Equmeniakyrkan's governing board meets this weekend for its first autumn session, with the follow-up to the denomination's Vision26 church conference at the top of the agenda. Chair Dick Simonsson says the time has come to move "from conversation to action" after a summer spent gathering reflections from local congregations across Sweden.
Equmeniakyrkan, the Uniting Church of Sweden, was formed in 2011 through the merger of three Swedish free-church traditions, and Vision26 — held in Örebro in June — brought the denomination together to consider its long-term direction. A working group is now to process the material gathered from congregations, aiming to complete its work by November and to shape a direction looking five to eight years ahead.
According to the synthesis prepared for the board, local churches are asking above all for better conditions for relationships, cooperation, and leadership development. Three themes stand out as decisive: generational change, the supply of leaders, and collaboration. The leadership shortage reaches beyond future pastors and deacons to youth leaders, preachers, and volunteers willing to serve on boards. Small congregations with limited finances and few volunteers are especially vulnerable, Simonsson notes, which makes cooperation essential for sharing work no single congregation can carry alone. The board's conclusions are expected to be put before the next church conference for decision.
(Originally published in Swedish. Summary translated by CC / Connexion.)
Source: Equmeniakyrkan / Sändaren — sandaren.se
