Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden

The Church of Sweden, formerly known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden, transitioned from Roman Catholicism to Lutheranism during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. Christianity was gradually adopted in Sweden starting in the 9th century, with Uppsala becoming an archbishopric in 1164. King Gustav I Vasa confiscated church property in 1527, leading to Sweden officially declaring itself a Lutheran nation in 1544.1

The church maintained its episcopal governance and apostolic succession of clergy throughout the Reformation. While Lutheranism was the state religion until 2000, a significant portion of the population remains members. The Church of Sweden is organized into 13 dioceses, each led by a bishop, with the archbishop of Uppsala serving as the presiding bishop. The Church Assembly is the primary decision-making body.12