Editing Church of Sweden

{{Short description|Evangelical Lutheran church}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| icon               = 
| icon_width         = 
| icon_alt           = 
| name               = Church of Sweden
| native_name        = Svenska kyrkan
| native_name_lang   = sv
| image              = Svenska_kyrkans_vapen.png
| imagewidth         = 150px
| alt                = 
| caption            = [[Coat of arms|Arms]] of the Church of Sweden with its centred [[crown]], representing both the victory of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] over death<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/vapen-och-heraldik|title=Svenska kyrkans heraldiska vapen|access-date=1 June 2021|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506182452/https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/vapen-och-heraldik|url-status=live}}</ref> and the crown of [[Eric IX of Sweden|Erik the Holy]],<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://unt.se/nyheter/uppsala/mordet-lost-efter-850-ar-4157786.aspx|title = Mordet löst - efter 850 år - Upsala Nya Tidning|date = 16 March 1916|access-date = 1 June 2021|archive-date = 2 June 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215855/https://unt.se/nyheter/uppsala/mordet-lost-efter-850-ar-4157786.aspx|url-status = live}}</ref> [[Patron Saint]] of [[Sweden]].
| abbreviation       = 
| type               = [[Koinonia|Communion]]
| main_classification = [[Christianity|Christian]]
| orientation        = [[Protestant]]
| scripture          = [[Christian Bible]]
| theology           = [[High church Lutheranism]]<ref name="Podmore1993">{{cite book|last=Podmore|first=C. J.|title=Together in Mission and Ministry: The Porvoo Common Statement, With, Essays on Church and Ministry in Northern Europe : Conversations Between the British and Irish Anglican Churches and the Nordic and Baltic Lutheran Churches|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JubvAqggjL8C&pg=PA59|year=1993|publisher=Church House Publishing|isbn=978-0-7151-5750-3|pages=59–|access-date=1 June 2021|archive-date=2 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502072458/https://books.google.com/books?id=JubvAqggjL8C&pg=PA59|url-status=live}}</ref>
| polity             = [[Episcopal polity|Episcopal]]
| governance         = [[General Synod]]
| structure          = 
| leader_title       = [[Primate (bishop)|Primate]]
| leader_name        = [[Martin Modéus]]
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| fellowships_type   = 
| fellowships        = 
| fellowships_type1  = 
| fellowships1       = 
| division_type      = 
| division           = 
| division_type1     = 
| division1          = 
| division_type2     = 
| division2          = 
| division_type3     = 
| division3          = 
| associations       = {{unbulleted list|[[Lutheran World Federation]]|[[World Council of Churches]]|[[Conference of European Churches]]|[[Porvoo Communion]]}}
| full_communion     = {{unbulleted list|[[Philippine Independent Church]]|[[Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic)|Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches]]|[[Episcopal Church (United States)]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://international.la-croix.com/news/religion/the-american-cathedral-in-paris-celebrates-100-years/17515|title=The American Cathedral in Paris celebrates 100 years|last=Lasserre|first=Matthieu|date=27 March 2023|access-date=7 April 2023|work=[[La Croix (newspaper)|La Croix]]|location=Paris|archive-date=29 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329025420/https://international.la-croix.com/news/religion/the-american-cathedral-in-paris-celebrates-100-years/17515|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| area               = [[Sweden]]
| language           = 
| headquarters       = [[Uppsala]], [[Sweden]]
| origin_link        = 
| founder            = {{ublist|[[Ansgar]] <br />(According to tradition)|[[Stefan (archbishop of Uppsala)|Stefan of Alvastra]]<br />(First [[Archbishop of Uppsala]], under the jurisdiction of the [[Roman Catholic Church]])|[[Gustav I of Sweden]] <br />(Separated from the [[Holy See]] during the [[Swedish Reformation]])| [[Laurentius Petri|Laurentius Petri Nericius]] <br />(Consecrated as first Lutheran [[Archbishop of Uppsala]] in 1531. Author of the [[Swedish Church Ordinance 1571|Swedish Church Ordinance]] of 1571)}}
| founded_date       = 1014, establishment of the first Swedish diocese, the [[Diocese of Skara]]<br />
1164, establishment of the [[Archdiocese of Uppsala]]

1536, separation from [[Roman Catholic Church|Rome]] through the abolition of [[Canon law of the Catholic Church|Canon Law]]<br />
1593, adoption of the [[Augsburg Confession]]
| founded_place      = 
| separated_from     = [[Roman Catholic Church]] (1536)
| parent             = 
| merger             = 
| absorbed           = 
| separations        = [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]] (1809)<br />
[[Missionsprovinsen|The Mission Province]] (2003)
| merged_into        = 
| defunct            = 
| congregations_type = 
| congregations      = 1 288 in Sweden, 31 abroad (2023)<ref name="svenskakyrkan-statistics" />
| members            = 5 484 319 baptized<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lovabegravning.se/om-begravning/efter-ett-dodsfall/medlemskap-i-svenska-kyrkan/|title=Medlemskap i Svenska kyrkan - vad innebär det? - Lova Begravningsbyrå|access-date=1 June 2021|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215405/https://lovabegravning.se/om-begravning/efter-ett-dodsfall/medlemskap-i-svenska-kyrkan/|url-status=dead}}</ref> members (2023)<ref name="svenskakyrkan-statistics" />
| ministers_type     = 
| ministers          = 
| missionaries       = 
| churches           = 
| hospitals          = 
| nursing_homes      = 
| aid                = 
| primary_schools    = 
| secondary_schools  = 
| tax_status         = 
| tertiary           = 
| other_names        = 
| publications       = 
| website            = {{URL|https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/english|svenskakyrkan.se}}
| slogan             = 
| logo               = [[File:Church of Sweden logo.svg]]
| footnotes          = 
}}

The '''Church of Sweden''' ({{langx|sv|Svenska kyrkan}}) is an [[Evangelical Lutheran]] [[national church]] in [[Sweden]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sidenvall |first=Erik |date=2012 |title=Church and State in Sweden: A contemporary Report |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43751965 |journal=Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=311–319 |doi=10.13109/kize.2012.25.2.311 |jstor=43751965 |issn=0932-9951}}</ref> A former [[state church]], headquartered in [[Uppsala]], with around 5.5 million members at year end 2023, it is the largest [[Christian denomination]] in Sweden, the largest [[List of Lutheran denominations|Lutheran denomination]] in [[Europe]] and the third-largest in the world, after the [[Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus]] and the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania]].<ref>[https://www.lutheranworld.org/content/member-churches Member churches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214151350/https://www.lutheranworld.org/content/member-churches |date=14 December 2020 }} The Lutheran World Federation</ref>

A member of the [[Porvoo Communion]], the church professes [[Lutheranism]]. It is composed of thirteen [[diocese]]s, divided into parishes.<ref>[http://riksdagen.se/webbnav/index.aspx?nid=3911&bet=1998:1591 "SFS 1998:1591"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929183503/http://riksdagen.se/webbnav/index.aspx?nid=3911&bet=1998:1591 |date=29 September 2011 }}, Riksdagen</ref> It is an open [[national church]] which, working with a [[democracy|democratic]] organisation together with the ministry of the church, covers the whole nation. The [[Primate (bishop)|Primate]] of the Church of Sweden, as well as the [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] of all Sweden, is the [[Archbishop of Uppsala]].

It is [[liturgy|liturgically]] and theologically "[[High Church Lutheranism|high church]]", having retained priests, [[vestment]]s, and the [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] during the [[Swedish Reformation]]. In common with other Evangelical Lutheran churches (particularly in the Nordic and Baltic states), the Church of Sweden maintains the [[historical episcopate]] and claims [[apostolic succession]]. Some Lutheran churches have [[congregational polity]] or modified [[episcopal polity]] without apostolic succession, but the historic episcopate was maintained in Sweden and some of the other Lutheran churches of the [[Porvoo Communion]]. The canons of the Church of Sweden states that the faith, confession and teachings of the Church of Sweden are understood as an expression of the [[Catholicity|catholic]] Christian faith. It further states that this does not serve to create a new, confessionally peculiar interpretation, but concerns the apostolic faith as carried down through the traditions of the church,<ref>Kyrkoordning för Svenska kyrkan: med kommentarer och angränsande lagstiftning. Verbum 2005. pp43-44</ref> as the Lutheran Reformation aimed at conserving the faith and traditions of the Church while removing what it saw as medieval innovations.<ref name="Brown2009">{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Christopher Boyd |title=Singing the Gospel: Lutheran Hymns and the Success of the Reformation |date=30 June 2009 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-02891-3 |page=59-60 |language=en |quote=Luther's example and influence helped to ensure not only the place of vernacular hymns, but also the preservation of much traditional church music along with the new polyphony; wherever there were Latin schools, Luther desired that the traditional music should be maintained. Though Luther and his followers eliminated some elements of medieval liturgy for theological reasons—especially the canon of the Mass—Lutherans retained not only the structure and texts of the liturgy but also a great many of the associated hymns and music.}}</ref><ref name="Braaten1985">{{cite book |last1=Braaten |first1=Carl E. |title=Principles of Lutheran Theology |date=1985 |publisher=Fortress Press |isbn=978-1-4514-0484-5 |page=43 |language=en |quote=The Reformation of Martin Luther was not the inauguration of a new church. The chief aim of Luther and of those who joined his movement was to reform the only church they knew—the Roman Catholic church. Luther and Melanchton as well as all of the confessing fathers who built on their foundations saw themselves in accord with the consensus of the first five centuries, particularly as this was expressed in the creeds and councils of the ancient church. The abuses in the church were attacked as medieval innovations which stood condemned by the Word of God}}</ref>

Its membership of 5,484,319 people accounts for 52.1% (per the end of 2023) of the Swedish population.<ref name="svenskakyrkan-statistics">{{cite web |url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik |title=Svenska kyrkan i siffror |website=Svenska kyrkan |language=sv |access-date=14 March 2024 |archive-date=1 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101191748/https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik |url-status=live }}</ref> Until 2000 it held the position of [[state religion|state church]]. The high membership numbers arise because, until 1996, all newborn children were made members, unless their parents had actively cancelled their membership.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1995/1004/04061.html|title=Sweden Snaps Strong Ties Between Church and State|author=Wendy Sloane|newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor|date=4 October 1995|access-date=15 January 2016|archive-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020151116/https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/1004/04061.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Approximately 2% of the church's members are regular attenders.<ref>[http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/liturgy.htm "Liturgy and Worship"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422193814/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/liturgy.htm |date=22 April 2010 }}</ref>

== Theology ==
[[File:Uppsala cathedral with Dekanhuset.jpg|thumb|[[Uppsala]], with its large [[Uppsala cathedral|cathedral]], remains the seat of the Church of Sweden.]]
King [[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav Vasa]] instigated the Church of Sweden in 1536 during his reign as [[Monarchy of Sweden|King of Sweden]]. This act separated the church from the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and its [[canon law]]. In 1571, the [[Swedish Church Ordinance 1571|Swedish Church Ordinance]] became the first Swedish church order following the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]].

The Church of Sweden became [[Lutheran]] at the [[Uppsala Synod]] in 1593 when it adopted the [[Augsburg Confession]] to which most Lutherans adhere. At this synod, it was decided that the church would retain the three original Christian [[creed]]s: the [[Apostles' Creed|Apostolic]], the [[Athanasian Creed|Athanasian]], and the [[Nicene Creed|Nicene]].

In 1686, the [[Riksdag of the Estates]] adopted the [[Book of Concord]], although only certain parts, labelled {{Lang|la|Confessio fidei}}, were considered binding, and the other texts merely explanatory. ''{{Lang|la|Confessio fidei}}'' included the three aforementioned Creeds, the Augsburg Confession and two Uppsala Synod decisions from 1572 and 1593.
[[File:Strängnäs Cathedral interior.jpg|thumb|upright|Preparing for the celebration of [[Mass (liturgy)|mass]] in [[Strängnäs Cathedral]], Church of Sweden]]

During the 19th and 20th centuries, a variety of teachings were officially approved, mostly directed towards [[ecumenism]]:
* the 1878 development of the [[Catechism]]
* the Uppsala Creed of 1909, preparing for [[Eucharist in Lutheranism|Eucharistic]] [[Altar and pulpit fellowship|communion]] with the [[Church of England]]
* the constitutions of [[World Council of Churches]] (WCC)
* the constitutions of [[Lutheran World Federation]] (LWF)
* Church of Sweden's official response to the [[Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry|"Lima document"]]
* a ''Council of the Bishops Letter in Important Theological Questions''
* the 1995 Treaty of Communion with the [[Philippine Independent Church]]

In practice, however, Lutheran creed texts play a minor role, and parishes instead rely on Lutheran tradition in conjunction with influences from other Christian denominations and diverse ecclesial movements, such as [[Low Church]], [[High Church]], [[Pietism]] ("Old Church"), and [[Laestadianism]], which locally might be strongly established, but have little nationwide influence.

During the 20th century, the Church of Sweden oriented itself strongly towards [[liberal Christianity]] and [[human rights]]. In 1957, the General Synod rejected a proposal for the [[ordination of women]], but a revised Church Ordinance bill proposal from the [[Riksdag]] in the spring of 1958, along with the fact that, at the time, clergy of the Church of Sweden were legally considered government employees, put pressure on the General Synod and the College of Bishops to accept the proposal, which passed by a synod vote of 69 to 29 and a collegiate vote of 6 to 5 respectively in the autumn of 1958.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1052701/FULLTEXT01.pdf |title=Häggblom, Johanna – "Därför att vi inte gärna kan begära något mindre"-kvinnors röster i debatten om kvinnliga präster 1957–1959. pp 17 |date=2016 |access-date=19 August 2020 |archive-date=1 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801185420/http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1052701/FULLTEXT01.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 1960, women have been [[Ordination of women|ordained as priests]], and in 1982, lawmakers removed a "conscience clause" allowing clergy members to refuse to cooperate with female colleagues.<ref name="ChurchClause">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/23/church-of-swedens-female-priests-outnumber-men-but-are-paid-less|title=Church of Sweden's female priests outnumber men – but are paid less|first=Harriet|last=Sherwood|date=23 July 2020|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=1 September 2020|archive-date=30 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830193728/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/23/church-of-swedens-female-priests-outnumber-men-but-are-paid-less|url-status=live}}</ref> A proposal to perform [[Same-sex marriage|same-sex weddings]] was approved on 22 October 2009 by 176 of 249 voting members of the Church of Sweden [[Synod]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.se/22810/20091022/ |title=Church of Sweden says yes to gay marriage |publisher=The Local: Sweden's News in English |date=22 October 2009 |access-date=3 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111080159/http://www.thelocal.se/22810/20091022/ |archive-date=11 January 2012 }}</ref> In response to the rise of theological liberalism in the denomination, traditionalist clergy and laity from the Church of Sweden established, in 2003, the [[Missionsprovinsen|Mission Province of the Church of Sweden]], a nonterritorial [[ecclesiastical province]] that only ordains men to holy orders and does not perform same-sex marriages. The Mission Province (Missionsprovinsen) is a member of the [[International Lutheran Council]], which represents [[Confessional Lutheran]] bodies around the globe.<ref name="GassmannOldenburg2011">{{cite book |last1=Gassmann |first1=Günther |last2=Oldenburg |first2=Mark W. |title=Historical Dictionary of Lutheranism |date=10 October 2011 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-7482-4 |page=91 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2000, the Church of Sweden ceased to be the [[state church]], but it maintains strong ties with communities, particularly in relation to [[Rite of passage|rites of passage]]. There are many infants [[baptism|baptized]] and teenagers [[confirmation|confirmed]] (currently 40% of all 14 year olds<ref>{{Cite web |title=Confirmation in Church of Sweden |url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/Sve/Bin%c3%a4rfiler/Filer/DF010030-BFDB-45F4-8102-3E783E77C4DD.pdf |access-date=21 September 2022 |website=www.svenskakyrkan.se |archive-date=21 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921162307/https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/Sve/Bin%C3%A4rfiler/Filer/DF010030-BFDB-45F4-8102-3E783E77C4DD.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>) for families even without formal church membership.

== History ==

=== Middle Ages ===
{{See also|History of Sweden (800–1521)}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; clear:right; margin:0.5em 0 0.5em 1em;"
|+ Church of Sweden statistics<ref name="svenskakyrkan-statistics" /><ref name="svenskakyrkan 1972-2018">[https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/filer/0d0ce00b-73c7-4a68-bf1e-cc8d9db5b260.pdf PDFMedlemmar i Svenska kyrkan i förhållande till folkmängd 31 december 2020 per församling, kommun och län samt riket] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421205705/https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/filer/0d0ce00b-73c7-4a68-bf1e-cc8d9db5b260.pdf |date=21 April 2021 }} Svenska kyrkan</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Medlemsutveckling 2020–2021, per församling, pastorat och stift samt riket |url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/filer/1374643/MedlemsutvecklingSKP(1).pdf?id=2398410 |access-date=21 September 2022 |website=www.svenskakyrkan.se |language=sv |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706222718/https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/filer/1374643/MedlemsutvecklingSKP(1).pdf?id=2398410 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! Year
! Population
! Church members
! Percentage
! % change (avg.)
|-
| 1972 || 8,146,000 || 7,754,784 || 95.2% ||
|-
| 1975 || 8,208,000 || 7,770,881 || 94.7% || 0.2%{{increase}}
|-
| 1980 || 8,278,000 || 7,690,636 || 92.9% || 0.3% {{decrease}}
|-
| 1985 || 8,358,000 || 7,629,763 || 91.5% || 0.3% {{decrease}}
|-
| 1990 || 8,573,000 || 7,630,350 || 89.0% || 0.5% {{decrease}}
|-
| 1995 || 8,837,000 || 7,601,194 || 86.0% || 0.6% {{decrease}}
|-
| 2000 || 8,880,000 || 7,360,825 || 82.9% || 0.6% {{decrease}}
|-
| 2005 || 9,048,000 || 6,967,498 || 77.0% || 1.2% {{decrease}}
|-
| 2010 || 9,415,570 || 6,589,769 || 70.0% || 1.4% {{decrease}}
|-
| 2015 || 9,850,452 || 6,225,091 || 63.2% || 1.4% {{decrease}}
|-
| 2020 || 10,379,295 || 5,728,746 || 55.2% || 1.6% {{decrease}}

|-
| 2021 || 10,452,326 || 5,633,867 || 53.9% || 1.3% {{decrease}}
|-
| 2022 || 10,536,649 || 5,563,351 || 52.8% || 1.1% {{decrease}}
|-
| '''2023''' ||  || '''5 484 319''' || '''52.1%''' || '''0.8%''' {{decrease}}
|}
While some Swedish areas had Christian minorities in the 9th century, Sweden was, because of its geographical location in northernmost [[Europe]], not [[Christianization|Christianized]] until around AD 1000, around the same time as the other [[Nordic countries]], when the Swedish King [[Olof Skötkonung|Olof]] was baptized. This left only a modest gap between the Christianization of Scandinavia and the [[East-West Schism|Great Schism]], however there are some Scandinavian/Swedish saints who are venerated eagerly by many [[Orthodoxy#Christianity|Orthodox Christian]]s, such as [[Olaf II of Norway|St. Olaf]]. However, [[Norse paganism]] and other pre-Christian religious systems survived in the territory of what is now Sweden later than that; for instance the important religious center known as the [[Temple at Uppsala]] at [[Gamla Uppsala]] was evidently still in use in the late 11th century, while there was little effort to introduce the [[Sámi people|Sámi]] of [[Lapland, Sweden|Lapland]] to Christianity until considerably after that.

The Christian church in Scandinavia was originally governed by the [[archdiocese of Bremen]]. In 1104, an archbishop for all Scandinavia was installed in [[Diocese of Lund|Lund]]. Uppsala was made [[Archbishop of Uppsala|Sweden's archdiocese]] in 1164, and remains so today. The papal diplomat [[William of Modena]] attended a church meeting in [[Skänninge]] in March 1248, where the ties to the Catholic Church were strengthened.

The most cherished national Catholic [[saint]]s were the 12th-century King [[Eric IX of Sweden|Eric the Saint]] and the 14th-century [[visionary]] [[Bridget of Sweden|Bridget]], but other regional heroes also had a local cult following, including [[Saint Botvid]] and [[Saint Eskil]] in [[Södermanland]], Saint [[Helena of Skövde]],<ref>[http://saints.sqpn.com/sainth13.htm Saint Helen of Skofde] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014043258/http://saints.sqpn.com/sainth13.htm |date=14 October 2008 }} Patron Saints Index</ref> and Saint [[Sigfrid of Sweden|Sigfrid]] in [[Småland]]. In their names, [[miracle]]s were performed and churches were named.

=== Reformation ===
Shortly after seizing power in 1523, [[Gustav Vasa]] addressed the [[Pope]] in Rome with a request for the confirmation of [[Johannes Magnus]] as [[Archbishop of Sweden]], in the place of [[Gustav Trolle]] who had been formally deposed and exiled by the [[Riksdag of the Estates]].

Gustav promised to be an obedient son of the Church, if the pope would confirm the elections of his bishops. But the pope requested Trolle to be re-instated. King Gustav protested by promoting the Swedish reformers, the brothers [[Olaus Petri|Olaus]] and [[Laurentius Petri]], and [[Laurentius Andreae]]. The king supported the printing of reformation texts, with the Petri brothers as the major instructors on the texts. In 1526, all Catholic printing presses were suppressed, and two-thirds of the Church's [[tithe]]s were appropriated for the payment of the national debt. A final breach was made with the traditions of the old religion at the [[Riksdag]] called by the king at [[Västerås]] in 1544.<ref name=EB1911>[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] Eleventh Edition, article ''Sweden''</ref>

Other changes of the Reformation included the abolition of some Catholic rituals. However, the changes were not as drastic as in [[Germany]]; as in Germany, Swedish churches kept not only [[Christian cross|crosses]] and [[crucifix]]es, but also icons and the traditional liturgical vestments which in Germany were usually discarded in favor of the black [[Geneva gown|preaching gown]] and [[Stole (vestment)|stole]] used until recent times. Many holy days, based on [[Saints days|saints' days]], were not removed from the calendar until the late 18th century due to strong resistance from the population.

After the death of Gustav Vasa, Sweden was ruled by [[John III of Sweden|John III]], who had Catholicizing tendencies, and then by his more openly Catholic son, [[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund]], who was also ruler of Catholic [[Poland]]. The latter was eventually deposed from the Swedish throne by his uncle, who acceded to the throne as [[Charles IX of Sweden|Charles IX]], and used the Lutheran church as an instrument in his power struggle against his nephew. He is known to have had [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] leanings.

The New Testament was translated into Swedish in 1526 and the entire Bible in 1541. Revised translations were published in 1618 and 1703. New official translations were adopted in 1917 and 2000. Many hymns were written by Swedish church reformers and several by [[Martin Luther]] were translated. A semi-official hymnal appeared in the 1640s. Official hymnals of the Church of Sweden ({{langx|sv|Den svenska psalmboken}}) were adopted in 1695, [[Den svenska psalmboken (1819)|1819]], 1937 and [[Den svenska psalmboken (1986)|1986]]. The last of these is [[Ecumenism|ecumenical]], and combines traditional hymns with songs from other Christian denominations, including [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]], Baptist, Catholic, [[Mission Covenant Church of Sweden|Mission Covenant]], Methodist, Pentecostal, and the [[Salvation Army]]. In October 2013, the Church of Sweden elected [[Antje Jackelén]] as Sweden's first female archbishop.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/sweden-elects-its-first-female-archbishop-the-german-born-bishop-of-lund/|title=Sweden elects its first female archbishop, the German-born bishop of Lund – Fox News|date=15 October 2013|publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]|access-date=15 October 2013|archive-date=18 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018071728/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/10/15/sweden-elects-its-first-female-archbishop-german-born-bishop-lund/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Emigration aspects ===
In the 1800s–1900s, the Church of Sweden supported the Swedish government by opposing both emigration and preachers' efforts recommending sobriety ([[alcoholic beverage]]s are sold in Sweden by a government monopoly). This escalated to a point where its ministers were even persecuted by the church for preaching sobriety, and the reactions of many congregation members to that contributed to the desire to leave the country (which, however, was against the law until 1840).<ref>''Vår svenska stam på utländsk mark; Svenska öden och insatser i främmande land; I västerled, Amerikas förenta stater och Kanada'', Ed. [[Axel Boëthius]], Stockholm 1952, Volume I, pp. 92, 137, 273 & 276; for the whole section</ref>

=== Lutheran orthodoxy ===
{{Main|Lutheran orthodoxy}}

=== Coat of arms ===
[[File:Svenska kyrkan vapen.svg|thumb|upright|Coat of arms of the Church of Sweden]]
[[File:Luth-Uppsala-Arms.png|thumb|upright|Coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Uppsala]]
The 19th century coat of arms is based on that of the [[Archdiocese of Uppsala]]. It is blazoned ''Or on a cross Gules an open crown of the field'' and thus features a gold/yellow field with a red cross on which there is a gold/yellow crown.<ref>Gold is represented as yellow in non-metallic representations of coats of arms.</ref> The crown is called the victory crown of [[Christ]], based on the royal crowns used in [[medieval]] times and corresponds in form to the crowns in the [[Swedish coat of arms]] and to that resting on the head of Saint Eric in the coat of arms of [[Stockholm]].

== Synodical structure {{anchor|Church politics}}==
{{See also|2021 Swedish Church Assembly elections}}
The Church adopted, at the time that it was still a state church, an administrative structure largely modelled after the state. Direct elections are held to the General Synod ({{langx|sv|Kyrkomötet}}, The Church Assembly), and the diocesan and parish ({{langx|sv|Församling}}) assemblies (and in some cases, confederation of parishes ({{langx|sv|kyrklig samfällighet}}, 'church association') assemblies and directly elected parish councils). The electoral system is the same as used in the Swedish parliamentary or municipal elections (see [[Elections in Sweden]]). To vote in the Church general elections, one must be member of the Church of Sweden, at minimum 16 years of age, and [[Population registration in Sweden|nationally registered as living in Sweden]].

The groups that take part in the elections are called [[nominating groups]] ({{langx|sv|nomineringsgrupper}}). In some cases the nationwide [[political party|political parties]] take part in the elections, such as the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democrats]] and the [[Centre Party (Sweden)|Centre Party]]. After the formal separation of Church of Sweden from the State of [[Sweden]], the growing tendency in the elections is towards independent parties forming for candidature, either based on a political conviction, for example [[Folkpartister i Svenska kyrkan]] founded by [[Liberal People's Party (Sweden)|Liberal People's Party]] members, or a pure church party such as the political independents' [[Partipolitiskt obundna i Svenska kyrkan]] (POSK) and [[Frimodig kyrka]].

==Ordained ministry==
[[File:Ordination Stockholm.jpg|thumb|Sung Mass with the ordinations of two deacons and seven priests by the Bishop of Stockholm, in St Nicholas's Cathedral ([[Storkyrkan]])]]
The Church of Sweden maintains the historic threefold ministry of [[bishop]]s, [[priest]]s, and [[deacon]]s, and has approximately 5,000 ordained clergy in total.<ref>Structure and numbers of clergy listed on the [http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?id=657777 official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207024606/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?id=657777 |date=7 December 2013 }} in English.</ref>

It practices direct ordination, also called ordination {{Lang|la|per saltum}} (literally, ordination by a leap), in which candidates are directly ordained to the specific order of ministry for which they have trained. This is an alternative approach to the sequential ordination of other historic churches (including the Anglican, Orthodox, and Catholic churches) in which candidates must be ordained in the strict sequence of deacon, then priest, then bishop. A Church of Sweden priest can be ordained directly to that office, without any previous ordination as a deacon. All deacons of the Church of Sweden are, therefore, [[permanent deacons]]. The order of bishop is not entered through direct ordination, however, and a Church of Sweden bishop is required to be a validly ordained priest prior to their consecration; if a deacon or lay person were to be selected for the position, they would first be ordained as a priest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/karlstadsstift/vem-kan-bli-biskop|title=Vem kan bli biskop?|access-date=25 August 2020|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922200929/https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/karlstadsstift/vem-kan-bli-biskop|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the Reformation, the Swedish Church seems to have practiced variously both direct ordination and sequential ordination. Although direct ordination was more widespread, and became normative, the practice of sequential ordination is attested in the seventeenth century Swedish Church. Bishop Johannes Rudbeckius (1619–1646) habitually ordained men to the diaconate in advance of ordaining them to the priesthood,<ref name=Upsala1909>{{cite web |url = http://anglicanhistory.org/lutherania/conference1909.html |title = Report of the Commission Appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, In Pursuance of Resolution 74 of the Lambeth Conference of 1908 on the Relation of the Anglican Communion to the Church of Sweden |publisher = The Young Churchman (1911), reproduced by Project Canterbury |access-date = 19 February 2017 |archive-date = 23 June 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170623122740/http://anglicanhistory.org/lutherania/conference1909.html |url-status = live }}</ref> and this was said by [[Johannes Canuti Lenaeus|Archbishop Johannes Lenaeus]] of Uppsala (in 1653) to be usual Church of Sweden practice.<ref name=Ambassy>{{cite book |title=A Journal of the Swedish ambassy in the years MDCLIII and MDCLIV from the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland : with an appendix of original papers, written by the ambassador, the Lord Commissioner Whitelocke |first=Bulstrode |last= Whitelocke |edition=1772 republication |year=1772 |page=415 }}</ref>

In the Evangelical Lutheran churches, including the Church of Sweden, ministerial function is indicated by the usual vestments of western tradition, including the [[Stole (vestment)|stole]], worn straight by bishops, crossed by priests (wearing the stole straight by priests is only permitted when in choir dress, i.e., a surplice rather than an alb, as no cincture is then used that would permit crossing the stole), and diagonally across the left shoulder by deacons. However, whereas in Roman Catholic or Anglican ordinations the candidates for priesthood will already be wearing the diagonal deacon's stole, in the Church of Sweden candidates for both diaconate and priesthood are unordained at the start of the service. Tiit Pädam of Uppsala University and a Swedish-based priest of the [[Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church]] writes: "At the beginning of the [Evangelical Lutheran] ordination service, the candidates are dressed in white albs and no one wears a stole at the beginning of the rite. In this way the churches express a significant aspect of their understanding of ordination. The white alb, used both by the ordinands to the diaconate as well as to the priesthood, is a sign that the ordination is a new beginning, rooted in the priesthood of all the baptised."<ref name=Pädam>{{cite book |title=Ordination of Deacons in the Churches of the Porvoo Communion: A Comparative Investigation in Ecclesiology |first=Tiit |last=Pädam |edition=First |publisher=Kirjastus TP (Uppsala) |year=2011 |isbn=978-9949-21-785-4 |page=276}}</ref>

The Church of Sweden employs full-time deacons to staff its extensive outreach and social welfare ''diakonia'' programme. Whilst deacons have the traditional liturgical role (and vesture) in the Swedish Church, their principal focus of work is outside the parish community, working in welfare roles. Nonetheless, deacons are attached to local parishes to be connected with church communities, and with a parish priest.

==Dioceses and bishops==
[[File:Dioceses of Church of Sweden.svg|thumb|Map of Swedish dioceses]]
[[File:Biskopsvigning 2015-09-06 001.jpg|thumb|Antje Jackelén, former Archbishop of Uppsala (centre), with Johan Dalman, Bishop of Strängnäs (left), and Mikael Mogren, Bishop of Västerås (right)]]
The Church of Sweden is divided into thirteen [[diocese]]s ({{langx|sv|stift}}), each with a bishop and [[cathedral chapter]] (Swedish: ''[[:wikt:domkapitel|domkapitel]]''). A bishop is elected by priests, [[deacon]]s, and some [[laymen|laity]] in the diocese and is the chairman of the cathedral chapter. Priest and deacon members of a cathedral chapter are elected by priests and deacons in the diocese, while its lay members are selected by the {{Lang|sv|stiftsfullmäktige}}, a body elected by church members.<ref name=KO>[http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/kyrkoordningen ''Kyrkoordningen'' (in Swedish)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103083134/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/kyrkoordningen/ |date=3 November 2011 }} (internal church regulations).</ref>

A diocese is divided into "contracts" ''[[:wikt:kontrakt|kontrakt]]'' ([[deanery|deaneries]]), each with a ''[[:wikt:kontraktsprost|kontraktsprost]]'' ([[provost (religion)|provost]]), as the leader. Deaneries with a diocesan cathedral are called {{Lang|sv|domprosteri}}. Titular provosts can also sometimes be appointed, in Swedish called ''[[:wikt:prost#Swedish|prost]]'' or {{Lang|sv|titulärprost}}. The dean and head minister of a cathedral is called ''[[:wikt:domprost|domprost]]'', "cathedral dean" or "cathedral provost", and is a member of the cathedral chapter as its vice chairman.<ref name=KO />

At the [[parish]] level, a parish is called a ''[[:wikt:församling|församling]]''.<ref name=KO /> A more archaic term for a parish in Swedish is ''[[:wikt:socken|socken]]'', which was used both in the registry and in the church administration. After the municipal reforms in 1862, the latter usage officially was replaced with {{Lang|sv|församling}}, a term somewhat meaning 'congregation', originally and still used for the Lutheran territorial and nonterritorial congregations in cities and also for other religious congregations. One or several parishes are included in a {{Lang|sv|pastorat}}<ref name=KO /><ref>A ''[[:sv:pastorat|pastorat]]'' is a subdivision within the Church of Sweden. A pastorat includes one or several parishes. Similar to a Norwegian [[Prestegjeld]].</ref> with a head minister or vicar called a ''[[:wikt:kyrkoherde|kyrkoherde]]''<ref name=KO /> (literally 'church shepherd') and sometimes other assistant priests called ''[[:wikt:komminister|komminister]]'' ([[Minister (Christianity)|minister]]). At a cathedral an assistant minister is called a {{Lang|sv|domkyrkosyssloman}}.

In addition to the 13 dioceses, the Church of Sweden Abroad ({{langx|sv|Svenska kyrkan i utlandet}} – SKUT) maintains more than 40 overseas parishes. Originally a collection of overseas churches under the direction of a committee of the [[Kyrkomötet|General Synod]], SKUT was reorganised on 1 January 2012 with a quasi-diocesan structure. Under this reorganisation it gained a governing council, constituent seats on the General Synod of the Church of Sweden (like the 13 mainland dioceses), and for the first time, full-time deacons to provide a programme of social welfare alongside the work of priests and lay workers.<ref name=Review>{{cite book |title=2011 Review and financial summary for the Church of Sweden, national level |first=Archbishop |last=Anders Wejryd |edition=First |publisher=Trossamfundet Svenska kyrkan |year=2012 |page=20 }}</ref> However, SKUT does not have its own bishop, and is placed under the episcopal oversight of the Bishop of [[Visby]].



{| class="wikitable"
|-
! | Diocese
!Diocesan coat of arms
! | Seat
! | Cathedral
! | Founded
! | Current bishop
!Bishop's coat of arms
|-
| [[Archdiocese of Uppsala]]
|[[File:Uppsala stift vapen.svg|center|182x182px]]
| [[Uppsala]]
| [[Uppsala Cathedral]] [[File:Uppsala domkyrka, flygbild.jpg|150x150px]]
| 1123
| [[Martin Modéus]] ([[Archbishop of Uppsala|Archbishop]])[[File:Martin modéus 2015.jpg|200x200px]]<br />[[Karin Johannesson]] (Bishop)
|[[File:Martin Modéus ärkebiskopsvapen.svg|center|226x226px]] [[File:Karin Johannesson biskopsvapen.svg|center|151x151px]]
|-
| [[Diocese of Skara]]
|[[File:Skara stift vapen.svg|center|179x179px]]
| [[Skara]]
| [[Skara Cathedral]]
[[File:Skara Domkyrka 2005.jpg|168x168px]]
| 1014
| [[Åke Bonnier (clergy)|Åke Bonnier]] [[File:Åke Bonnier 11.jpg|left|225x225px]]
|[[File:Åke Bonnier biskopsvapen.svg|center|226x226px]]
|-
| [[Diocese of Lund]]
|[[File:Lund stift vapen.svg|center|182x182px]]
| [[Lund]]
| [[Lund Cathedral]] [[File:Lunds domkyrka1.jpeg|160x160px]]
| 1048
| [[Johan Tyrberg]] [[File:Biskop Johan Tyrberg, porträtt. Foto Camilla Lindskog.jpg|left|225x225px]]
|[[File:Biskop Johan Tyrbergs ämbetsvapen.tif|center|190x190px]]
|-
| [[Diocese of Linköping]]
|[[File:Linköping stift vapen.svg|center|179x179px]]
| [[Linköping]]
| [[Linköping Cathedral]] [[File:LinDom-stitched.jpg|194x194px]]
| 1100
|Marika Markovits[[File:Marika Markovits 2023-03-23.jpg|left|200x200px]]
|
|-
| [[Diocese of Strängnäs]]
|[[File:Strängnäs stift vapen.svg|182x182px]]
| [[Strängnäs]]
| [[Strängnäs Cathedral]] [[File:Strängnäs cathedral Sweden 008.JPG|250x250px]]
| 1129
| [[Johan Dalman]]
[[File:Bishop Johan Dalman 2016-03-17 001.jpg|195x195px]]
|[[File:Biskop Johan Dalmans ämbetsvapen.jpg|center|188x188px]]
|-
| [[Diocese of Växjö]]
|[[File:Växjö stift vapen.svg|182x182px]]
| [[Växjö]]
| [[Växjö Cathedral]] [[File:Växjö Domkyrka, 20220806.jpg|250x250px]]
| 1165
| [[Fredrik Modéus]]
[[File:Fredrik Modéus 2015-04-12 001.jpg|234x234px]]
|
|-
| [[Diocese of Västerås]]
|[[File:Västerås stift vapen.svg|182x182px]]
| [[Västerås]]
| [[Västerås Cathedral]] [[File:Västerås Domkyrka tornet från SO 1.jpg|226x226px]]
| 12th century
| [[Mikael Mogren]]
[[File:Mikael Mogren 2015-09-06 001.jpg|254x254px]]
|[[File:Mikael Mogren biskopsvapen.svg|center|226x226px]]
|-
| [[Diocese of Visby]]
|[[File:Visby stift vapen.svg|182x182px]]
| [[Visby]]
| [[Visby Cathedral]] [[File:Visby domkyrka August 2020 03.jpg|250x250px]]
| 1572
| {{ill|Erik Eckerdal|sv}}[[File:ErikEckerdal2201beskuren.jpg|200x200px]]
|[[File:Erik Eckerdal biskopsvapen.svg|center|226x226px]]
|-
| [[Diocese of Karlstad]]
|[[File:Karlstad stift vapen.svg|182x182px]]
| [[Karlstad]]
| [[Karlstad Cathedral]] [[File:Miljö vinter Karlstads domkyrka 20.JPG|250x250px]]
| 1581
| [[Sören Dalevi]]
[[File:Biskop Sören Dalevi.jpg|210x210px]]
|[[File:Sören Dalevi biskopsvapen.svg|center|226x226px]]
|-
| [[Diocese of Gothenburg]]
|[[File:Göteborg stift vapen.svg|182x182px]]
| [[Gothenburg]]
| [[Gothenburg Cathedral]] [[File:Göteborgs domkyrka september 2011.jpg|272x272px]]
| 1620
| [[Susanne Rappmann]] [[File:Susanne Rappmann.jpg|271x271px]]
|[[File:Susanne Rappmann biskopsvapen.svg|center|226x226px]]
|-
| [[Diocese of Härnösand]]
|[[File:Härnösand stift vapen.svg|182x182px]]
| [[Härnösand]]
| [[Härnösand Cathedral]] [[File:Härnösands domkyrka 01.jpg|250x250px]]
| 1647
| [[Eva Nordung Byström]]
[[File:Eva Nordung Byström 2014-12-14 001.jpg|249x249px]]
|[[File:Eva Nordung Byström biskopsvapen.svg|thumb|226x226px]]
|-
| [[Diocese of Luleå]]
|[[File:Luleå stift vapen.svg|182x182px]]
| [[Luleå]]
| [[Luleå Cathedral]] [[File:Luleå-cathedral-4.jpg|250x250px]]
| 1904
| [[Åsa Nyström]]
[[File:Bishop Asa Nystrom 2023-03 square.jpg|150x150px]]
|[[File:Åsa Nyström biskopsvapen.svg|center|226x226px]]
|-
| [[Diocese of Stockholm (Church of Sweden)|Diocese of Stockholm]]
|[[File:Stockholm stift vapen.svg|182x182px]]
| [[Stockholm]]
| [[Stockholm Cathedral]] [[File:Storkyrkan Stockholm Atleett.jpg|250x250px]]
| 1942
| [[Andreas Holmberg]] [[File:Biskop Andreas Holmberg.jpg|150x150px]]
|
|-
|
|}

The [[Diocese of Kalmar]] existed as a [[Superintendent (ecclesiastical)|''superintendentia'']] from 1603 to 1678 and as a diocese between 1678 and 1915, at which time it was merged with the [[Diocese of Växjö]]. Another diocese which no longer exists is the [[Diocese of Mariestad]], which existed as {{Lang|sv|superintendentia}} between 1580 and 1646 and was replaced by the [[Diocese of Karlstad]].

The dioceses of Uppsala, Strängnäs, Västerås, Skara, Linköping, Växjö, and the now-Finnish [[Archdiocese of Turku|Diocese of Turku]], are the original seven Swedish dioceses, dating from the Middle Ages. The rest have come into existence after that time and the Swedish reformation in the 16th century. The Diocese of Lund was founded in 1060, became an archdiocese in 1104, and lay in Denmark. The [[Diocese of Lund#History|Province of Lund]] consisted of Denmark, Sweden, and Finland throughout the Middle Ages (originally also Norway and Iceland), although Uppsala had their own subordinate [[ecclesiastical province]] and archbishop from 1164.

When [[Eva Brunne]] was consecrated as [[Church of Sweden Diocese of Stockholm|Bishop of Stockholm]] in 2009, she became the first openly lesbian bishop in the world.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wockner|first1=Rex|title=Lesbian bishop consecrated in Sweden|url=http://www.qx.se/english/12396/lesbian-bishop-consecrated-in-sweden|website=QX|publisher=QX Förlag AB|access-date=20 July 2014|archive-date=27 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627103418/http://qx.se/english/12396/lesbian-bishop-consecrated-in-sweden|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Monasteries and convents==
The Church of Sweden has several monastic communities.

* The Sisters of the Holy Paraclete ({{Lang|sv|Helgeandssystrarna}}), who live in [[Alsike Convent]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/knivsta/Alsike/kloster/helgeand.htm |title=HelgeandssystrarnaDen Helige Andes klosterfamilj är stiftad till Guds ära i tillbedjan inför hans väldiga gärningar i den Helige |access-date=8 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030100331/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/knivsta/Alsike/kloster/helgeand.htm |archive-date=30 October 2008 }}</ref>
* The Brothers of the Holy Cross ({{Lang|sv|Heliga korsets brödraskap}}), Benedictine monks who live at the [[Östanbäck Monastery]] in [[Sala Municipality, Sweden|Sala]], [[Västmanland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/klostren/ostanbak.htm |title=Välkommen tillÖstanbäcks klosters hemsida |access-date=21 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921214813/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/klostren/ostanbak.htm |archive-date=21 September 2008 }}</ref>
* The Sisters of St. Francis ({{Lang|sv|Helige Franciskus systraskap}}), Franciscan nuns who live in [[Klaradals kloster]] in [[Sjövik]].
* The Sisters of the Risen Saviour ({{Lang|sv|Uppståndne frälsarens systraskap}}) who live in {{proper name|[[Överselö klostergård]]}}.
* The Daughters of Mary ({{Lang|sv|Mariadöttrarna av Den Evangeliska Mariavägen}}) in [[Vallby]].
* [[Linköpings kloster]] in [[Linköping]], approved by the Bishop of Linköping in 2006, and inaugurated in 2014, a small contemplative and vegetarian convent, focused on climate issues;<ref name=linko>{{cite web |url = https://www.linkopingskloster.se/ett-fro-har-planterats/ |title = Background |publisher = Linköpings kloster |access-date = 29 February 2020 |archive-date = 29 February 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200229200732/https://www.linkopingskloster.se/ett-fro-har-planterats/ |url-status = live }}</ref> it has links with the Anglican [[Society of Saint Margaret]].<ref name= linko/>[[File:Alsike Kyrka 2023 funeral of sister Marianne Nordlund.png|thumb|The procession waiting to go inside for the Sunday mass and funeral of Sister Marianne, the first nun in the Church of Sweden since the reformation. At the end are nuns from Alsike Monastery.]]

==Partner churches==
The Church of Sweden is a founding member of the [[Lutheran World Federation]], formed in [[Lund]], Sweden in 1947. [[Anders Nygren]], later the [[List of bishops of Lund|Bishop of Lund]], served as the first President of the Lutheran World Federation.<ref name="The Lutheran World Federation 1947">{{cite web | title=History of the LWF | website=The Lutheran World Federation | date=6 July 1947 | url=https://www.lutheranworld.org/who-we-are/history-lwf | access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref>

Since 1994, the Church of Sweden has been part of the [[Porvoo Communion]], bringing it into full Communion with the [[Anglican Communion|Anglican churches]] of the [[British Isles]] and the [[Iberian Peninsula]], together with the other Lutheran churches of the Nordic nations and the Baltic states. In 1995, full communion was achieved with the [[Philippine Independent Church]]. Since 2015, the Church of Sweden has also been in full communion with the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]] of the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.generalconvention.org/gc/2015-resolutions/B004/current_english_text|title=The General Convention of the Episcopal Church|date=1 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601233546/http://www.generalconvention.org/gc/2015-resolutions/B004/current_english_text |archive-date=1 June 2015 }}</ref>

In 2016, the Church of Sweden reached full communion with the [[Old Catholic]] churches within the [[Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic)|Union of Utrecht]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.utrechter-union.org/fman/851.pdf|title=Agreement|access-date=11 July 2018|archive-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711185448/https://www.utrechter-union.org/fman/851.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Sámi relations==
In 2021, the Church of Sweden apologized for its abuse of [[Sámi people|Sámi]] over several centuries, including forcible [[Christianization of the Sámi people|Christianization]], the mistreatment of children in [[Sámi schools]], and collecting the remains of Sámi people for research on scientific racism and eugenics. The Church of Sweden described their "dark actions" against the Sámi as "colonial" and "legitimized repression".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arctictoday.com/church-of-sweden-to-apologize-for-dark-colonial-sami-mistreatment/ |title=Church of Sweden to apologize for 'dark', 'colonial' Sámi mistreatment |date=10 June 2021 |publisher=[[Arctic Today]] |accessdate=3 August 2023}}</ref> Prior to apologizing, the Church of Sweden had produced a 1,100 page long document in 2019 compiling the church's history of oppressing Sámi people and erasing Sámi culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/church-of-sweden-sami-indigenous-1.6263595 |title=Church of Sweden apologizes, embarks on reconciliation with Indigenous Sámi people |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |accessdate=3 August 2023}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Culture of Sweden}}
*[[Religion in Sweden]]
*[[Catholic Church in Sweden]]
*[[Archbishop of Uppsala]]
*[[Church of Sweden Abroad]]
*[[List of Lutheran dioceses and archdioceses]]
*[[:Category:Parishes of the Church of Sweden|Church of Sweden Parishes]]
*[[Nordic churches in London#Swedish Church|Swedish churches in London]]
*[[List of the largest Protestant bodies]]

===Other Nordic national Lutheran churches===
* [[Church of Denmark]]
* [[Church of the Faroe Islands]]
* [[Church of Iceland]]
* [[Church of Norway]]
* [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]]

{{Clear}}

==  References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Gustafsson |first=Berndt |title=Svensk kyrkohistoria |edition=6th |series=Handböcker i teologi |year=1983 |orig-year=1973 |publisher=Plus Ultra |location=Helsingborg |language= sv |isbn = 91-970355-7-2 |id={{LIBRIS|7791193}} }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Church of Sweden}}
* {{Official website|1=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/english|name=Official website in English}}

{{Clear}}
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