Uppsala Link: Social Justice

The Llandaff Diocesan link with Uppsala Diocese in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden began in October 2006.

In May 2023 Diocesan World Partnerships Officer Martyn Daviestravelled with Diocesan Director of Ordinands Ryan Green, Head of Education Beccie Morteo and Social Justice and Outreach Lead Christoph Auckland. Each of them have reflected on their experiences during that visit.

Here Christoph reflects on social justice based on his experience in Sweden.

By Christoph Auckland

‘Members and non-members of the Church of Sweden often see the church’s social welfare work, diaconia, as a yardstick of our credibility. Although the church is always more than the work that the people of God carry out together, this is justified to a certain extent. Jesus said “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)’

That is the preface to a letter from the Bishops of the Church of Sweden regarding the diaconia, the permanent deaconate centred on the servant role of the deacon in their mission to meet the needs of the community. The socio-economic and political context in Sweden is not that different to our own here in Wales – a welfare system under strain, widening wealth gap, the polarisation of society, a desire to welcome and support refugees and migrants whilst combating political challenges and populism. Within that context the Church of Sweden is seen as a valued and trusted voice, a collaborative partner, and an advocate for those without a voice. It meets people needs where they are, delivers interventions to provide support and relief, and influences public and political opinion, all underpinned by sound strategic and social analysis.

As you can imagine then, it was an eye-opening and uplifting pleasure to meet several members of the diaconia in Uppsala, both parish based and working for the diocese, to explore the work they do and what we could learn from each other. In particular, it was really encouraging to explore the interventions the diaconate has delivered for newcomers (the term used for migrants, refugees, and anyone new to the diocese – absolutely using that in Llandaff from now on) and to address the cost of living issues within Sweden. At least three of these projects for newcomers to Uppsala and Sweden we’ll be looking to trial here in Llandaff, particularly a newcomer matching process that supported 54% of refugees and migrants into work within their first year in Sweden.

On a personal level, I was delighted to visit Gamla Uppsala, the Dark Age and Medieval capital of Sweden and site of several burial and royal mounds dating to as early as the 3rd century, as well as the centre of pre-Christian Norse cultic religion. As Christianity developed in Sweden Gamla Uppsala became Sweden’s first archbishopric, the original cathedral of which remains despite the Archbishopric moving to Ostra Aros (modern day Uppsala) in the 13th century.

Perhaps the most powerful experience for me however was to be found in Uppsala Cathedral. Upon the death of King Gustav 1st, arguably Sweden’s most prominent King who finished the task of securing Sweden’s bloody independence from the Kalmar Union and Sweden’s break from the Catholic Church, the Lady Chapel of Uppsala Cathedral was converted into his tomb. In the 19th century, as Sweden’s modern sense of national identity developed Johan Gustaf Sandberg, a Swedish painter, adorn this tomb with frescoes depicting significant events in the reign of King Gustav Vasa, in some respects turning it into a shrine of Swedish national identity. In 2003 Uppsala Cathedral commission Anders Widoff to develop a reinstatement of the Virgin Mary within the cathedral. Rather then being placed within the Lady Chapel, his striking piece – a hyper-realistic waxwork of Mary as an older, unassuming yet dignified woman – stands behind the alter looking into the Gustav’s tomb, into what was once her chapel. The unassuming piece, which could so easily be mistaken for a real woman, is a powerful way of meeting Mary at a human level, with her dignity and courage offering an authentic portrayal of the Queen of Heaven. Yet her position staring into that shrine to national identity, that appropriated tomb that was once her chapel, is a striking reminder of the perceived and actual power of politics, the church and faith, and in particular for the Church in Wales and the Church of Sweden, two churches once the established churches of their respective nations but no longer. It was a powerful testament to the voice of the church and the people in political and national life, and a challenge for us on where we stand. It something that lingers with me a month later.

There is much we can learn from the Church of Sweden, and much that I can still explore with them that will bless and enhance our work here in Llandaff, from the treatment of the Sami people, through discipleship resources for those with additional needs, to the welcome and support provided to newcomers. And, in particular, the powerful role the diaconate plays in honouring and celebrating those at the front line of God’s mission to the world. I look forward to going back again, and sharing much of what we do here with them when they visit Llandaff.