Church of Sweden Mission (Svenska kyrkans mission, SKM) is the official body within the Church of Sweden responsible for overseas mission work. SKM began in 1874. Two years later, its first missionaries were sent to South Africa and India. Later they were followed by priests, doctors, nurses, teachers, and others sent to Zimbabwe, China, and Tanzania. Currently, SKM has about 150 missionaries.

SKM cooperates with a large number of independent partner churches and ecumenical organizations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It offers financial and personnel support only at their request. SKM also works in cooperation with international bodies such as the World Council of Churches and Lutheran World Federation .

Formerly, mission activity was divided into evangelization and parish work, health work, and education. Nowadays, the work is more diversified, including urban mission, theological training, youth work, and inter-religious dialogue.

Moreover, the whole concept of mission is now in a process of change, with resource sharing and mission to the North now in focus. Mission to the North means that Swedish congregations increasingly are receiving missionaries from sister churches in the third world. At present five missionaries are working in the Church of Sweden.

New and important issues include women's struggles against op-pression, and struggles for human rights. This may include, for example, assistance with legal aid and support to the families of prisoners. Such assistance is now much needed in South Africa, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and several countries in Latin America.

The work of SKM is supported by voluntary contributions from parishes and individuals. Members of the board are elected by the General Synod. The annual SKM budget is about 135 million Swedish kronor.

Church of Sweden Aid (Lutherhjälpen)

A great breakthrough came during World Refugee Year (1959-60), when donations and personal involvement sharply increased. In 1964, came the first Lutherhjälpen fund-raising campaign, now an annual activity between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday. Around three million collection boxes are distributed to homes around Sweden, tens of thousands of people are involved.

Through Lutherhjälpen, assistance is now given every year to about 75 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Total turnover for 1993 was about 240 million Swedish kronor, most from freewill offerings. For emergency aid and certain development projects, the Swedish International Development Authority, contributes around 35 per cent of costs.

Close to 4000 volunteer Lutherhjälpen representatives work throughout Sweden on fund raising and information sharing. In addition the Lutherhjälpen Representative Council (appointed by the Bishops' Conference, the diocesan councils, and Church of Sweden central bodies) meets for two days every year.

The Lutherhjälpen board is made up of nine members and nine deputy members. Chosen by the Representative Synod, it meets six times a year.

Church of Sweden Abroad (Svenska kyrkan i utlandet)

This work began in 1876 when the Church of Sweden sent out its first chaplains to seafarers in Kiel (Germany) and West Hartlepool (England). Today, SKUT aims to work wherever there are Swedes abroad be they emigrants, tourists, seafarers, truck drivers, young travelers, or au-pairs.

In Sweden, an important task for SKUT is to spread information about itself, as a great part of its budget is covered by freewill offerings. It also recruits new SKUT workers overseas, and maintains contact with the 150 or so now serving outside the country.