal using this form. The proposals will then be evaluated by the conference prep team. The team will inform you whether your proposal has been accepted no later than mid-April.
      A workshop is a timeslot of 90 minutes, conference participants can choose between several options running in parallel.

    • While we are looking forward to seeing each other in person again, we are aware that some people may not be able to attend due to circumstances beyond their control. We are therefore aiming at a somewhat hybrid format for the conference. This includes offering a selection of workshops entirely on Zoom (i.e. all participants in these workshops meet on Zoom, even if some of them sit in adjoining rooms at the conference venue).

  • Agape Application

  • Please find more details on Agape Fund here.

    Results of applications selection will be sent out before 15 February 2025.

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  • Safeguarding principles

  • The organisers of the Conference have developed a special Safeguarding principles for its participants. Please read it carefully before submitting this form.

    • Safeguarding principles 

    • These principles aim to foster safety for all participants both during and after the conference. Please note that some participants may face retribution if their attendance becomes public. Do not put people at risk.

       Act with sensitivity. Many kinds of people attend. Don’t assume the gender of another participant based on their appearance or name. Don’t make assumptions or generalizations e.g. about sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Respect everyone’s right to self-determination and indeterminacy.

       The language of the conference is English. Please keep in mind that for most participants, this is not their first language. Patience and tolerance for linguistic limitations can help avoid miscommunication.

       Please always wear your name tag. The name tags show the participants’ names as they wish to be addressed, and the pronouns they want to be referred by. Mistakes may happen, just try again.

       Be trustworthy. In the conference all shared personal information is confidential. It is also confidential who attends the conference. Don’t take or publish photos without the explicit permission of everyone visible in the picture. Do not identify individuals when talking or writing about the conference, unless you have explicit permission. This is to preserve both the safety of the participants and the confidentiality of the conference. This does not apply to information that is public anyway.

       Be respectful and friendly. Show respect to others and to their experiences. Value the borders set by others. Please don’t touch another person without their consent. Please always ask before giving someone a hug.

       If you wish to stay in touch with someone, exchange contact details with that person. If you are asked for your contact information either by an individual or in a subgroup, feel free to decline if you are not comfortable providing such details.

       Listen and participate. Give everyone an equal chance to use their voice, or to remain in the background if they choose to. We learn from one another by truly listening. Feel free to share as much or as little as you wish. Remember to take your own wellbeing into account.

       Representatives from the media may attend parts of the conference. If you interact with them (you are not required to do so), you can clarify conditions, such as how you are referred to, if your picture appears, etc. If print media (including web-publications) wish to quote you, you can insist on proofreading the quote before publication.

       If you experience or witness harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behaviour, please inform Mari Nurmi of the organizing committee or board member Lyoshka Gerassimenko. After the conference, if you want to get in touch about a situation, please e-mail europeanforum2025@gmail.com.

       

      Thank you for your help in ensuring a safe, constructive and hopefully joyful conference!

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    • Comments

    • Communication

      If you are not subscribed to either of the communication channels below, you can request to be added by checking respective boxes. If you are already subscribed, you do not have to re-apply here.

    • Registration Fee and Donation

    • The organising team and the Board of the European Forum would like to ask you to support our Agape Fund which is used to provide scholarships allowing representatives of Forum member groups or individuals from underrepresented/underprivileged countries, social backgrounds, identities, to attend the conference. Even small donations are appreciated!

    • How to transfer your registration fee?

      You can make a bank transfer after submitting this form or pay via PayPal (using your PayPal account or your bank card) together with submitting this form.

      Bank transfers make most sense if you live in one of SEPA countries, which are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden, the 3 EEA countries of Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland, Monaco and the United Kingdom (despite Brexit).

      Bank transfer details will appear when you select 'bank transfer' option and will also be sent to you in your confirmation email.

      PayPal transfers are convenient and immediate but PayPal charges hefty fees, that's why we encourage participants from SEPA countries to use bank transfers.

      In any case, all transfer fees are to be covered by the participant.

      If you need a different way of payment than these two, choose the 'later' option and contact us using our email (europeanforum2025@gmail.com).

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