The Most Rev. Dr Antje Jackelén Archbishop, Church of Sweden

Antje Jackelén is the Lutheran Archbishop of Uppsala in Sweden and Primate (prima inter pares) of the Church of Sweden. She was elected Archbishop in 2014 and is the first woman to hold this office in the Church of Sweden. 

After her early education in Germany, Jackelén pursued theological studies at the Kirchliche Hochschule Bielefeld-Bethel and the University of Tübingen, Germany, receiving a Bachelor of Theology in 1979 from Uppsala University. 

Jackelén was ordained as a pastor in 1980, and served congregations in Stockholm and Lund. 

She received a Doctor of Theology in 1999 from Lund University and became Regional Director for Europe, Science and Religion Course Program of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, Berkeley, California. From 2001, Jackelén served in several positions with the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, USA, including as Director of the Zygon Center for Religion and Science and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology/Religion and Science. 

From 2007 Jackelén served as bishop of the diocese of Lund until her consecration as Archbishop on 15 June 2014. 

Jackelén has become known as a prolific social commentator during her time as bishop and archbishop. She has won numerous awards and distinctions, particularly as an “opinion former.” She is council member of the Lutheran World Federation and vice president for its Nordic Region. She is also member of the Governmental Committee for Technological Innovation and Ethics. 

Jackelén has been awarded the Lambeth Cross for Ecumenism for her “work ecumenically on major human and social issues, including the care of migrants and refugees, climate change and the interface of the Church with secularism.” Her research interests include the dialogue between science and theology, the role of religion in society and Trinitarian theology. She is honorary doctor at the University of Greifswald, at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and at Virginia Theological Seminary. Her recent books include Samlas kring hoppet (‘Together in hope’) (2016) and the forthcoming God is greater (2020).