In YLE, the national broadcasting company today, another public talk on the book On Love, can be heard at
http://areena.yle.fi/1-2820871?autoplay=true

From 29 April to 5 May we had the 16th plenary of Global Lutheran – Orthodox Commission in which I work continuously since 1995. This time we discussed ordained ministry in the beautiful island of Rhodes, Greece. We could not yet produce a joint statement on this challenging topic but continue to work towards it. All earlier statements are found in this website under Lutheran – Orthodox Dialogue.

28 April the ecumenism Cardinal of Vatican, Kurt Koch, lectured in Helsinki on “The Ecumenical Recognition of Baptism”. Both of our CoE’s gave responses, that is, me and  Prof. Anneli Aejmelaeus from the CSTT Centre (in photo next to me). Several bishops and the Chancellor of the University were also present. More photos and report from
http://reasonandrecognition.blogspot.fi/

Since the publication of On Love, I have focused on completing the book manuscript Recognition and Religion. I managed to do that before some ecumenical ventures…

Here is a story of Finnish commercial televison about my book On Love … old academic dog after new tricks …
http://www.mtv.fi/lifestyle/tunteet/artikkeli/rakkaus-ei-ole-pelkkaa-romanssia-asiantuntija-listasi-erilaiset-rakkauden-lajit/4738334

My new book On Love will be published 8 Jan 2015 at Tieteen päivät (Science Fair)

I have spent most of the last six months writing: the history of the concept of recognition is now about 60 % ready, and my Finnish textbook On Love will be published in January 8, 2015. The pieces for Cambridge History of Theology and Springer Encyclopedia of Renaissance Philosophy have been submitted, and so have the papers given for Societas Oecumenica in Budapest and for Moehler Institute in Erfurt.

A special highlight was the meeting of our CoE Advisory Board in 14-15 November with Professors Jeanrond, Lieu and Parmentier. Several people from my CoE were also at the AAR in San Diego, but I stayed home, writing. The last highlight of 2014 will be the defense of Panu Pihkala’s diss on December 19, with Robert Saler as opponent.

Helsingin Sanomat, the biggest Finnish newspaper, did a nice story about our unit, link here

From August 21 to 25, I’ll go with Minna Hietamäki and Panu Pihkala to the regular meeting of European ecumenists. Due to many other tasks, I have been somewhat lazy in this regard for a decade, but aim at improving my habits.

The Helsinki Collegium HCAS invited Axel Honneth to lecture lst Friday. We also had a chance to inform him of our coe prooject. More in Heikkis blog reasonandrecognition.blogspot.fi