Elections, Again!

 Election time to the Swedish church.

I wrote about this in 2013 and in 2017.

Nothing really has changed.

The Church of Sweden is a Lutheran national church. A former state church, that was separated from the state in the year 2000. The church has  just under 5.8 million members by the end of 2020, it is the largest Christian denomination in Sweden, the largest Lutheran denomination in Europe.

The church of Sweden is a democratic church and each member has the right to vote in elections for the framework of the church. As a member you have the possibility to influence the church.

 If you want to stand as a candidate in the church election, you must: be a member of the Church of Sweden. have been baptised in the Church of Sweden or another Christian faith community, or have previously been an elected representative in the Church of Sweden. You have to be at least 18 years old on polling day, be registered in the church register in the area for which the election is being held.

Now to the perhaps more interesting parts of this election:

Political parties are getting involved in this election, even if the state and the church separated a long time ago.

Politicians are using the church election as their platform, forcing their ideas on to the clergy.

Some politicians want the church to be equal, counteract discrimination and have more women in senior positions.

Inn the future should the church be a place for everyone to be married, regardless of sexual orientation, and that all priests should want to marry everyone, even forced. 

Some politicians see Jesus as a socialist. Others want the church to fight against racism, work for the environment, prevent war etc.

No one talks about Jesus. No one talks about the importance of receiving him, baptism in the holy spirit, forgiveness, repentance. No one talks about Discipleship, missions.

Fighting racism, including women, loving all, Jesus did all this 2000 years ago. That is what the church has done and still is doing all over the world.

It was the church and Christians who started education for everyone, They started hospitals for everyone. Helped people with clothes and food. Starded welfare programs, orphaninges, shelters for animals, fighting for woman, fighting to end slavery. and so much more.

Jesus  vision of life continues to challenge humanity. His influence has swept over history bringing inspiration to what has happened in art, science, government, medicine, and education; he has taught humans about dignity, compassion, forgiveness, and hope.

John Ortberg wrote: “If you want to do the work of God, pay attention to people. Notice them. Especially the people nobody else notices.”

The church sees these people, the church invites these people that the world out there don't care about.

Nothing of this do the politicians talk about. Perhaps they don't care, perhaps they don't know.

Who to tell them...