CEC General Secretary Dr Jørgen Skov Sørensen congratulated CEC team member Lena Kumlin on receiving Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland granted by the Finnish President Sauli Niinistö. Lena Kumlin, CEC’s Senior EU Policy Advisor seconded by CEC Member Church the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF) received the award on 18 February for her contributions to European affairs in the ELCF. 

“I am very pleased on behalf of Ms Kumlin on this occasion,” said the CEC General Secretary. “Obviously this is a personal achievement by a long serving member of the ELCF staff. At the same time, however, this is a recognition of the importance placed on the bridgebuilding activities between European churches and the European institutions, made possible by the work and position of CEC where Ms Kumlin has in recent years made a significant impact,” he added.

 “I accepted the honorary medal with gratitude, noting that it is a remarkable recognition not only for me personally, but also for all wonderful colleagues in both Helsinki and Brussels that I have the privilege of collaborating with – including my CEC colleagues,” said Kumlin, who supports CEC’s work in the area of church advocacy and dialogue between the EU and churches.

Due to Covid, the honorary medal was presented to Kumlin at a small-scale event in the Church House in Helsinki by Director General of the Church Council of ELCF Pekka Huokuna.

“The honorary medal granted by the President is a remarkable recognition not only for Ms Kumlin, but also for the whole work community and for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland,” said Pekka Huokuna. He went on to say that the “medal itself – having the form of a cross – reminds us all as Christians and church members of our joint responsibility for taking part in developing both the Finnish and European societies.”

The Order of the White Rose of Finland is one of the three official orders, established in 1919 by Carl Gustaf Mannerheim, a regent and Finnish president. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of the Order, and grants the award for notable military as well as civil merit.