Eva Brunne

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The Right Reverend
Eva Brunne

Bishop Brunne in September 2012
Church Church of Sweden
Diocese Diocese of Stockholm
Installed 8 November 2009
Predecessor Caroline Krook
Personal details
Birth name Gerd Eva Cecilia Brunne
Born (1954-03-07) 7 March 1954
Malmö, Sweden
Denomination Lutheran
Spouse Gunilla Lindén
Alma mater Lund University
Motto Don't show favouritism[1]

Gerd Eva Cecilia Brunne (born 7 March 1954) is a clergywoman in the Church of Sweden who became Bishop of Stockholm in 2009. She is the first lesbian bishop in the world and the first bishop of the Church of Sweden to be in a registered same-sex partnership. Bishop Brunne is also known as a vocal opponent of racism and xenophobia.

Education and early career

Brunne was born in Malmö, where she also grew up, on 7 March 1954.[2][3] Following college, she became a theology student at Lund University. She was ordained as a priest in 1978 and started serving in the Diocese of Lund, comprising Sweden's southernmost provinces of Blekinge and Scania. Brunne spent the first years of her priesthood in Karlskrona, Blekinge. In 1980, upon becoming Secretary General of the Swedish Student Christian Movement, Brunne took up a permanent residence in Stockholm. Before taking up the post of vicar of Sundbyberg parish in 1990, she functioned as university chaplain and bishop's adviser. Following eight years of vicarship in Sundbyberg, Brunne spent another eight years as vicar of Flemingsberg. In 2000, she became the head of Huddinge and Botkyrka deanary, serving as such until 2006.[1]

Episcopate

Having represented the clergy in the Chapter of the Lutheran Diocese of Stockholm from 1997 until 2005, she became dean of the Diocese in 2006. On 26 May 2009, Brunne was elected Bishop of Stockholm,[1][4] succeeding Caroline Krook.[5] She is the first openly lesbian bishop in the world and the first bishop of the Church of Sweden to be in a registered homosexual partnership.[6] Brunne won the election by 413 votes to 365 and said: "It is very positive that our church is setting an example here and is choosing me as bishop based on my qualifications, when they also know that they can meet resistance elsewhere."[6] On the official website of the Church of Sweden, Brunne wrote: "I know what it is to be called into question. I am in the lucky situation that I have power, and I can use it for the benefit of those who have no power."[4]

Brunne was consecrated as bishop by Anders Wejryd, Archbishop of Uppsala, in Uppsala Cathedral on 8 November.[6][7] King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia attended the consecration.[8] Five Anglican bishops, including the then-Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, declined the invitation to attend the ceremony, as did the representatives of the Lutheran World Federation and the churches of Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Archbishop Wejryd denied that the clergy of the Church of England was boycotting the ceremony.[7]

Coat of arms

Brunne confirmed that her coat of arms as Bishop of Stockholm consists of "the coat of arms for the Diocese of Stockholm, St Erik and the Swedish flag, as well as the Luther rose which was Martin Luther's own. The cross is a reminder that faith in the crucified and risen Christ gives bliss."[1]

Riksdag opening incident

In October 2010, Bishop Brunne took part in a rally against racism and xenophobia in Stockholm, after the nationalist Sweden Democrats party entered the Riksdag. The following day, Brunne mentioned the demonstrations in a traditional church sermon that precedes the opening of the Riksdag. In response, Jimmie Åkesson and other members of the party stormed out of the church.[9][10] Åkesson said that the Bishop obviously attacked his party in her speech.[10] Brunne denied that the speech was directed against a specific party.[11]

Personal life

Since 2001,[3] Brunne has been in a registered partnership with Gunilla Lindén, who is also an ordained priest of the Church of Sweden. The couple's relationship received a church blessing and the two have a son, born in c. 2006.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Bishop Eva Brunne". svenskakyrkan.se. Church of Sweden. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 
  2. ↑ Ringborg, Maria (26 May 2009). "Eva Brunne vann biskopsvalet i Stockholms stift". dn.se. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lagercrantz, Agneta (15 November 2009). "En jordnära biskop". svd.se. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Brunne, Eva (30 June 2009). "Anglicans snub Swedish lesbian bishop". The Christian Century. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 
  5. ↑ Geen, Jessica (1 June 2009). "Sweden appoints lesbian bishop". Pink News. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Schjonberg, Mary Frances. "SWEDEN: Lesbian priest ordained as Lutheran bishop of Stockholm". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Landes, David (4 November 2009). "Anglicans snub Swedish lesbian bishop". The Local. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 
  8. ↑ "King and Queen attend bishop ordination at Uppsala Cathedral". kungahuset.se. Official website of the Swedish monarchy. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 
  9. ↑ Plogander, Barbro; Lamm, Aron (8 October 2010). "Text Controversy at the Opening of the Swedish Parliament". The Epoch Times. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Genborg, Linda (10 October 2010). "SD storms out of church sermon". Goteburg Daily. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 
  11. ↑ "Bishop's sermon at the opening of the Riksdag". The Local. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2013. 

External links

Church of Sweden titles
Preceded by
Caroline Krook		 Bishop of Stockholm
2009–present 		Incumbent
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