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Bertil Werkström

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The Most Reverend

Bertil Werkström
Archbishop of Uppsala
Primate of Sweden
ChurchChurch of Sweden
ArchdioceseUppsala
Appointed1983
In office1983–1993
PredecessorOlof Sundby
SuccessorGunnar Weman
Previous post(s)Bishop of Härnösand (1975-1983)
Orders
Ordination1954
Consecration12 October 1975
by Olof Sundby
RankMetropolitan Archbishop
Personal details
Born(1928-06-09)9 June 1928
Died10 July 2010(2010-07-10) (aged 82)
Stockholm, Sweden
NationalitySwedish
ParentsGunnar Werkström
Ingar Hedenskog
SpouseBrita Caroli
Alma materLund University
Coat of armsBertil Werkström's coat of arms

Bertil Werkström (9 June 1928 – 10 July 2010) was Archbishop of Uppsala from 1983 to 1993.[1]

Early years and education

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Bertil Werkström was the son of the Gunnar Werkström (1904-1975) and Ingar Hedenskog (1908-1971). He grew up in Dalsland and studied theology at Lund University in 1954. He graduated in 1959. Afterwards he underwent hospitalization in the United States between 1959 and 1960. He became a doctor of theology in 1963 with the dissertation Bekännelse och avlösning. En typologisk undersökning av Luthers, Thurneysens och Buchmans biktuppfattningar (Confession and Relief. A Typological Examination of Lutheran, Thurneysen and Buchman's Concept of Conflict). In 1959 he married Brita Caroli, who died in 2013.[2] During his time as Archbishop he supported ecumenical efforts[3] and in international affairs favored sanctions against Apartheid South Africa.[4] In 1984 he also maintained that homosexuality was "against the orders of creation."[5]

Ministry

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Werkström was a hospital priest in Sundsvall between 1964 and 1970 and Rector of Sköndalsinstitutet between 1970 and 1975. He became the royal chief predictor in 1974. In 1975 he was elected Bishop of Härnösand, a post he kept till 1983 when he was elected Archbishop of Uppsala and Primate of Sweden. He retired in 1993. He died in 2010 after a long-term illness.

Porvoo Communion

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Werkström was active in the creation of the Porvoo Communion, which is a recognition and an agreement of unity between Lutheran churches in the Nordic and Baltic countries and Anglican churches on the British Isles. The so-called Porvoo agreement was signed in 1992 in the city of Porvoo in Finland.

Rome visit

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In 1991, he visited Rome to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the canonization of Bridget of Sweden together with the Roman Catholic pope.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Religious Organizations" (in Swedish). World Statesmen. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  2. ^ Björn Ryman (2005). Nordic Folk Churches: A Contemporary Church History. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 58, 168. ISBN 978-0-8028-2879-8.
  3. ^ John A. Radano (2009). Lutheran and Catholic Reconciliation on Justification: A Chronology of the Holy See's Contributions, 1961-1999, to a New Relationship Between Lutherans and Catholics and to Steps Leading to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 83, 86, 100, 128. ISBN 978-0-8028-4860-4.
  4. ^ Sellström, Tor (2002). Sweden and national liberation in Southern Africa: Vol. 2, Solidarity and assistance 1970-1994 (PDF). Uppsala: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. pp. 823–. ISBN 91-7106-430-3. OCLC 41157147.
  5. ^ Anne-Louise Eriksson; Goran Gunner; Niclas Blader (8 November 2012). Exploring a Heritage: Evangelical Lutheran Churches in the North. Wipf and Stock Publishers. pp. 86–87. ISBN 978-1-62032-102-7.
  6. ^ "Ärkebiskop emeritus Bertil Werkström har avlidit" (in Swedish). Church of Sweden. 14 July 2010. Archived from the original on 6 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.