Svenska kyrkans primas : Ärkebiskopsämbetet i förändring 1914–1990

Sammanfattning: When Nathan Söderblom became archbishop in 1914 he substantially altered and extended the office of archbishop. This study deals with how and why the office of archbishop has changed from Söderblom’s incumbency down to the introduction of an assistant bishop in the archdiocese in 1990. Is the archbishop mainly a diocesan bishop with some duties on the national level or is the archbishop mainly the primate with minor tasks in the diocese? The latter view has prevailed and the archbishop’s business as primate has come to be regarded as the most important.During the period studied seven archbishops have served in Uppsala. Their ex officio positions, their archiepiscopal arenas, are examined to find out how they shaped their office. Different leadership styles are uncovered and the archbishops’ differing performance and characteristics are examined. These ranged from expansion and renewal (Nathan Söderblom), cautiousness and withdrawal (Erling Eidem), restoration and consolidation (Yngve Brilioth), uniting and dividing (Gunnar Hultgren), institutionalisation and internationalization (Ruben Josefson), ecumenism and peace work (Olof Sundby), and expansion and clarification (Bertil Werkström). In this way the study also gives a comprehensive view of the 20th century Church of Sweden debates and conflicts.The study also covers formal changes that have been introduced to the office of archbishop. The concepts of fields, capital and habitus are used to analyse the patterns and structures of the office during the decades studied. The social position of the archbishop became stronger during the period while the formal position became weaker. The archbishop of Uppsala is since the Reformation the foremost representative and spokesperson of the Church of Sweden.