Sweden

Reports submitted by the Dioceses:

Uppsala :

Since the 1994 Sweden reception of the Poorvo agreement the diocese of Uppsala has been active in making the agreement known among the parishes of the diocese. Links of different durations have been encouraged and formed by local parishes with parishes in Finland , Estonia , Latvia and England .

Teambuilding of local parish staff as well as of the diocesan staff together with lay representatives of the diocesan board have been organised by the Diocese and been located to Ireland , England , Scotland , Iceland and Finland . As part of the programme the visiting groups have studied the situation in the local church.

Ministers from the diocese of Uppsala have been working in local parishes in Church of England.

On some occasions, after the ordination, a few ministers have spent a month of their first year as ministers in Church of England.

At different official gatherings within the diocese of Uppsala international guests from the Poorvo communion have been present. At the assembly of ministers, with the of the bishop and the archbishop every sixth year, representatives of Church of England were present in 1998 and a representative of Church in Wales was present at the meeting of 2005.

Not to forget the diocesan bishop of Uppsala The Rt Revd Dr Ragnar Persenius has been Co-chairman of the Poorvo Contact Group since 2002.

Linköping

More than a year of preparations was needed before the Diocese of Linköping and the Diocese of Connor were able to sign the Partnership Agreement in may 1996. The celebrations surrounding the actual signing of the Agreement, which were held both in Linköping and Belfast , were attended by a great number of people. In relation to the Irish celebration the Rural Deans of Linköping travelled to Connor, and were subdivided into smaller study groups so as to be able to experience as much as possible of the diocese – which in turned resulted in a number of parish links being forged – links many of which are still very much alive.

The parish of Väderstad twinned with Larne and Inver, Vadstena with Asherton, Kisa with Agherton, Västervik with Templepatrick, Ryd with S.T George Belfast, Vist with Eglantine, Berga with Malone, Belfast, Linköping cathedral parish with St Thomas Belfast, Eksjö with St Pauls Lisburn, Ekeby with Antrim, Vrinnevi with Antrim, Gamleby with St Bartholomew, St Johannes with Broughshane, Styrstad with St Matthew and Västra Harg with St Mary Magdalene.

Prior to the date when the first twinning agreement between Linköping and The Diocese of Connor expired in 2002 an evaluation meeting was held. The group noted the agreement had worked out well. They reminded each other that the primary task of the twinning was the commitment to pray for one another. The parishes had not been pressed to form individual links and the experiences from this was most positive – there was a lot of spontaneous interest to be encouraged.

The fact that Swedes seemed to prefer to put their guest in hotels and meet in parish halls rather than in homes was seen as a thing which, to some, seemed less welcoming – but then again – it could be a difference in culture. There was also always the question on language – but that was a minor obstacle.

In some cases the parishes felt that it was difficult to know how best to nurture a link.

Following this meetin a new agreement was signed for another two years, which in turn has been extended to 2009.

The twinning parishes continue to keep close contacts and visit each other regularly.

In 2002 the Diocesan Board of the Diocese of Linköping was involved in a conference on Mission together with the Diocese of Connor. Staff from the Diocesan office lectured at clergy days in Limavady, Januari 2003 – focusing on the challenges facing the Church in a secularised world. Youth groups from the Diocese of Connor joined the pilgrimage of Bishop Martin Lind to Nidaros ( Norway ) in 2005 (a wonderful experience – perhaps one of the best throughout this period, an ecumenical secretary from Linköping commented.)

The Cathedral parish of Linköping has, since 15 years ago, entered into a semi-formal relationship with the Cathedral of St Albans. The cooperation begun as Linköping cathedral sought ways of developing its visitors- and education service and was impressed by what was happening in St Albans . Since then the relationship has grown (Linköping was joined by representatives from St Albans in the celebration in Linköping of the visit by Brakespeare in 1153 ) and now cover almost every aspect of the activities in either cathedral. As a result of this the dioceses are currently on their way of formalizing their relationship – thus broadening it towards covering the whole diocese.

Härnösand:

In the province of Jämtland which is the western part of the diocese of Härnösand, an intreresting inofficial partnership has developed around the provincial partnership with Valgamaa province in southern Estonia . Starting in the provincial gouvernor's office, it has spread to the church. Some of the parishes in Jämtland – Härjedalen have taken up contacts with Lutheran congregations in Valgamaa province in Estonia paying visits to one another.

The Mid-Nordic fellowship

Härnösand diocese takes part in the mid-nordic church cooperation. In this fellowship we share views, problems and experiences between the three dioceses in the region, the diocese of Nidaros in Norway , the diocese of Härnösand in Sweden and the diocese of Lapua , Finland . Meetings are held every other year.

Härnösand and Nidaros also meet regularly to what is called a Border meeting.

The Diocese of Härnösand says they are both proud and happy about all these friendship relations. Their wish and aim is that these international ecumenical relations may be of mutual benefit and mutual blessing. In the weekly Wednesday morning mass in the cathedral of Härnösand, they pray for their partner churches and brothers and sisters within the Porvoo churches, waiting to see our unity grow in Jesus Christ and hoping that we all can be usful tools in His hands today.

Chelmsford-Karlstad, A short summary of 20 years of friendship

The Dioceses of Chelmsford and Karlstad both belong to the Reformed tradition of European Christianity. Since 1986 both dioceses have deepened their mutual contact through common Eucharist, the shared life of our congregations and friendship. Both bishops have on several occasions visited each other. Priests and lay people have shared experiences in the life of the Church.

During 1995 the Church of England and the Church of Sweden have adopted the Porvoo Declaration, which provides possibilities for a deepened solidarity between the two Churches. The unique relation between the Dioceses of Chelmsford and Karlstad , with a regular exchange since 1987, creates a special responsibility for these dioceses to deepen their co-operation on basis of the intentions of the Porvoo statement.

This is the introduction to the agreement between our two dioceses which is to be found on our webbpage http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/karlstadsstift/ click ekumeniskt avtal
The agreement has been renewed in 2001 and in 2005. In 2001 there were several items listed as examples of what we would like to accomplish and in the renewal in 2005 was expressed the desire to work for the implementation of these items.

The third Sunday in February is the Chelmsford-Karlstad Sunday.

We have had an exchange of priests during the years and several visits in both directions.

Last summer a group from Chelmsford visited Karlstad diocese, bishop John Gladwin took part in the ordination of 7 priests and 5 deacons in Karlstad Cathedral and we had a discussion on the agreement and decided to go on for at least another five years.

This last weekend a vicar from the parish of Kristinehamn was in Chelmsford to take part in the installation of their new vicar in St Margaret's parish in east London .

Bishop Esbjörn Hagberg will be installed as an ecumenical canon in Chelmsford Cathedral in February 6 th 2006 .

We will present their Retreathouse in Pleshey a garden cross this summer when bishop Esbjörn and a group from Karlstad diocese will attend the ordinations in Chelmsford .

Skara

Although not in a formal twinning relationship with any Anglican diocese the Diocese of Skara has had a number of contacts within the area.

The then Bishop of Wakefield, now Bishop of Manchester, Nigel McColloch, took part in a consecration 1996 and the former Canon of York Minster, Revd Canon Dr John Toy has on numerous occasions worked in the Skara diocese for longer or shorter periods (as indeed in most of the Swedish dioceses – he is an appreciated ambassador for Porvoo in Sweden).

Revd Helene Tärneberg Steed, ordained for the Diosese of Skara, now works as a Deans Vicar in Cork , Church of Ireland .

The Diocese of Skara has also had a fruitful exchange with Canterbury in relation to the project Faith in the countryside.

Many parishes in Skara Diocese (as indeed in most, if not all, Swedish dioceses) are linked to a parish in Estonia .