Decisions in the Church of Sweden General Synod 22 November

The 2017 General Synod has decided today that the General Synod 2019 will be a theme-based General Synod, and to develop a member growth strategy, and to make efforts to stop the relocation of unaccompanied minors and young people after their 18th birthdays during the asylum procedure.

Tomorrow, Thursday 23 November, a decision will be made on the matter of the new Book of Worship of the Church of Sweden, as well as decisions on the rest of the matters debated today, Wednesday.

Here is a selection of the assent decisions, with links to their reports and motions:

Kl 2017:1 Member Strategy Based on the motion 2017:117, the Central Board of the Church of Sweden was given the task of initiating a broad-based project to develop a member growth strategy relevant to the Church of Sweden at all levels (parish, diocese and national).

Kl 2017:7 Protest against inhumane treatment of unaccompanied minorsBased on the motion2017:42, point 1, the Central Board of the Church of Sweden was given the task of urging the Swedish Government and the Swedish Migration Agency to stop relocations of unaccompanied minors and young people after their 18th birthdays during the asylum procedure.

Based on the motion 2017:42, point 3, the Central Board of the Church of Sweden was given the task of urging the Swedish Government and the Swedish Migration Agency to stop the expulsions of unaccompanied minors (and young people) with strong grounds for asylum.

Kl 2017:11 Divine services and devotions on the Church of Sweden websiteBased on the motion 2017:94, the Central Board of the Church of Sweden was given the task of making available the Church of Sweden’s divine service podcasts every Sunday and holiday available on the Church of Sweden website, along with daily Church of Sweden devotions podcasts; and to provide the parishes with a platform, structure, storage and distribution for podcasts.

Kr 2017:1 General Synod’s ways of workingBased on proposals in the presiding committee's written communication 2017:1, the General Synod has decided to make it possible to hold theme-based General Synods during the 2018–2021 mandate period. The first will be held in 2019 and will subsequently be assessed. The theme will be determined by the General Synod in full session. At a theme-based General Synod, only motions that either deal with the theme or have been submitted pursuant to written communications from the Central Board of the Church of Sweden will be addressed. 

By 2020, the General Synod will adopt a position on whether to conduct a theme-based General Synod in 2021 as well.