SWEDEN – The Mission Province in Sweden (Missionsprovinsen – MP) held its 2024 provincial convention from October 18-19 in Linköping, during which time the church approved fellowship with a new church partner: the Evangelical-Lutheran Confessional Church (Evangelisk-Lutherska Bekännelsekyrkan – ELBK) in Sweden and Norway.
MP Bishop Bengt Ådahl reported to the convention how positive relations between the MP and the ELBK first began on the local level between the MP’s parish of St. Matthew in Helsinborg and the ELBK parish of St. Johannes in Yxenhult. This eventually led to formal discussions between leadership of the two church bodies, with the conclusion that there were no obstacles to church fellowship. The provincial convention welcomed the results, and gave its approval for Bishop Ådahl to formally confirm church fellowship with the ELBK.
In a letter to the convention, ELBK Chairman Asbjørn Hjorthaug reflected on the gift of unity in the Church, writing that “it is God’s holy will that we should practice this unity in communion.” The ELBK, which was formed in 1974, is a confessional free Lutheran church body with three congregations in Sweden and one in Norway.
Among other business during the provincial convention, the Mission Province discussed the need for more priests; conducted elections for positions on the church’s Mission Council and on the Consistory; and considered the position of the diaconate in the province. Keynote speaker for the 2024 provincial convention was Dr. Kjell O. Lejon of Linköping University. Dr. Lejon gave a lecture entitled “Crusade Rhetoric Then and Now – Correcting the Use of History.”
The 2024 gathering also welcomed delegates from the Mission Province’s newest congregation, St. Luke’s in Kungälv, which was officially accepted as a full member congregation during a June 27 meeting of the MP’s Mission Council.
The convention also received greetings from fellowship partners in the Mission Diocese of Finland (Suomen evankelisluterilainen Lähetyshiippakunta – ELMDF) and the Evangelical-Lutheran Diocese in Norway (Det evangelisk-lutherske stift i Norge – DELSIN).
The Mission Province is a member church of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), as are the ELMDF and DELSIN. The ILC is a global association of confessional Lutheran churches which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of an unconditional commitment to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.
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