Eva Brunne
The Right Reverend Eva Brunne | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Stockholm | |
 Brunne in September 2012 | |
| Church | Church of Sweden |
| Diocese | Stockholm |
| Elected | 26 May 2009 |
| In office | 2009–2019 |
| Predecessor | Caroline Krook |
| Successor | Andreas Holmberg |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 8 November 2009 byAnders Wejryd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gerd Eva Cecilia Brunne 7 March 1954 |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Denomination | Lutheran |
| Spouse | Gunilla Lindén |
| Alma mater | Lund University |
| Motto | Don't show favouritism(James2:1)[1] |
| Coat of arms |  |
Gerd Eva Cecilia Brunne(born 7 March 1954) is a bishop in theChurch of Sweden.She served as theBishop of Stockholmfrom 2009 till 2019. She is thefirstopenly lesbian bishopof a mainstream church in the world and the first bishop of the Church of Sweden to be in aregistered same-sex partnership.
Education and early career
[edit]Brunne was born inMalmö,where she also grew up, on 7 March 1954.[2][3]Following college, she became a theology student atLund University.She wasordainedas a priest in 1978 and started serving in theDiocese of Lund,comprising Sweden's southernmost provinces ofBlekingeandScania.Brunne spent the first years of her priesthood inKarlskrona,Blekinge.In 1980, upon becoming Secretary General of the Swedish Student Christian Movement, Brunne took up a permanent residence inStockholm.Before taking up the post of vicar ofSundbybergparish in 1990, she functioned as university chaplain and bishop's adviser. Following eight years of vicarship in Sundbyberg, Brunne spent another eight years as vicar of Flemingsberg. In 2000, she became the head ofHuddingeandBotkyrkadeanery, serving as such until 2006.[1]
Episcopate
[edit]Having represented the clergy in the chapter of theLutheran Diocese of Stockholmfrom 1997 until 2005, she became dean of the diocese in 2006. On 26 May 2009, Brunne was elected Bishop of Stockholm,[1][4]succeedingCaroline Krook.[5]She is thefirstopenlylesbian bishopin the world and the first bishop of theChurch of Swedento have lived in a registered homosexual partnership.[6]Brunne won the election by 413 votes to 365 and said: "It is very positive that our church is setting an example here and is choosing me as bishop based on my qualifications, when they also know that they can meet resistance elsewhere."[6]On the official website of the Church of Sweden, Brunne wrote: "I know what it is to be called into question. I am in the lucky situation that I have power, and I can use it for the benefit of those who have no power."[4]
Brunne was consecrated as bishop byAnders Wejryd,Archbishop of Uppsala,inUppsala Cathedralon 8 November.[6][7]King Carl XVI GustafandQueen Silviaattended the consecration.[8]FiveAnglicanbishops, including the then-Archbishop of CanterburyRowan Williams,declined the invitation to attend the ceremony, as did the representatives of theLutheran World Federationand the churches of Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Archbishop Wejryd denied that the clergy of theChurch of Englandwas boycotting the ceremony.[7]
Coat of arms
[edit]Brunne confirmed that hercoat of armsas Bishop of Stockholm consists of "the coat of arms for the Diocese of Stockholm,St Erikand theSwedish flag,as well as theLuther rosewhich wasMartin Luther's own. The cross is a reminder that faith in the crucified and risen Christ gives bliss. "[1]
Riksdag opening incident
[edit]In October 2010, Bishop Brunne took part in a rally againstracismin Stockholm, after the nationalistSweden Democratsparty entered theRiksdag.The following day, Brunne mentioned the demonstrations in a traditional church sermon that precedes the opening of the Riksdag. In response,Jimmie Åkessonand other members of the party stormed out of the church.[9]Åkesson said that the Bishop obviously attacked his party in her speech.[9]Brunne denied that the speech was directed against a specific party.[10]
Removal of Christian symbols
[edit]In September 2015 Brunne proposed the removal of symbols of Christianity, including crosses, from the Seamen's Church in Stockholm Harbor, to open the church to worshipping sailors of all beliefs, and to mark the direction ofMeccaas a service toMuslimvisitors.[11][12][13][14]As the Seamen's Church is an independent foundation and, while in Stockholm, not part of Brunne's Diocese of Stockholm, Kicki Wetterberg, the head of the Seamen's Church, rejected the suggestion in an interview withDagen,stating that she had "no problem with Muslim or Hindu sailors worshipping in the church, but the church will keep its crosses, being a Christian church".[15]
Personal life
[edit]Since 2001,[3]Brunne has been in aregistered partnershipwith Gunilla Lindén, who is also an ordained priest of the Church of Sweden. The couple's relationship received a church blessing and the two have a son, born c. 2005.[6]
References
[edit]- ^abcd"Bishop Eva Brunne".svenskakyrkan.se.Church of Sweden.Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2013.Retrieved9 June2013.
- ^Ringborg, Maria (26 May 2009)."Eva Brunne vann biskopsvalet i Stockholms stift".dn.se.Retrieved9 June2013.
- ^abLagercrantz, Agneta (15 November 2009)."En jordnära biskop".svd.se.Retrieved9 June2013.
- ^abBrunne, Eva (30 June 2009)."Anglicans snub Swedish lesbian bishop".The Christian Century.Retrieved9 June2013.
- ^Geen, Jessica (1 June 2009)."Sweden appoints lesbian bishop".Pink News.Retrieved9 June2013.
- ^abcdSchjonberg, Mary Frances."SWEDEN: Lesbian priest ordained as Lutheran bishop of Stockholm".Episcopal News Service. Archived fromthe originalon 3 August 2012.Retrieved9 June2013.
- ^abLandes, David (4 November 2009)."Anglicans snub Swedish lesbian bishop".The Local.Retrieved9 June2013.
- ^"King and Queen attend bishop ordination at Uppsala Cathedral".kungahuset.se.Official website of the Swedish monarchy. Archived fromthe originalon 7 July 2018.Retrieved9 June2013.
- ^abGenborg, Linda (10 October 2010)."SD storms out of church sermon".Goteburg Daily. Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved9 June2013.
- ^"Bishop's sermon at the opening of the Riksdag".The Local. 6 October 2010.Retrieved9 June2013.
- ^Sveriges Television:Biskopen vill ta bort kristna symboler i Sjömanskyrkan.29 September 2015.
- ^Czarina Ong,Lesbian bishop wants to remove church crosses so Muslims 'won't be offended'dated 9 October 2015 at christiantoday, accessed 11 October 2015
- ^Stoyan Zaimov,World's First Openly Lesbian Bishop to Remove Crosses, Build Islamic Prayer Room in Swedish Seamen's Churchdated 7 October 2015 at christianpost, accessed 11 October 2015
- ^Panagiotou, John (9 October 2015)."The Cross of Christ is Foolishness to the World: A Swedish Lutheran Bishop Wars Against the Christian Faith by John G. Panagiotou".aoiusa.org.American Orthodox Institute.Retrieved13 October2015.
- ^Dagen:Biskopen vill öppna kapell för fler religioner.28 September 2015.
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| National | |
