Irja Askola defeated her closest rival, 591 to 567, in the final round of voting on Thursday.
The 57-year-old Irja Askola graduated as a theologian in 1975 and became one of the Finland's first female priests in 1988. Prior to her election, she was a special theological advisor to the Bishop of Espoo.
Askola has also served on the Ecumenical Council and in the Conference of European Churches, based in Geneva, from 1991 to 1999. She will take office on September 1. The service of installation will be a Helsinki's Lutheran Cathedral on September 12.
Askola's election is another sign of changing times in Finland's state-supported Lutheran Church. It follows on the path of similar ordinations in other European protestant churches. She is considered a liberal on social issues.
In an interview given to YLE, Askola said she would practice "a dialogue with society". She said the church must address such issues as current inequalities in society and racial intolerance. She also said she wants to welcome more same-sex couples for church blessings. However she added that no pastors would be required to do so.
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