Congratulatory message to Rev. Dr Antje Jackelén, Archbishop-elect of the Church of Sweden

Dear Dr Jackelén,

On behalf of the fellowship of the member churches of the World Council of Churches, I would like to congratulate you on being elected as Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Sweden.

We are confident that your spiritual leadership will promote the ecumenical endeavours of the Church of Sweden, its mission work and theological contributions. We believe that your role as a church leader will be able to guide congregations and churches in your country and beyond for just and peaceful societies, with positive participation of both women and men.

We hope for continuation of fruitful collaborations with the Church of Sweden under your leadership, strengthening our ecumenical relations which span a number of years.

While we admire your contributions as a church leader in Sweden to Christian faith and unity, I especially would like to offer my heartfelt prayers on the beginning of your new ministry as the first woman archbishop in the Church of Sweden. I pray that when you take up this new role, God’s empowering love will surround you, as you serve communities and deal with the challenges that churches in Sweden and Europe have to address.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
WCC general secretary