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Nathan Söderblom was appointed Archbishop of Uppsala and primate of the Church of Sweden in November – one hundred years ago. A Nobel laureate and a well-known theologian, Söderblom was instrumental in building the modern ecumenical movement and a concept of global Christian fellowship which later contributed to the creation of the World Council of Churches (WCC).
The Church of Sweden has celebrated the 100th anniversary of the consecration of Söderblom as Archbishop of Uppsala which took place on 8 November 1914. The celebration, held in Uppsala from 3-9 November, focused on the theme “Life, Faith and Future - Nathan Söderblom as inspiration for our time”. The event included lectures, seminars and worship services. An ecumenical Memorial Service was held in the cathedral of Uppsala, co-presided by Archbishop Dr Antje Jackelén of the Church of Sweden, and Metropolitan Cleopas Strongylis of Sweden and All Scandinavia.
“Nathan Söderblom was a remarkable leader in the church of Jesus Christ. He offered his gifts and time to the leadership of your church, but he also gave significant and unique leadership to the ecumenical fellowship of churches,” said the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, in his message to the Church of Sweden.
“Through his initiatives for an organized ecumenical movement, particularly through the great and unprecedented meeting in Stockholm 1925, Nathan Söderblom opened a new chapter in the history of the churches and their common witness in the world,” Tveit said.
Söderblom was a driving force behind the first Universal Conference on Life and Work, acting as host of the event at Stockholm in 1925. This movement for “practical Christianity” sought to bring together churches of many traditions in a common quest for justice in society and the pursuit of world peace.
In 1930 Söderblom was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for his initiatives to make the fellowship of churches a movement for justice and peace. Tveit concluded: “That was a significant recognition of how the churches can contribute something together for just peace in the world. It reminds us of the potential and duty to do so in our time.”
The WCC was represented at the anniversary celebration through the WCC president for Europe Rev. Dr Anders Wejryd, archbishop emeritus of the Church of Sweden, and Dr Dagmar Heller, WCC staff member of the Faith and Order Commission.
Read full text of the WCC general secretary’s message
More information about the Church of Sweden
More information on Nathan Söderblom
Nathan Söderblom Nobel lecture: The Role of the Church in Promoting Peace
