CHURCH OF SWEDEN YOUTH
Church of Sweden Youth is the organization for children and youth within the Lutheran Church of Sweden. This is where we as children and young people have the opportunity to take responsibility and make decisions about our own activities and our own organization.
This is how we describe ourselves:”Church of Sweden Youth is an open fellowship of young people who want to discover and share the Christian faith.” This statement is a short description of our identity as a movement.
Organisation
Church of Sweden Youth is a national movement and is divided into three parts:
A local branch is usually a part of a congregation within the Church of Sweden, but it is also possible for members to create a local branch based on a mutual interest, such as music or drama. The local branch elects a board or its equivalent at an annual meeting. There they also decide together on their activities during the year ahead and discuss other questions of interest.
A local branch belongs to one of thirteen districts within the Church of Sweden Youth. These districts are equivalent to the thirteen dioceses within the Church of Sweden. Every year, the districts invite their local branches to an annual meeting to elect a district board and plan activities. The districts also arrange camps for children and youth, leader training etc, and represent children and young people within the diocese.
The national level includes every member, local branches and districts. Every other year the Major Annual Meeting is held, which is the legislative assembly of Church of Sweden Youth. All active local branches are invited to send representation. The Major Annual Meeting elects the National board, which leads the organization during the two following years.
The Minor Annual Meeting is held every other year, and is a review of the organization’s work by representatives from the districts. The task of the national organization is to speak out for children and youth within the Church of Sweden.
Our logotype
Our logotype contains our name and a symbol that can be interpreted in many ways. At the centre we have the cross, signifying Christ, the truth and the life. The ring around the cross can be seen as the world, a whirlwind or a flame. The symbol contains the Trinity: Christ and the cross, The Creator and the world, and the Spirit as a wind or a flame. The ring, like our fellowship, is not closed, but open for others to join in.
Membership
Church of Sweden Youth is a movement for young people between 0-30 years of age, and these have the right to vote. We have different forms of membership:
- Anyone between the ages of 0-30 who supports our purpose can be a member. They may be elected to office and have the right to vote at annual meetings.
- Anyone over the age of 30 can be an adult member. An adult member is important as a leader and a role model within the organization, but does not have the right to vote.
- Anyone who wishes to give financial support to Church of Sweden Youth may become a supportive member. The fee for 2009 and 2010 is 200 SEK, but it is also possible to donate more.
Membership in Church of Sweden Youth is ideological and free of charge. Anyone who agrees with the organization’s idea and purpose is welcome to join us. You may sign up as a member on our website, www.svenskakyrkansunga.se/m-sidor
The relationship with the Lutheran Church of Sweden
Church of Sweden Youth is a separate organization within the Church of Sweden. The relations between the national, district and local levels and the Church of Sweden may be different. Local branches should be closely related to the congregations of the church. The districts should have a good working relationship with the dioceses, formed by mutual respect and understanding. The national office should co-operate with
the Church of Sweden, and most importantly, speak out for young people within the church.
Background
Church of Sweden Youth was founded on January 1 1993. Before this time there were two organizations for children and youth within the Church of Sweden: Kyrkans Ungdom (Church Youth) and Ansgarsförbundet (the Ansgarian union), both formed during the 1940s.
Activities
Most activity within the Church of Sweden Youth takes place in our local branches. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between parish activities and Church of Sweden Youth activities, since the local branch often receives great support from the congregation, through staff, meeting places or financial contributions. However, close as the local branch and the congregation may be, Church of Sweden Youth is still an organization in its own right. The districts and the national office arranges meeting places, initiates projects and work that involves young people from the whole country.
Meetings and projects
Youth camps, outdoor activities, music, singing, sports, roleplaying and creative work are examples of things we do within Church of Sweden Youth. One of the most important
functions of a local branch is to be a place where young persons feel welcome to come as they are.
Every other year we hold a national youth camp where 500-1000 young people from all over Sweden come to meet during 4-5 days. Discovering that you are a part of a big community is an important experience – together we are many!
Our annual meetings are also important meeting places, sometimes over a weekend, where you get the opportunity to do far more than discuss the decisions on the agenda.
Through working groups, projects and collaborations with other organisations, Church of Sweden Youth becomes the starting point for different ways of getting involved with
church, society and the world. Caring about creation and trying to change the world for justice are important questions for us. Our working group for Global issues and the project “Cool Consumer”, working with Fair Trade, continues to involve young people.
Church of Sweden Youth, together with the Church of Sweden, supports “Volontäråret”, a program for young people who want to try voluntary work within the
Church of Sweden for one year.
Church of Sweden Youth is one of the principals for Sigtuna folk high school, where among others, church educators and youth leaders are trained.
Democracy is an important part of our organisation’s identity. Involving and supporting more young people to be active on the boards and committees within the Church of Sweden is an important task.
Members & economy
Our organisation consists of over 15 000 members, the majority of which are teenagers. 64% are girls. Just as with most other youth organisations the number of members have declined during the past ten years.
Looking back at our beginning we have fewer children today among our members, and although we have been growing in numbers since 2005, it is mostly young people from the age of confirmation, 15 years and older.
Click here to enlarge picture!
Every year, our budget is between 15 and 18 million SEK. Most of our income is generated by government subsidies for youth organisations. We also receive national collections three Sundays every year from the Church of Sweden. Our costs are mostly our organisations activities, including staff and offices who work for our members. One part of the government subsidies are directed back to the local branches.
Summary
Church of Sweden Youth is the organisation for children and young people within the Church of Sweden. We hope that by reading this far you have understood something of our organisation and its aim. By becoming a member of Church of Sweden Youth you will experience Christian fellowship in every possible way. Church of Sweden Youth wants to be a place for growth where you are allowed to be yourself. And, perhaps above all, having fun while serving God!
WELCOME!
Contact information
Mailing address
Svenska Kyrkans Unga, SE-751 70 Uppsala, SWEDEN
Visiting address
Sysslomansgatan 8, Uppsala
Phone & fax
Phone +46(0)18 640640 , Fax +46(0)18 640655
E-mail our national board
firstname.surname@svenskakyrkansunga.se
Look for them under this heading förbundsstyrelsen
E-mail our office
Look for us under this heading förbundskansliet
You may also contact us through Please contact us.
