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Swedish Methodists considering merger


From NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>
Date 30 Dec 1999 12:20:19

Dec. 20, 1999 News media contact: Linda Bloom*(212) 870-3803*New York
10-71B{678}

A United Methodist News Feature
by the Rev. Øystein Brinch* 
  
United Methodists in Sweden have decided to resume conversations with the
Swedish Union of Baptists and the Swedish Covenant Church
(Congregationalists) about the possibility of establishing a joint
denomination.

The Swedish Covenant Church is by far the largest of the three denominations
with nearly 100.000 members. The United Methodist Church in Sweden has a
membership of about 5,000 and serves a constituency of another 4,000,
according to Bishop Hans Vaxby leader of the church's Northern Europe Area. 

A new commission will conduct negotiations toward a "decision of intention"
regarding a merger. According to the United Methodist Board of Finance and
Administration in Sweden, the decision would include an outline for a joint
constitution and consider differences in tradition, organization and
theology. Existing international relations would be maintained.  

The proposition will be presented to the conferences of the denominations in
2001, with a final decision expected in 2002.  

 "It is a big step that now is taken to lead the three denominations closer
to each other," said the Rev. Par Axel Sahlberg, the board's chairperson.
"Such a decision of intention makes it possible for the members of our
churches, congregations and administrative boards to make up their minds
about a proposition that clearly displays all the possibilities a joint
church implies."   Sahlberg is a representative to the Swedish Parliament.

 In his work with the Swedish state authorities and the Church of Sweden
regarding new legislation for all the denominations, Sahlberg said he had
found "new possibilities are at hand for new ecumenical efforts."

"I also have been concerned that the changes for the individual member shall
be as small as possible.  Likewise, the national structures ought to be
altered a lot to give new power to the key ministry of the people of God.
We have today around 60 ecumenical congregations in Sweden and it will be a
much better situation for these local churches that the denominations are
joining forces."

A report about the new commission will be presented at United Methodist
annual conference next spring.  Vaxby said the Swedish United Methodists
will insist the new denomination retain bishops and be organized in a
connectional rather than a congregational form. 

#  #  #
*Brinch is editor of Brobyggeren, the monthly magazine of the Norwegian
United Methodist Church.

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
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http://www.umc.org/umns


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