Baptist Union of Sweden
Encyclopedia
The Baptist Union of Sweden (Svenska Baptistsamfundet) is the oldest of several Baptist
bodies in Sweden
.
The first known Baptist church in Sweden was organized on September 21, 1848 in Vallersvik, where a group of people committed the first known baptism in Sweden. At the time this was a crime, and the new movement's leader F O Nilsson was deported. Others were fined or jailed. A few years later, the Swedish laws changed, and religious groups other than the official state church were allowed to work.
A general conference was formed in 1857 and the conference formed the Swedish Baptist Union in 1889.
In 1934 the Swedish Baptist Union attained its peak, with 68 000 members. In 2006 it reported a total of 17 000 members in 223 parishes.
The Union has suffered two divisions, the first leading to the formation of the Free Baptist Union (Fribaptistsamfundet) in 1872, and the second to the Örebro Mission (Örebromissionen) (started in 1892, but separated from the Union in 1936).
The Baptist Union of Sweden is a member of the Swedish Free Church Council
, the European Baptist Federation
, and the Baptist World Alliance
.
It was the first Swedish church to appoint a woman as head of the assembly. It is led by Ms Karin Wiborn (2007).
Today (2008) 220 parishes are affiliated to the Baptist Union of Sweden, consisting of more than 17000 members. Many parishes are also connected to other church communions.
There are ongoing discussions on a closer relationship with Mission Covenant Church of Sweden
(Svenska Missionskyrkan) and Methodist Church of Sweden (Metodistkyrkan i Sverige). Summer 2008 the three church communions will have a joint annual conference, where a further step towards closer relationship are expected.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
bodies in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
The first known Baptist church in Sweden was organized on September 21, 1848 in Vallersvik, where a group of people committed the first known baptism in Sweden. At the time this was a crime, and the new movement's leader F O Nilsson was deported. Others were fined or jailed. A few years later, the Swedish laws changed, and religious groups other than the official state church were allowed to work.
A general conference was formed in 1857 and the conference formed the Swedish Baptist Union in 1889.
In 1934 the Swedish Baptist Union attained its peak, with 68 000 members. In 2006 it reported a total of 17 000 members in 223 parishes.
The Union has suffered two divisions, the first leading to the formation of the Free Baptist Union (Fribaptistsamfundet) in 1872, and the second to the Örebro Mission (Örebromissionen) (started in 1892, but separated from the Union in 1936).
The Baptist Union of Sweden is a member of the Swedish Free Church Council
Swedish Free Church Council
The Swedish Free Church Council is an association of free churches in Sweden. It is part of the Christian Council of Sweden ....
, the European Baptist Federation
European Baptist Federation
The European Baptist Federation is a federation of 51 Baptist associations and is one of six regional fellowships in the Baptist World Alliance. The EBF was founded in Ruschlikon, Switzerland, in 1949. It lays a great deal of emphasis on human rights, religious liberty and aid programs. The...
, and the Baptist World Alliance
Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance is a worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations, formed in 1905 at Exeter Hall in London during the first Baptist World Congress.-History:...
.
It was the first Swedish church to appoint a woman as head of the assembly. It is led by Ms Karin Wiborn (2007).
Today (2008) 220 parishes are affiliated to the Baptist Union of Sweden, consisting of more than 17000 members. Many parishes are also connected to other church communions.
There are ongoing discussions on a closer relationship with Mission Covenant Church of Sweden
Mission Covenant Church of Sweden
The Mission Covenant Church of Sweden , founded in 1878, is a Swedish Reformed free church. It is the second-largest Christian denomination in the country, after the national church, the Church of Sweden...
(Svenska Missionskyrkan) and Methodist Church of Sweden (Metodistkyrkan i Sverige). Summer 2008 the three church communions will have a joint annual conference, where a further step towards closer relationship are expected.