WELCOME

to a Nordic-Baltic conference on theology by and for women in Uppsala

March 28-30, 2025

The program

Friday, March 28

12.00 The Holy Mass in Uppsala Cathedral: Rev. Matilda Helg, dean of Uppsala and Rev. Catharina Helmersson, Chairwoman of Forum for ordained women.

14.00-16.15 Registration for the conference is open, at Hotel Botanika, Skolgatan 45.

14.30 Optional: Guided tour of the permanent art in the Cathedral, with a special focus on women. Rev. Annica Anderbrant former dean.

15.00 Hotel check- in opens.

16.30 Welcome mingling at the hotel.

At this moment the conference is officially starting.

17.00 Dinner and coffee/tea at the hotel.

We move to the Cathedral of Uppsala; this evening is open for the public.

19.00 Welcoming:

Archbishop Martin Modéus and the board of Forum for ordained women in Church of Sweden.

A greeting and a presentation from Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt, General Secretary of LWF, the Lutheran World Federation.

Opening lecture: The year of the woman Guðrún Karls Helgudóttir, Bishop of Iceland

Evening Prayer: Rev. Karin Johannesson, Bishop of Uppsala diocese, Rev. Kim Rehnman, jojk and Robert Bennesh organist

Saturday, March 29 at Hotel Botanika

07.00 Breakfast opens - ground floor

08.30 Morning prayer at the hotel, Linnésalen, floor 5. Rev. Arta Skuja and Rev. Eva Katarina Agestam, flute.

Moderator during the day: Rev Jenny Sjögreen, Deputy Rector at Strängnäs Cathedral Parish.

9.30 Lecture: Seeking a different past, forming a different future. Feminist Research on Women in Early Christianity. Rev. Hanna Stenström, Associate Professor New Testament at the University College, Stockholm.  

10.30 Coffee/tea (Swedish “fika”) outside Linnésalen.

11.00 Lecture: The Bible in the Controversy over Gender Roles: Women in Latvian Churches as a test case.

Rev. Dace Balode, Professor of Biblical Theology at the Faculty of Theology, University of Latvia, and Rev. Marianne Bjelland Kartzow, Professor of New Testament Studies at the Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo.  

12.30-13.30 Lunch - ground floor

13.30-15.00 Short seminars with women theologians. Choose between three different tracks. See separate program further down.

15.00 Coffee-tea (fika) - ground floor

15.30-16.30 Discussion: To be a theologian and/or ordained minister as a woman in the Latvian context. Rev. Zilgme Eglite, vicar in Norberg and Karbenning’s parish and Anna Galvina, priest candidate in the diocese of Luleå and Rev. Eliza Zikmane,from Latvia.

17.30 Buffet in the ground floor

19.00 Panel discussion, Linnésalen floor 5

20.30 Evening prayer at Svenska kyrkans utbildningsinstitut SKUI, Linnég.1. Rev. Anna Norrby, Rev. Sofie Halvarsson, solo song, Rev. Karolina Tängmark Roos hymnwriter and piano.

Back to the hotel for socializing.

Sunday March 30
Daylight-saving time starts – set the time one hour forward!

07.00 Breakfast opens - ground floor

10.30 Hotel check-out

11.00 Morning service with the Holy Mass in Uppsala Cathedral:  Dean Matilda Helg and General Secretary in the Lutheran World Federation Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt and several other participants at the conference. The choir Collegium Cantorum.

The conference ends after the service, at about 12.30.

After the service in the Cathedral: Kyrkkaffe “Churchcoffee” in a building close to the Cathedral on the right hand when you come out of the church.

For participations in Forum för prästvigda kvinnor:                                                                                                                                                            12.30 mackfika. 13.00 Årsmöte i Söderblomsrummet vid Domkyrkoplan.                                                                                                                 Anmälan till : prastvigdakvinnor@gmail.com                                                                                                                                                   Medlemsavgift 150:- Swish 123- 6926042.

The Board of Forum för prästvigda kvinnor i Svenska kyrkan and Sensus

Program for short seminars Saturday 29 March 13.30-15.00 (pick a theme)

 Homiletic theme         Linnésalen - floor 5

 13.30 Anna Norrby, priest in Church of Sweden and teacher in homiletics at pastoral institute of Church of Sweden in Uppsala (SKUI) - “The unruly hope – preaching as resistance and vehicle of change” Preaching can be (and should be?) part of a process to cultivate a culture of hope. How can it be done and what does it mean for both the structure, form and the actual content of a sermon?  

14.20 Katarina In de Betou, priest in Church of Sweden in Haninge, Stockholm - “Nature Mysticism Through Contemplative Practice as a Path to Spiritual Well-Being and a Deeper Relationship with Creation” The presentation will highlight how this method fosters a deeper relationship with creation, strengthens spiritual well-being, and offers new ways to proclaim the Good News. It will also discuss how women in theology can embrace nature mysticism to enrich their ministry and deepen their spiritual journeys 

Exegetic theme           Rotundan  - ground floor

13.30 Linda Joelsson, priest in Church of Sweden and Associate professor Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Umeå university  - “Accepting Others and Being Accepted: The Biased Home of Biblical Studies”

Reading the (in-)famous passage of 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 in its literary and historical setting, a hermeneutics of suspicion can be applied in order to explore the passage’s potential for supporting multiple voices. In a message of inclusion, a message of exclusion is commonly accepted. While no reading can be unbiased, the Gospel of God’s election of the ignorant, powerless, and status-deprived (1:20-31) is taken as the interpretive key to 1 Corinthians. 

14.20 Anna Galvina, theological masterstudent and priest candidate in Church of Sweden, originates from Latvia  - “Are we still unable to accept? An intersectional study of Matthew 19:12” Uses postcolonial theory to provide the hermeneutical tool for appreciating the Matthean eunuch as an anti-colonial symbol of abuse and oppression that carries a vision and hopes for a better future.

Pastoral and ecclesial theme          Stallet - stairs from floor 5

13.30 Díana Ósk Óskarsdóttir - pastor and a professional supervisor and a team leader for the counselling support team at Landspítali – University Hospital.  “Know Thyself!” This doctoral study aimed to gain insight into pastors within the National Church of Iceland, their experience of supervision in terms of their personal and professional selves, their preparation for the service, training, support, their calling and identity and their pastoral role. The findings give a picture of the pastors´ view of their pastoral service and role, their experience of preparation, support, and supervision. The participants view on the working environment and workplace culture and their professional- and personal self. Their calling to the service, their faith and coping mechanism. Additionally, the pastors’ experience regarding gender differences within the profession.

14.00 Alexandra Äng, doctoral researcher in practical theology at Åbo Academi University, pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF).  -  “Leadership and Spirituality in Times of Change – What Do Vicars Have to Say About It?” The purpose of this material is to deepen the understanding of how vicars reflect on spirituality and leadership in their role as church leaders. The presentation will highlight key themes that emerge from the data, particularly the pastors’ reflections on their multifaceted role: balancing the proclamation of the gospel with organizational and administrative responsibilities, such as leading parish councils or managing property maintenance. 

14.30 Karolina Tängmark Roos, priest in Church of Sweden in Burlövs parish - The presentation will share insights from a master essay about the #metoo-movement in Church of Sweden: #vardeljus. It means “Let there be light”, and was a movement of anonymous women in The Church of Sweden. It will also be about changes since #metoo and how the Church of Sweden works with the questions concerning it today.