Free Republic

The Church of Sweden, Europe's largest Lutheran denomination, is known today for its overtly liberal position in many theological and secular issues, such as the question of homosexuality, yet has been steadily losing 1-2 percent of its worshippers every year over the past decades. For the first time in history, the number of female clergy in the Church of Sweden has surpassed that of their male counterparts, the church newspaper Kyrkans tidning reported. The share of women is now up to 50.1 percent, or 1,533, compared to 49.9 percent men or 1,527, the employers's organisation Skao reported. Among the deacons,...

If there's anything out there that explains why the Church of Sweden boasts the lowest church attendence in all Europe, against some tough continental competition, it's because of claptrap like this, as the Washington Examiner reports: The Church of Sweden declared teen star climate activist Greta Thunberg to be an appointed successor to Jesus Christ in a 2018 tweet that resurfaced in the wake of her speech before the United Nations. "Announcement! Jesus of Nazareth has now appointed one of his successors, Greta Thunberg," the tweet said on Dec. 1, 2018. The account, operated by the Limhamns Church, had previously...

Controversial Bishop of Stockholm Eva Brunne revealed that she not only has a distaste for right-wing Christians, but claims to have more in common with Muslims. The Church of Sweden bishop made her comments this week on the People and Faith programme broadcast on Sveriges Radio, stating that she believes that the subject of Christian values has been largely taken over by right-wing populists. “We all have to think about which people we are and who we are living with. And in fact, we all have the same value. Although we do not speak the same language or pray...

A Swedish priest has been fired after telling his congregation that people who support female priests would be rejected by God - despite the fact that his own church is led by a woman. The Church of Sweden priest in Halland, south-western Sweden, was defrocked after a sermon in which he claimed that Christian salvation was only available to people who rejected the ordination of women. The priest made the controversial comments after finding out that a reorganisation of the church in his area meant that he would soon be working with two female pastors. “The very idea that a...

The Church of Sweden has advised pastors to avoid christening asylum seekers that have converted to Christianity due to the risk of reprisals in the case of repatriation, reported news agency TT. One of the reasons for the recommendation is because it can cause danger and increase risks if a person who has converted to Christianity is later sent back to their home country. Another reason is that the motive for the christening can be questioned by some who suggest that asylum seekers convert to Christianity to increase their chances of staying in Sweden. The issue is being addressed in...

The photo above purports to show (Lutheran) Church of Sweden clergy demonstrating yesterday in Stockholm to "break the conspiracy of silence regarding homosexuals, bisexuals, and transsexuals." Few of us, perhaps, would have noticed a great deal of silence on the issue, but I suppose these ministers are specially trained to listen for it. But my interest was tweaked by a side issue: the marchers' use of the roman collar. In standard progressivist polemic, the roman collar is deplored as a token of clericalism, and more particularly of the hierarchical subordination typified by the Church of Rome. We might expect...

Press release from the Mission Province Gothenburg and Karlstad February 25, 2005 As expected, the Cathedral Chapter in Karlstad, in session yesterday, February 24, has taken away from the bishop in the Mission Province, Arne Olsson, the authority to exercise the pastoral office in the Church of Sweden. Arne Olsson was consecrated on February 5 as bishop in the Mission Province. The Cathedral Chapter's justification is that Arne Olsson has violated his pastoral vows which bear upon loyalty to the Church of Sweden's orders, with reference to Church Order 2000, chapter 31, paragraph 12.1. During the meeting with the Cathedral...

[I think those who have left ECUSA, or are considering, will understand this unhappy piece. How worse can things get? Clearly worse than we have seen. --sionnsar] Even if the title A grief observed had not already been employed, I would use it, for what I have written is about a grief, the dying and perhaps eventually even death of a loved one—the Church of Sweden, in which I was ordained a priest almost thirty-five years ago. It is a grief observed, as if I were standing apart at a distance from what actually happens. It is as if I...

Ecumenical News International Daily News Service 30 September 2004 Swedish breakaway diocese awaits first bishop and new priests By Lars Grip Stockholm, 30 September (ENI)--A breakaway diocese of the (Lutheran) Church of Sweden, the Mission Province, hopes soon to ordain a bishop and three priests of its own. The Mission Province is not a geographical diocese but a grouping of Swedish Lutherans who oppose women priests and reject the Church of Sweden's support for a wedding ceremony for homosexual couples. The name of the bishop has not yet been made public, but the consecration is scheduled to be led by...