wfn.org | No dramatic changes in the Church of Sweden numbers

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

1997 annual statistics published

UPPSALA, Sweden/GENEVA, 20 August 1998 (lwi) - "We cannot report any
dramatic changes", commented Jorgen Straarup of the Church of Sweden
Research Department regarding the church statistics for 1997, according to
an official church press release.

While church attendance and the participation in official activities,
compared to 1996, decreased by 500,000, amounting to 21.9 million
attendances, thematic and musical services were increasingly popular.
"Events that introduced new ways of worship were most successful," Straarup
emphasized. The number of participants in the Eucharist however declined,
even though the number of Eucharist celebrations increased in 1997.

Currently under discussion within the Church of Sweden is how much the new
church-state relationship - which will enter into force in 2000 - will
affect membership. In 1997, about 7.5 million people, or 84.8 percent of
Sweden's total population, belonged to the Church of Sweden. Moreover,
compared to the previous year, the number of church leavers declined.
Straarup's colleague, Jonas Alwall, concludes that most church members are
generally satisfied with the work of the Church of Sweden, "even though
they do not actively participate".

Since January 1996 baptism has been the basis for membership in the Church
of Sweden. There are two ways to become a member. Either children can be
baptized and thus accepted into the Church of Sweden, or parents can
register them as members awaiting baptism. Whereas in 1996, 78.4 percent of
newborn children were baptized, the 1997 statistics show a slight drop to
77.6 percent. At the same time, 677 adults were baptized. Just about half
of all 15-year-olds participate in confirmation instruction.

*       *       *
Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/