Vital voice for the church in the public sphere
LWF’s general secretary thanks outgoing Church of Sweden Archbishop Antje Jackelén, for her leadership role
(LWI) – An important voice for the church in the public sphere, in Sweden and beyond. This is how the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) general secretary Rev. Anne Burghardt described the outgoing leader of the Church of Sweden, Archbishop Dr. Antje Jackelén, in a letter of thanks for her support of the global Lutheran communion over the past nine years.
The German-born Jackelén was elected the 70th Archbishop of Uppsala and Primate of the Church of Sweden in October 2013, and thus became the first woman to hold that leadership position. She then served as an LWF council member and was further elected vice-chairman for the Nordics, a post she will continue to hold until next year Congregation in Krakow, Poland.
Archbishop Jackelén ended his mandate on October 31, after a service in Uppsala Cathedral on Sunday. In June this year, the Church of Sweden elected her successor, Bishop Martin Modéus, who will officially take up his new role in December.
Ecumenism, interfaith, inclusion of marginalized communities
In his greeting to the outgoing leader, Reverend Burghardt applauded how she has “consistently spoken up for solidarity, dialogue and inclusion of marginalized peoples and communities.” She said the LWF is “deeply grateful” for Jackelén’s leadership of the Church of Sweden, an LWF founder and a “strong partner” for its work in many areas, including humanitarian and development work, advocacy, theological education, gender equality and strengthening churches in mission.
Burghardt noted Jackelén’s role as pioneering the EuropeanA world of neighbors‘ network “that empowers grassroots activists to become agents of change for a more welcoming and hospitable society.” She also recalled her key role in the 2016 joint commemoration of the Reformation that brought the LWF and the Catholic Church together in Lund Cathedral and Malmö Arena, events which the General Secretary described as “a great milestone for the ecumenical movement.”
Finally, Burghardt praised the role Jackelén has played in strengthening interfaith relations at a time of “increasing polarization and exclusionary discourse in politics and societies at large.” Jackelén will continue to serve as co-chair of the Religions for Peace global network and has said she hopes to continue researching critical issues surrounding the relationship between science and religion.
By LWF/P. The hitch