Group founder and webmaster is Marko Myllyniemi, who was born in 1970, and lives in Tampere, Finland, with his partner and their cats. More of his personal thoughts and experiences can be read on his blog Via Veritas Vita [First link left].
He used to be a leader of discussion group on spiritual matters at the local lgbt-association since 2005; He was a volunteer at the Hospice for several years. He's been an active member of the Christian Community since December 1999. He's openly gay and feels accepted as he is. He has frequently written articles on Church's quartely Periodical; He's been a voluntary cleaner of his congregation as long as he can remember; He's a treasurer and member of the Church Council, as well as a member of the national Community Council, and a secretary of the Board of their fund raising association.
Before Christmas 2006 he was interviewed by the local Newspaper about being gay and Christian. He was also interviewed for the documentary film, Encounters with Jesus, first shown on Finnish television during Easter 2010. On the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene, July 22nd 2010, and the first day of Tampere Pride, he was organizing Rainbow Prayers in cooperation with the Lutheran Cathedral Parish of Tampere, by his initiative, and gave a speech on Freedom (Video recording is available to watch on Finnish site, but only in Finnish!). After that, he was interviewed for Lutheran program on local radio.
He's maintaining four blogs in Finnish - besides the one mentioned above - concerning mainly different aspects of Spirituality. He's also active on Facebook and YouTube.
Magdalene came forth out of necessity of his calling, to serve his brothers and sisters in Christ, which required a different form than his work so far: to profess Christian Faith, thus placing the Bible in the centre, and including a common Prayer; It was his experience that discussion on spirituality does not unite people, but it rather may raise many disagreements if people have different backgrounds. It is the Spirit within that draws people closer together and here the Prayer plays essential part!
Magdalene group was his dream and it was first meant to be started with someone, who then stepped back for personal reasons, and the group formation was delayed. However, the website was created a year and a half before the group finally began to meet (September 2009). Without a straight friend it wouldn't have been possible even then! Since time passed it became obvious that lgbt-people cannot be the main target group, but rather a footnote. Sexual orientation is not a common bond, otherwise a majority of human race would be one big happy family! Sexuality does not define a person as a spiritual being. Spirit works invisibly within. So, tolerance is self-evident - as it always should be; we don't need to emphasize it.
Magdalene is a circle of kindred spirits wherever they are found - and that has nothing to do with like-mindedness, agreement on opinions, which is always a bad sign in religious groups, sign of spiritual dictatorship and blind faith. Let us rather have the "mind of Christ" (1 Cor.2), a prayerful mind, loving mind.
Marko's approach to Christianity is both mystical and esoteric: Esoterism emphasizes Knowledge, understanding, and mysticism is based on deep inner experience, it is practical. Thus we have a sign of the cross: Head, heart and hands. Franciscan spirituality is close to his heart too, and he's considering taking the private vows as secular Franciscan, as well as looking for ecumenical Franciscan Third Order to join.
His mission is certainly not a question of personal fame and honor, since this is very lonely and frustrating work. It would be easier to stay in one's room behind the shut door, just praying in solitude, but "Christ's love compels us" (2 Cor.5:14)! It is Marko's ideal that "He must become greater, I must become less" (John 3:30), so that "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal.2:20). It also means that everyone's equal in a group, and listening is just as important as talking (it applies to other people as well as to God - that is loving God and your neighbour). Marko has realized that it is he who needs this kind of informal activity, so it is necessary, be there only two or three - that is enough as Jesus Himself said!
However, it was his wish to be part of something bigger, even international, that made him to approach the Mystical Order of the White Rose in 2011 and ask for possibility to become an affiliate. As we all know, internet is full of spiritual resources, but MOWR was one of his long-time favorites, as he recognized a certain kinship. See: Mystical White Rose petals blog.
"This is my personal insignia, made by my own hands. It's hanging over my home altar. A phrase I have chosen for my motto is from the 1 Samuel 3, where the Lord is calling Samuel and Samuel answers 'Here I am; you called me.' This is my spiritual attitude. My mission is a reply for God's call - vocatio in Latin is 'vocation' in English, after all. When I pray to God, it's not because I want something from God, it's because God first has called me. To love God with all your heart refers to Prayer, and we love because God first loved us - we only reflect his love back, and open ourselves to be channels for his love toward others."
"And 'Ecce Ego' translates more literally as 'Behold, I'! This is very significant to those who know anything about a concept of I or I AM, as revealed by Rudolf Steiner. Unlike word "ego" might suggest, it has nothing to do with egocentricism, rather this is exactly what is meant in Exodus 3, where Moses meets God in a Burning Bush and God tells his name, 'I AM WHO I AM'. We share this name with God - part of his essence, his spirit."
"What about the symbol? Violet pentagon reminds me of The Christian Community; same colours and shapes are found in our churches around the world. Pink triangle obviously is a gay symbol, originally used by the nazis. Red heart doesn't need explanation (but you'll find it anyway!). Golden Chalice is The Grail, goal of spiritual quest of a man, but it may also relate to the Holy Communion."
