Antje Jackelén, the first woman Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, looks back on her first 100 days in office
The Archbishop emphasises the LWF’s engagement on issues of climate change, sustainability and the ongoing reformation
Stockholm, Sweden/Geneva, 25.09.2014.
In June of this year in Uppsala, Antje Jackelén became the first woman Archbishop in the Church of Sweden. Jackelén, the German-born Bishop of Lund in southern Sweden, was elected to the office last October with a 55.9% majority of votes in the first round, succeeding Archbishop Anders Wejryd, who left the post. Jackelén is a member of the LWF Council and serves on its Committee for Theology and Ecumenical Relations. The Church of Sweden is the largest LWF member church, with more than 6.5 million members.
In an interview with “Lutheran World Information” Jackelén speaks about her first 100 days in office.
How would you describe your first 100 days in office as the first woman Archbishop of the Church of Sweden?
I have to admit that at least 35 of them were vacation days spent packing and moving. Nevertheless, it has been an intense start. Many parts of society have expressed positive expectations, which is also reflected in the high demand for media interviews. Ecumenically I have been warmly received as the new Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, and we have intensified preparations for the Reformation anniversary. Internationally, the world has seen the horrifying turn of events in Syria and Iraq and the humanitarian crisis to which we must respond.
Is it personally important to you to see the Church of Sweden and the LWF take the lead on issues such as climate change and sustainability? And how, in your view, should these matters be viewed from a biblical perspective?
It really is very important, but more from a theological than a personal perspective. No Lutheran can ignore the strong notions of justice and compassion in our tradition. That is precisely what encompasses the issues of sustainability and climate change: justice both towards the poor and the marginalised, who all too often are the first victims of climate change, and consideration for future generations. Seen from a biblical perspective, in both the prophetic tradition and the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels, what matters is the integrity of all living creation and our responsibility to care for the poor and the needy.
As a prolific social commentator who is also Sweden’s first Twitter bishop and a microblogger about your work and views, how important do you think social media are for the Church of Sweden as tools to engage not only the church but also wider society?
It is one important tool among others. For any church, the main thing is to build relationships and to proclaim the gospel in word and deed. Neither of these tasks can be accomplished without communication. In Sweden, statistical surveys show that the media and social media significantly shape people’s perceptions and knowledge of our church.
There are two common themes in your books and writings: the relationship between science and faith, and the role of religion in society. What interaction do you see between the two?
We cannot credibly engage in intellectual debates in society if we cannot relate our theology to the best available knowledge of today. This is nothing new; in every age theologians have developed their thinking in critical conversations with society. However, it works both ways. Theology offers important insights that complement the sciences.
You are a member of the LWF Council. What does that mean to you, and why, in your view, is it important and essential for the Church of Sweden to be an LWF member?
The church is a global communion. We live and pray locally, and yet we relate to a global church in the world. In the LWF we are aware that the movement which began in Wittenberg and spread to the Scandinavian countries is by no means a European phenomenon. The LWF reminds us that the reformation is global, ecumenical and ongoing.
report prepared based on information provided by the LWF http://www.lutheranworld.org
Translated from English by LELBĀL pastor Ieva Puriņa
Proofreader Mag. Theol. Milda Klampe