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Week 39/ 2006: The YWCA’s devout members have had energy to spare

The Finnish Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) published a scientific study of its history to celebrate its 110th anniversary. Thanks to its international background, the YWCA has been involved in introducing, for instance, ecumenicalism, feminist theology and the retreat movement.

“Discussion at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries often emphasises the significance of women’s movements, although the YWCA was actually a much larger organisation,” says the author of the study, Marjo-Riitta Antikainen, Doctor of Theology.

The history of women’s organisations is, in general, rather low key. Antikainen says this is due to the practical work and concrete help so characteristic of women’s organisations, which is often overshadowed by historic decisions. Concrete action has been an important part of the YWCA’s activities from the beginning.

“The organisation has balanced religious support and social action. In the beginning, the activities focused more on missionary work, and the women, for instance, established the Riutula Mission in Lapland. The Mission, however, simultaneously served as a children’s home, a folk school and a home for the elderly,” says Antikainen.

Although the YWCA does not have official church status, it has had a significant impact on strengthening women’s religious identity, especially within the Lutheran church. There is no gender in the eyes of God but there is in the eyes of parishioners.

“Although women are equal in religious issues, they have traditionally belonged to the private sphere, at home and taking care of the young. This is quite evident even in Finland, for instance in the debate surrounding women ministers.”

Comprising approximately 2,000 members, the YWCA today shows solidarity and is concerned about such things as domestic violence, immigrant welfare and human trafficking. Co-operation has expanded to encompass not only Christians but also representatives of other religions.

“Today’s YWCA is an international ecumenical forum for valuable discussion between different churches. The idealistic fervour typical of such associations has carried the YWCA through crises.”

Text: Salla Laaksonen
Picture: YWCA of Finland
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Translation: Valtasana Oy