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Jonas Ideström

Stockholm School of Theology, Theology and Religious studies, Faculty Member

Uppsala University, Department of Theology, Docent (associate professor)

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I got my doctorate in Ecclesiology at Uppsala University 2009. I'm an ordained minister in Church of Sweden. Since 2012 I have a position as researcher at Church of Sweden's Research Unit. My field of interest is ethnographic ecclesiology. In my phd-project I studied the implicit ecclesiology of a local church in a suburb. My second larger project was a study of ecclesial embodiment in rural areas in northern Sweden. I have gained greater interest in participatory approaches and last year I lead a theological action research project focusing on questions on church and welfare. I am a professor in Practical Theology at Stockholm School of Theology and the head of the religious studies and theology department at that same institution.
Phone: +46739161657

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Protestant Theological University, The Netherlands

Fuller Theological Seminary

Frida Mannerfelt

Lund University

Durham University

Tone Stangeland Kaufman

Norwegian School of Theology

Love L Sechrest

Mount St. Mary's University

Loyola University Chicago

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Papers by Jonas Ideström

Action Research and Theology

Wiley Blackwell Companion of Theology and Qualitative Research , 2022

Ecclesiology in the trenches : theory and method under construction

Much to the credit both of the Church of Sweden in funding a Research Series, and to the Faculty ... more Much to the credit both of the Church of Sweden in funding a Research Series, and to the Faculty of Theology at Uppsala University, a collection of essays on ecclesiology has found its way into print. A Foreword by Gerard Mannion (one of the two editors of the Routledge Companion to the Study of the Christian Church, 2008) is followed by a substantial introduction by SvenErik Brodd who has played a key role in establishing ecclesiology in Uppsala as a discipline in its own right. The two editors provide brief introductions to the authors and the main points of essays grouped into three parts – Systematic, Empirical and Embedded Ecclesiology (under construction in each case) – with their own essays published in the second part. A multi-lingual bibliography of 20 pages concludes the volume. The ‘Foreword’ appropriately begins with the questions, ‘What is ecclesiology, who does ecclesiology, and why do they do it?’ It is indeed helpful to be informed about the growth of this particular aspect of theology from the nineteenth century onwards, now embracing a rich diversity of approaches (p. x) – none of which enable us to provide simple answers to deceptively simple questions. Some supposedly ‘systematic’ theologians have continued to ignore not only ecclesiology but too many other areas which have been enriched by innovative and fruitful resources (p. xi). Most important here is attention to concern with the ‘ethical’, with the ‘moral timbre’ of both ecclesiology and ecumenism (also developed in roughly the same period) and hence with ecclesiology as ‘an integrative force’ to cite Professor Brodd’s key phrase (p.xii–xiii). It is the latter who gives readers insight into the seminar – inter-denominational, multilingual and characterised by ‘positive critique’ given in such a way that a seminar-presenter can find it useful (p.7) – surely in itself an admirable instance of the ‘moral timbre’ already commended. The nub of Brodd’s concerns lies in the second part of his essay which begins by attending to three meanings of ecclesiology: as the object of study, the way of studying and the result of studying (p. 13), avoiding ‘ecclesiological docetism’ (Schlink’s phrase) by holding together doctrine and ‘practice’, the latter widely construed as necessary, theoretically grounded (p. 21), with theological analysis integrated into scholarly work, always attentive as to how this affects the research process and controlled by the researcher. Some 30 theses since 1995 have fostered Uppsala’s contribution to ecclesiology. Embracing ‘feminism’ and ‘gender’1 (essays 12 and 13 in this collection) at a time when these were anything but familiar concerns illustrate Brodd’s view that ‘benevolentia’ rather than grounding in a personal faith was indeed acceptable. The seminar has certainly fostered some exceptional work, such as Christine Hall’s analysis of the ecclesiology of Romanian Orthodox theologian Nichifor Crainic (forthcoming in Romanian translation), in which political and cultural history were crucial to his ecclesiology – insights surely well worth pursuing in other contexts, not least those of the grim years of the twentieth century in Europe. The seminar series as a whole has clearly done much to overcome prejudice and enable its participants – and now its readers – to detect new possibilities of understanding (p. 128), which should hopefully reinvigorate other areas of theology also. Of the ‘construction’ rather than ‘trench-digging’ of ecclesiology, the essays selected to cohere in this volume exhibit a range of theological tactics as it were – from the deconstruction and reconstruction of some Afrikaner theology, to the relocation of liturgy within the entire Church rather than the reduction of the latter to the former. This should help to bring sharply into focus a study of ecclesiology in contexts where understanding the point of liturgy is virtually neglected. The same point can be broadly made as a result of comparative analysis of the diaconate across ‘Poorvoo’ churches, where at least in some churches it makes sense to use ‘vocation, ordination and sending’ as structural elements correlated with three theological aspects – Christological,

Teologiska resurser för kyrkans diakoni: - en fördjupning till Vägledning för diakoni

Argument, Apr 1, 2020

Vägledning för diakoni Bakgrund till Vägledning för diakoni..

Kyrkans alternativa roller som välfärdsaktör

Hur kyrkan framtrader i det lokala sammanhanget beror pa vilka delar av omvarlden den kyrkliga ak... more Hur kyrkan framtrader i det lokala sammanhanget beror pa vilka delar av omvarlden den kyrkliga aktoren relaterar till. I artikeln presenteras en modell for att beskriva och analysera kyrkan som valfardsaktor. Artikeln ar framskriven i ett teologiskt aktionsforskningsprojekt med Molndals pastorat, i ett samarbete mellan Svenska kyrkans forskningsenhet och Socialhogskolan i Lund.

Implicit Ecclesiology and Local Church Identity

Ecclesiology in the Trenches, 2016

Att famna komplexiteten" - aktionsforskning, teologi och organisatoriskt lärande

Karin Rubenson, Karnevalesk gudstjänst: Barns plats i kyrkans liturgi

Svensk Teologisk Kvartalskrift, 2022

The Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) is considering vitrification to proce... more The Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) is considering vitrification to process liquid sodium-bearing waste. Preliminary studies were completed to evaluate the potential secondary wastes from the melter off-gas clean up systems. Projected secondary wastes comprise acidic and caustic scrubber solutions, HEPA filters, activated carbon, and ion exchange media. Possible treatment methods, waste forms, and disposal sites are evaluated from radiological and mercury contamination estimates.

Welfare State Supporter and Civil Society Activist: Church of Sweden in the “Refugee Crisis” 2015

Social Inclusion, 2019

2015 was a year of an unprecedented migration from the Middle East to Europe. Sweden received alm... more 2015 was a year of an unprecedented migration from the Middle East to Europe. Sweden received almost 163,000 asylum applications. The civil society, including the former state church, took a notable responsibility. In a situation where the welfare systems are increasingly strained, and both the welfare state and the majority church are re-regulated, we ask: how does this play out in local contexts? This article reports from a theological action research project within a local parish in the Church of Sweden. The Lutheran church has from year 2000 changed its role to an independent faith denomination. The study describes the situation when the local authority and the parish together run temporary accommodation for young asylum seekers. For the local authority the choice of the church as a collaborator was a strategic choice. For the local parish this occasion verified the mission of the church. Confirming its former role as carrier of societal beliefs and values the Church of Sweden s...

Why Matter Matters in Theological Action Research: Attending to the Voices of Tradition

International Journal of Practical Theology, 2018

In this article we show how a sensibility of materiality offers helpful perspectives on issues of... more In this article we show how a sensibility of materiality offers helpful perspectives on issues of tradition and normativity in theological action research. Employing Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as our conceptual framework, we analyze work published by the Action Research – Church and Society (ARCS) team. We argue that a sociomaterial understanding of the embodiment of the normative voices of tradition in ecclesial practices, such as the liturgy, offers resources to overcome a tension we see inherent in the work of the ARCS team. Developing the ARCS team’s conversational approach by including this sociomaterial sensibility allows for a more mutual relationship between the normative voices of the Christian tradition, the academy and the inherent theology of what is enacted and expressed by participants in the fieldwork.

Lokal kyrklig identitet : En studie av implicit ecklesiologi med exemplet Svenska kyrkan i Flemingsberg

Idestrom, Jonas 2009. Lokal kyrklig identitet – en studie av implicit ecklesiologi med exemplet S... more

For the Sake of the World: Swedish Ecclesiology in Dialogue with William T. Cavanaugh

uu.se. Publications. ...

Bekräftelse och utmaningar - om kyrkan som välfärdsaktör

Under 2016 genomforde Svenska kyrkans forskningsenhet ett teologiskt aktionsforskningsprojekt med... more Under 2016 genomforde Svenska kyrkans forskningsenhet ett teologiskt aktionsforskningsprojekt med Molndals pastorat. Utgangspunkten var erfarenheter fran ett transitboende flyktingbarn som drevs i kommunal regi i forsamlingens lokaler. Detta ar den andra av tva artiklar (se aven Svensk kyrkotidning nr 9, 2017)

Svenska kyrkan ”inbäddad” i Afghanistan

uu.se. Publications. ...

Vad innebär det att vara församling

uu.se. Publications. ...

Vi och vår församling – en lokal kyrkas självbeskrivningar

uu.se. Publications. ...

Ecclesiology in the trenches : theory and method under construction

Much to the credit both of the Church of Sweden in funding a Research Series, and to the Faculty ... more Much to the credit both of the Church of Sweden in funding a Research Series, and to the Faculty of Theology at Uppsala University, a collection of essays on ecclesiology has found its way into print. A Foreword by Gerard Mannion (one of the two editors of the Routledge Companion to the Study of the Christian Church, 2008) is followed by a substantial introduction by SvenErik Brodd who has played a key role in establishing ecclesiology in Uppsala as a discipline in its own right. The two editors provide brief introductions to the authors and the main points of essays grouped into three parts – Systematic, Empirical and Embedded Ecclesiology (under construction in each case) – with their own essays published in the second part. A multi-lingual bibliography of 20 pages concludes the volume. The ‘Foreword’ appropriately begins with the questions, ‘What is ecclesiology, who does ecclesiology, and why do they do it?’ It is indeed helpful to be informed about the growth of this particular aspect of theology from the nineteenth century onwards, now embracing a rich diversity of approaches (p. x) – none of which enable us to provide simple answers to deceptively simple questions. Some supposedly ‘systematic’ theologians have continued to ignore not only ecclesiology but too many other areas which have been enriched by innovative and fruitful resources (p. xi). Most important here is attention to concern with the ‘ethical’, with the ‘moral timbre’ of both ecclesiology and ecumenism (also developed in roughly the same period) and hence with ecclesiology as ‘an integrative force’ to cite Professor Brodd’s key phrase (p.xii–xiii). It is the latter who gives readers insight into the seminar – inter-denominational, multilingual and characterised by ‘positive critique’ given in such a way that a seminar-presenter can find it useful (p.7) – surely in itself an admirable instance of the ‘moral timbre’ already commended. The nub of Brodd’s concerns lies in the second part of his essay which begins by attending to three meanings of ecclesiology: as the object of study, the way of studying and the result of studying (p. 13), avoiding ‘ecclesiological docetism’ (Schlink’s phrase) by holding together doctrine and ‘practice’, the latter widely construed as necessary, theoretically grounded (p. 21), with theological analysis integrated into scholarly work, always attentive as to how this affects the research process and controlled by the researcher. Some 30 theses since 1995 have fostered Uppsala’s contribution to ecclesiology. Embracing ‘feminism’ and ‘gender’1 (essays 12 and 13 in this collection) at a time when these were anything but familiar concerns illustrate Brodd’s view that ‘benevolentia’ rather than grounding in a personal faith was indeed acceptable. The seminar has certainly fostered some exceptional work, such as Christine Hall’s analysis of the ecclesiology of Romanian Orthodox theologian Nichifor Crainic (forthcoming in Romanian translation), in which political and cultural history were crucial to his ecclesiology – insights surely well worth pursuing in other contexts, not least those of the grim years of the twentieth century in Europe. The seminar series as a whole has clearly done much to overcome prejudice and enable its participants – and now its readers – to detect new possibilities of understanding (p. 128), which should hopefully reinvigorate other areas of theology also. Of the ‘construction’ rather than ‘trench-digging’ of ecclesiology, the essays selected to cohere in this volume exhibit a range of theological tactics as it were – from the deconstruction and reconstruction of some Afrikaner theology, to the relocation of liturgy within the entire Church rather than the reduction of the latter to the former. This should help to bring sharply into focus a study of ecclesiology in contexts where understanding the point of liturgy is virtually neglected. The same point can be broadly made as a result of comparative analysis of the diaconate across ‘Poorvoo’ churches, where at least in some churches it makes sense to use ‘vocation, ordination and sending’ as structural elements correlated with three theological aspects – Christological,

Det här är någonting vi måste göra: Ett teologiskt aktionsforskningsprojekt med Svenska kyrkan i Mölndal

Kyrkan som social kropp : en studie av Svenska kyrkans identitet i Flemingsberg

uu.se. Publications. ...

Ecclesiology and ethnography – issues and dilemmas in a conversation

International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church

The purpose of this article is to introduce the Ecclesiology and Ethnography conversation by high... more The purpose of this article is to introduce the Ecclesiology and Ethnography conversation by highlighting some of its character- istícs. According to the inquiry, significant contributors to the conversation understand ethnography as a form of theology and see ethnographic and ecclesiologicalmodes of theologising as an alternative to idealist ecclesiological accounts. The article also shows how participation is a key theological theme as well as a research approach. Two pressing issues, that are highlighted, concern normativity in relation to doctrine and tradition and the role of theology in qualitative theological and ecclesiological research. The article ends with discussions on two dilemmas in ethnographic ecclesiology and with suggestions on how to deal with them responsibly.

Mediators of Tradition – Embodiments of Doctrine in Rural Swedish Parish Life

Ecclesial Practices, 2016

The aim of this article is to analyse how doctrines are embodied in local church life and how the... more The aim of this article is to analyse how doctrines are embodied in local church life and how they mediate tradition in a local church and community. The article draws on a larger research project focusing on questions concerning ecclesial identity in rural areas of northern Sweden. The ecclesiological analysis and approach is inspired by Actor-Network Theory. The material embodiments of theological doctrines in the Eucharistic liturgy are interpreted as mediators of tradition within the thick fabric of the liturgy and the ecclesial context. The analysis results in a picture of the thick ecclesial fabric in which doctrines are mediated and given meaning in parish life. The article also shows how doctrines can be mediated and translated on a personal level in relation to the liturgy.

Action Research and Theology

Wiley Blackwell Companion of Theology and Qualitative Research , 2022

Ecclesiology in the trenches : theory and method under construction

Much to the credit both of the Church of Sweden in funding a Research Series, and to the Faculty ... more Much to the credit both of the Church of Sweden in funding a Research Series, and to the Faculty of Theology at Uppsala University, a collection of essays on ecclesiology has found its way into print. A Foreword by Gerard Mannion (one of the two editors of the Routledge Companion to the Study of the Christian Church, 2008) is followed by a substantial introduction by SvenErik Brodd who has played a key role in establishing ecclesiology in Uppsala as a discipline in its own right. The two editors provide brief introductions to the authors and the main points of essays grouped into three parts – Systematic, Empirical and Embedded Ecclesiology (under construction in each case) – with their own essays published in the second part. A multi-lingual bibliography of 20 pages concludes the volume. The ‘Foreword’ appropriately begins with the questions, ‘What is ecclesiology, who does ecclesiology, and why do they do it?’ It is indeed helpful to be informed about the growth of this particular aspect of theology from the nineteenth century onwards, now embracing a rich diversity of approaches (p. x) – none of which enable us to provide simple answers to deceptively simple questions. Some supposedly ‘systematic’ theologians have continued to ignore not only ecclesiology but too many other areas which have been enriched by innovative and fruitful resources (p. xi). Most important here is attention to concern with the ‘ethical’, with the ‘moral timbre’ of both ecclesiology and ecumenism (also developed in roughly the same period) and hence with ecclesiology as ‘an integrative force’ to cite Professor Brodd’s key phrase (p.xii–xiii). It is the latter who gives readers insight into the seminar – inter-denominational, multilingual and characterised by ‘positive critique’ given in such a way that a seminar-presenter can find it useful (p.7) – surely in itself an admirable instance of the ‘moral timbre’ already commended. The nub of Brodd’s concerns lies in the second part of his essay which begins by attending to three meanings of ecclesiology: as the object of study, the way of studying and the result of studying (p. 13), avoiding ‘ecclesiological docetism’ (Schlink’s phrase) by holding together doctrine and ‘practice’, the latter widely construed as necessary, theoretically grounded (p. 21), with theological analysis integrated into scholarly work, always attentive as to how this affects the research process and controlled by the researcher. Some 30 theses since 1995 have fostered Uppsala’s contribution to ecclesiology. Embracing ‘feminism’ and ‘gender’1 (essays 12 and 13 in this collection) at a time when these were anything but familiar concerns illustrate Brodd’s view that ‘benevolentia’ rather than grounding in a personal faith was indeed acceptable. The seminar has certainly fostered some exceptional work, such as Christine Hall’s analysis of the ecclesiology of Romanian Orthodox theologian Nichifor Crainic (forthcoming in Romanian translation), in which political and cultural history were crucial to his ecclesiology – insights surely well worth pursuing in other contexts, not least those of the grim years of the twentieth century in Europe. The seminar series as a whole has clearly done much to overcome prejudice and enable its participants – and now its readers – to detect new possibilities of understanding (p. 128), which should hopefully reinvigorate other areas of theology also. Of the ‘construction’ rather than ‘trench-digging’ of ecclesiology, the essays selected to cohere in this volume exhibit a range of theological tactics as it were – from the deconstruction and reconstruction of some Afrikaner theology, to the relocation of liturgy within the entire Church rather than the reduction of the latter to the former. This should help to bring sharply into focus a study of ecclesiology in contexts where understanding the point of liturgy is virtually neglected. The same point can be broadly made as a result of comparative analysis of the diaconate across ‘Poorvoo’ churches, where at least in some churches it makes sense to use ‘vocation, ordination and sending’ as structural elements correlated with three theological aspects – Christological,

Teologiska resurser för kyrkans diakoni: - en fördjupning till Vägledning för diakoni

Argument, Apr 1, 2020

Vägledning för diakoni Bakgrund till Vägledning för diakoni..

Kyrkans alternativa roller som välfärdsaktör

Hur kyrkan framtrader i det lokala sammanhanget beror pa vilka delar av omvarlden den kyrkliga ak... more Hur kyrkan framtrader i det lokala sammanhanget beror pa vilka delar av omvarlden den kyrkliga aktoren relaterar till. I artikeln presenteras en modell for att beskriva och analysera kyrkan som valfardsaktor. Artikeln ar framskriven i ett teologiskt aktionsforskningsprojekt med Molndals pastorat, i ett samarbete mellan Svenska kyrkans forskningsenhet och Socialhogskolan i Lund.

Implicit Ecclesiology and Local Church Identity

Ecclesiology in the Trenches, 2016

Att famna komplexiteten" - aktionsforskning, teologi och organisatoriskt lärande

Karin Rubenson, Karnevalesk gudstjänst: Barns plats i kyrkans liturgi

Svensk Teologisk Kvartalskrift, 2022

The Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) is considering vitrification to proce... more The Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) is considering vitrification to process liquid sodium-bearing waste. Preliminary studies were completed to evaluate the potential secondary wastes from the melter off-gas clean up systems. Projected secondary wastes comprise acidic and caustic scrubber solutions, HEPA filters, activated carbon, and ion exchange media. Possible treatment methods, waste forms, and disposal sites are evaluated from radiological and mercury contamination estimates.

Welfare State Supporter and Civil Society Activist: Church of Sweden in the “Refugee Crisis” 2015

Social Inclusion, 2019

2015 was a year of an unprecedented migration from the Middle East to Europe. Sweden received alm... more 2015 was a year of an unprecedented migration from the Middle East to Europe. Sweden received almost 163,000 asylum applications. The civil society, including the former state church, took a notable responsibility. In a situation where the welfare systems are increasingly strained, and both the welfare state and the majority church are re-regulated, we ask: how does this play out in local contexts? This article reports from a theological action research project within a local parish in the Church of Sweden. The Lutheran church has from year 2000 changed its role to an independent faith denomination. The study describes the situation when the local authority and the parish together run temporary accommodation for young asylum seekers. For the local authority the choice of the church as a collaborator was a strategic choice. For the local parish this occasion verified the mission of the church. Confirming its former role as carrier of societal beliefs and values the Church of Sweden s...

Why Matter Matters in Theological Action Research: Attending to the Voices of Tradition

International Journal of Practical Theology, 2018

In this article we show how a sensibility of materiality offers helpful perspectives on issues of... more In this article we show how a sensibility of materiality offers helpful perspectives on issues of tradition and normativity in theological action research. Employing Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as our conceptual framework, we analyze work published by the Action Research – Church and Society (ARCS) team. We argue that a sociomaterial understanding of the embodiment of the normative voices of tradition in ecclesial practices, such as the liturgy, offers resources to overcome a tension we see inherent in the work of the ARCS team. Developing the ARCS team’s conversational approach by including this sociomaterial sensibility allows for a more mutual relationship between the normative voices of the Christian tradition, the academy and the inherent theology of what is enacted and expressed by participants in the fieldwork.

Lokal kyrklig identitet : En studie av implicit ecklesiologi med exemplet Svenska kyrkan i Flemingsberg

Idestrom, Jonas 2009. Lokal kyrklig identitet – en studie av implicit ecklesiologi med exemplet S... more

For the Sake of the World: Swedish Ecclesiology in Dialogue with William T. Cavanaugh

uu.se. Publications. ...

Bekräftelse och utmaningar - om kyrkan som välfärdsaktör

Under 2016 genomforde Svenska kyrkans forskningsenhet ett teologiskt aktionsforskningsprojekt med... more Under 2016 genomforde Svenska kyrkans forskningsenhet ett teologiskt aktionsforskningsprojekt med Molndals pastorat. Utgangspunkten var erfarenheter fran ett transitboende flyktingbarn som drevs i kommunal regi i forsamlingens lokaler. Detta ar den andra av tva artiklar (se aven Svensk kyrkotidning nr 9, 2017)

Svenska kyrkan ”inbäddad” i Afghanistan

uu.se. Publications. ...

Vad innebär det att vara församling

uu.se. Publications. ...

Vi och vår församling – en lokal kyrkas självbeskrivningar

uu.se. Publications. ...

Ecclesiology in the trenches : theory and method under construction

Much to the credit both of the Church of Sweden in funding a Research Series, and to the Faculty ... more Much to the credit both of the Church of Sweden in funding a Research Series, and to the Faculty of Theology at Uppsala University, a collection of essays on ecclesiology has found its way into print. A Foreword by Gerard Mannion (one of the two editors of the Routledge Companion to the Study of the Christian Church, 2008) is followed by a substantial introduction by SvenErik Brodd who has played a key role in establishing ecclesiology in Uppsala as a discipline in its own right. The two editors provide brief introductions to the authors and the main points of essays grouped into three parts – Systematic, Empirical and Embedded Ecclesiology (under construction in each case) – with their own essays published in the second part. A multi-lingual bibliography of 20 pages concludes the volume. The ‘Foreword’ appropriately begins with the questions, ‘What is ecclesiology, who does ecclesiology, and why do they do it?’ It is indeed helpful to be informed about the growth of this particular aspect of theology from the nineteenth century onwards, now embracing a rich diversity of approaches (p. x) – none of which enable us to provide simple answers to deceptively simple questions. Some supposedly ‘systematic’ theologians have continued to ignore not only ecclesiology but too many other areas which have been enriched by innovative and fruitful resources (p. xi). Most important here is attention to concern with the ‘ethical’, with the ‘moral timbre’ of both ecclesiology and ecumenism (also developed in roughly the same period) and hence with ecclesiology as ‘an integrative force’ to cite Professor Brodd’s key phrase (p.xii–xiii). It is the latter who gives readers insight into the seminar – inter-denominational, multilingual and characterised by ‘positive critique’ given in such a way that a seminar-presenter can find it useful (p.7) – surely in itself an admirable instance of the ‘moral timbre’ already commended. The nub of Brodd’s concerns lies in the second part of his essay which begins by attending to three meanings of ecclesiology: as the object of study, the way of studying and the result of studying (p. 13), avoiding ‘ecclesiological docetism’ (Schlink’s phrase) by holding together doctrine and ‘practice’, the latter widely construed as necessary, theoretically grounded (p. 21), with theological analysis integrated into scholarly work, always attentive as to how this affects the research process and controlled by the researcher. Some 30 theses since 1995 have fostered Uppsala’s contribution to ecclesiology. Embracing ‘feminism’ and ‘gender’1 (essays 12 and 13 in this collection) at a time when these were anything but familiar concerns illustrate Brodd’s view that ‘benevolentia’ rather than grounding in a personal faith was indeed acceptable. The seminar has certainly fostered some exceptional work, such as Christine Hall’s analysis of the ecclesiology of Romanian Orthodox theologian Nichifor Crainic (forthcoming in Romanian translation), in which political and cultural history were crucial to his ecclesiology – insights surely well worth pursuing in other contexts, not least those of the grim years of the twentieth century in Europe. The seminar series as a whole has clearly done much to overcome prejudice and enable its participants – and now its readers – to detect new possibilities of understanding (p. 128), which should hopefully reinvigorate other areas of theology also. Of the ‘construction’ rather than ‘trench-digging’ of ecclesiology, the essays selected to cohere in this volume exhibit a range of theological tactics as it were – from the deconstruction and reconstruction of some Afrikaner theology, to the relocation of liturgy within the entire Church rather than the reduction of the latter to the former. This should help to bring sharply into focus a study of ecclesiology in contexts where understanding the point of liturgy is virtually neglected. The same point can be broadly made as a result of comparative analysis of the diaconate across ‘Poorvoo’ churches, where at least in some churches it makes sense to use ‘vocation, ordination and sending’ as structural elements correlated with three theological aspects – Christological,

Det här är någonting vi måste göra: Ett teologiskt aktionsforskningsprojekt med Svenska kyrkan i Mölndal

Kyrkan som social kropp : en studie av Svenska kyrkans identitet i Flemingsberg

uu.se. Publications. ...

Ecclesiology and ethnography – issues and dilemmas in a conversation

International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church

The purpose of this article is to introduce the Ecclesiology and Ethnography conversation by high... more The purpose of this article is to introduce the Ecclesiology and Ethnography conversation by highlighting some of its character- istícs. According to the inquiry, significant contributors to the conversation understand ethnography as a form of theology and see ethnographic and ecclesiologicalmodes of theologising as an alternative to idealist ecclesiological accounts. The article also shows how participation is a key theological theme as well as a research approach. Two pressing issues, that are highlighted, concern normativity in relation to doctrine and tradition and the role of theology in qualitative theological and ecclesiological research. The article ends with discussions on two dilemmas in ethnographic ecclesiology and with suggestions on how to deal with them responsibly.

Mediators of Tradition – Embodiments of Doctrine in Rural Swedish Parish Life

Ecclesial Practices, 2016

The aim of this article is to analyse how doctrines are embodied in local church life and how the... more The aim of this article is to analyse how doctrines are embodied in local church life and how they mediate tradition in a local church and community. The article draws on a larger research project focusing on questions concerning ecclesial identity in rural areas of northern Sweden. The ecclesiological analysis and approach is inspired by Actor-Network Theory. The material embodiments of theological doctrines in the Eucharistic liturgy are interpreted as mediators of tradition within the thick fabric of the liturgy and the ecclesial context. The analysis results in a picture of the thick ecclesial fabric in which doctrines are mediated and given meaning in parish life. The article also shows how doctrines can be mediated and translated on a personal level in relation to the liturgy.

A Wounded body Theological reflections s on Church, Migration, and Welfare from an Action Research Project

by Tone Stangeland Kaufman and Jonas Ideström

A Wounded Body: Theological Reflections on Church, Migration, and Welfare from an Action Research Project

by Tone Stangeland Kaufman and Jonas Ideström

In this paper we draw on material from a theological action research project undertaken with repr... more In this paper we draw on material from a theological action research project undertaken with representatives from a local parish in the Church of Sweden. The aim of the project was to reflect theologically on experiences from a transit home for unaccompanied refugee children. The home was ran by the local municipality and hosted by the parish in their parish home. A key component in the research process was seminars with a parish research group consisting of employees and a representative of the local parish council. The seminars worked as hermeneutical spaces where members of the research group and the external researchers together interpreted data and material that was collected and created. The conversations in the seminars were recorded and transcribed. At one of the seminars the members also got to read and reflect further upon transcriptions from earlier seminars. In sum the transcribed conversations in the parish research group can be read as theological text mirroring theological interpretations of practical experiences in the life of a local church. In this case a church that decided to host a transit home in their parish home. Some of the salient patterns in the texts from the seminars with the research group are: the important roles played by bodily experiences and materiality in the process related to the transit home; the use of the passion narrative in the interpretations of the mission of the church; a use of a body of Christ analogy focusing on the fact that the body of the risen Lord is a wounded body; seeing the call for help from the local municipality as a call that challenges the local church in their theological self-understanding. In the paper we engage theological voices expressed in the texts in a conversation with other relevant theological voices in a discussion on the role and mission of the church in relation to migration. Such a conversation can both deepen and broaden the theological reflections from the local church and contribute to an ongoing theological and ecclesiological conversation on church and migration. We also reflect upon challenges and possibilities in engaging in theological conversations based on material from participatory research processes.

Mirror or window? – Images of Nature in Ecclesial life

Framing " I saw the light over there, between the trees. It felt as though I was walking on the p... more Framing " I saw the light over there, between the trees. It felt as though I was walking on the path ". The vicar in Arvidsjaur shares a few of the comments that she has heard concerning the painting in the choir of the funeral chapel in this Lapland town. Most of the funerals in the parish are celebrated in the chapel and, according to the vicar, " a lot of people talk about the painting at the memorial gatherings after the funerals ". The picture is painted as a window with a frame. The window is open and outside there is a pine forest. Tree trunks rise out of the ground, which is covered in moss. Between the trees, in the upper left part of the painting, there is dim sunlight and traces of a path leading towards the light. On the window frame, at the front of the picture, a glass jug has a bouquet of wild flowers painted on it. The forest is distinctly represented in the chapel by these various artefacts. It is one of several examples of how the forest, the river, the stream, the mountain, the lake or the fen are important places for many people in the rural areas of northern Sweden, and of how imaginary renditions of these places are also central in relation to the church. 1 In this paper I will focus on two paintings by a local artist, one in the chapel and one in a small village church within the parish of Arvidsjaur. 1 The material from the field studies shows that there are variations in the imagery of the landscape and the ecological environment. There is, in contrast to the views explored in this paper, a perception of the landscape as 'spaces' for tourism and other forms of business activities. The concept and metaphor of the landscape as a 'space' for tourism is used in various ways in the marketing material that I have analyzed. In extended analysis of these themes I explore further how these various views of the landscape and the ecological environment relate to one another, as seen from an ecclesiological perspective.

Church and Action – Ecclesiological aspects in action research, Ecclesiology and Ethnography Durham 2015 (co-presented with Jonas Ideström)

by Tone Stangeland Kaufman and Jonas Ideström

This paper concerns the use of action research as a methodological approach in practical ecclesio... more This paper concerns the use of action research as a methodological approach in practical ecclesiology. The aim is to identify and make explicit theological and ecclesiological questions that need to be reflected upon when conducting such research. There are several examples of how action research is used within practical theology or ecclesiology. Following a more widespread use of action research, there is also an emerging theological discussion of the pros and cons of various approaches. In the paper we will briefly point to what we see as the central arguments in this discussion. Based on that we will engage in a conversation with a few influential voices in the field of action research and ethnographic ecclesiology seeking to make explicit questions that are often inherent or implicit in such a conversation. By so doing we hope to raise the awareness of ecclesiological aspects in action research methodology and at the same time contribute to the ongoing theological discussion concerning transformative research. The point of departure raising these questions for us is an ongoing research project of church and welfare in Church of Sweden, which is designed as an action research study.

Whom do We Serve? – Using Action Research in Practical Ecclesiology, Mending the World Conference Uppsala 2015 (co-presented with Jonas Ideström)

by Tone Stangeland Kaufman and Jonas Ideström

WhatReallyMatters - new book on Ecclesiology and Ethnography

by Jonas Ideström and Tone Stangeland Kaufman

A new book has been published at Pickwick in the Church of Sweden Research Series. It's a book fo... more A new book has been published at Pickwick in the Church of Sweden Research Series. It's a book for anyone interested in the field of Ecclesiology and Ethnography. The book is a result of an international symposium in Uppsala, Sweden focusing on question concering reflexivity, normativity and representation in qualitative theological and ecclesiological research.
The book is edited by Jonas Ideström and Tone Stangeland Kaufman

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