In September 2019 on Rosh Hashana, Rev. Dr. Maria Leppäkari was the first woman to be ordained Reverend in Jerusalem in the Arabic speaking congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). In addition to her international academic network she is active in the Jerusalem based Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development as member of Board of Advisers and in the Upper Room Mission as International Adviser.
Rev. Dr. Leppäkari holds a Doctoral degree in Theology (2002) from Åbo Akademi University, Finland and is Docent (Adjunct Professor) in Comparative Religion. Her expertise spans from theoretical academic research to practical and applied leadership including entrepreneurship.
Motivated by 23 years of professional relationship with Jerusalem, Rev. Dr. Maria Leppäkari is since 2015 the Director of the Swedish Theological Institute (STI) in Jerusalem. She encourages people not to be afraid to build bridges of understandings through intercultural and religious dialogue. As an Academic, Leppäkari has published extensively on Jerusalem, best known for her book "Apocalyptic Representations of Jerusalem" and her most recent book is entitled "Pilgrimage and Tourism to Holy Cities: Ideological and Management Perspectives", co-edited together with Dr. Kevin Griffin.
For the last six years, Leppäkari has been encouraging people towards interreligious dialogue, cultural encounters, ecumenical relations, academic creativity, and peace building in Jerusalem. And she hopes to continue with this bridge building enterprise.
Knowledge, clear communication and mutual respect are keys to meaningful human encounters. Be brave and lead by example. To succeed, creativity is crucial and for that, Jerusalem is the place to be.
Religious dialogue, cultural encounters, Jerusalem: one city three religions, religious fundamentalisms
empower and support local dialogue work
Christian, Lutheran
Sustainable social and ecological development, peace-building and dialogue
Religious dialogue, cultural encounters, Jerusalem: one city three religions, religious fundamentalisms
empower and support local dialogue work
Christian, Lutheran
Sustainable social and ecological development, peace-building and dialogue
