The Churches together in Faith and Action

All churches have their own identity and priorities. However, faith can also lead to unity and challenge. This is where the Christian Council of Sweden, representing 6 million Swedes, is an important actor.

The Christian Council of Sweden has 28 member churches and four observing members. They reflect the various Christian traditions present in our country.

The churches meet within the Christian Council to share experiences and coordinate joint projects. All churches have their own identity and priorities. However, faith can also unite and challenge.

The current presidium: archbishop Dioscoros Benjamin Atas, Syriac Orthodox Church (chair), general secretary Sofia Camnerin, church leader Karin Wiborn, Uniting Church in Sweden (Equmeniakyrkan), cardinal Anders Aborelius, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm and archbishop Martin Modéus, Church of Sweden.

The Organization

The Annual Meeting is the highest decision‑making body of the Christian Council of Sweden. At the Annual Meeting, all member churches are represented in proportion to their size. The Annual Meeting comprises just over 60 members.

The work of the Council is led by the Board, which is elected at the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting is held in May, with the attendance of around 60 representatives from the various churches.

The Board consists of twelve members, each with a personal deputy. The seats on the Board and its Presidium are distributed among the four church families. The chairmanship of the Christian Council of Sweden rotates annually between the Presidium members from the four different church families.

Our ecumenial committments

EAPPI

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel is based on an appeal from local church leaders to create an international presence. The programme accompanies local people and communities, offering a protective presence and is a witness to the daily struggles and hopes. The Christian Council of Sweden recruits, trains, and sends out around 20 accompaniers annually. To date, more than 400 Swedish accompaniers have taken part in the programme.

Prison Chaplaincy

The Christian Council of Sweden has been commissioned by the Swedish Prison and Probation Service to coordinate and provide spiritual care in all prisons and remand centres across the country. Around 180 priests, pastors and deacons, as well as imams and other Muslim spiritual carers work within the Swedish correctional system. They are are tasked with meeting the inmates’ need for personal conversations, worship services, and guidance on ethical and existential matters.

Health Care Chaplaincy

The joint work of the Christian churches in providing spiritual care within the healthcare system is known as Sjukhuskyrkan. Local congregations in the vicinity of the hospitals are responsible, and is present in around 70 hospitals across Sweden, with up to 300 members of staff. In the urban areas, the Catholic Church and the Orthodox churches are also involved. Priests, pastors, deacons, religious sisters, and others with appropriate training from different Christian denominations serve together.

Churches together – in Faith and Action

Ecumenism is when churches discuss, cooperate and seek unity. Ecumenism is derived from the Greek word “oikomene”, which means “the whole inhabited earth”.

More about us

Cooperation between churches is facilitated within work groups or networks, where representatives of the churches and related organisations meet.

Member churches and observers

The 28 member churches and four observers which collaborate and meet within the Christian Council of Sweden, are divided into four church families.