International grant in Anders Wejryd’s name

Wanja Lundby Wedin, first vice chair of the Central Board of the Church of Sweden, presented departing Archbishop Anders Wejryd with his farewell gift: an annual international youth grant established in his name. Photo: Magnus Aronson/IKON

A newly established international grant in Anders Wejryd’s name was the farewell gift from the Central Board of the Church of Sweden to Archbishop Anders Wejryd at his leaving reception in Uppsala on Saturday afternoon. There were many well-wishers and speakers, and after the reception he solemnly laid down his crozier in Uppsala Cathedral – marking the end of his time as Archbishop.

Anders Wejryd’s international grant is the name of the annual grant that the Central Board of the Church of Sweden has established in honour of the now retired Archbishop. The grant amounts to SEK 75,000 and intends to give young people the opportunity to visit a church or organisation “in a society structured differently to their own” for three months. Anders Wejryd will help to select the recipients of the grant and will meet the young people before they embark on their period of time abroad.

The grant is aimed at young people aged 18–30 who are undertaking studies with a focus on social/diaconal subjects. The idea is that they will experience different society structures and the task of the Church both locally and globally, and gain understanding of people’s real-life situations, vulnerability and needs in a different part of the world.

Anders Wejryd’s very long commitment to the Church of Sweden’s international work also characterised his farewell sermon in Uppsala Cathedral on Saturday evening. In an evening vespers service, he spoke of mission day, Missionsdagen (which coincides with Trinity Sunday in Sweden) and cited the mission words of Jesus: “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

“We have been sent to each other, he said, because we people need each other and are not just a source of joy to each other, but are essential to each other.”

“Jesus was sent with actions – and words. Jesus dared to cross lines. Jesus saw those who were in trouble and broke the pattern. He came to them with the Gospel. The Gospel came to them and it will come to us,” promised Anders Wejryd in his final sermon of his term of office.

At the end of the service, he laid down his crozier and took off his Archbishop’s cross, cloak and mitre. After nearly eight years as Archbishop, he will now retire.