Utrymme för handling : Svenska kyrkan och medmänsklighet kring 1968

The years around 1968 societal change was on the agenda of many political, cultural and other movements. This paper is about the role of Church of Sweden in relation to the demands of contemporary society. How did Church of Sweden approach the challenges that the time around 1968 presented in terms of vulnerability and human distress? In particular, what was the ability of the church and its members to be an active force in reducing the remaining pockets of poverty, to enhance equality? Did the church offer a possibility for the committed to participate through the church in improving human conditions in the world, something generally expected by a Christian church? By the reading of the church weekly magazine, Vår Kyrka, and applying a theory on “space of action”, the paper concludes that it was hard to develop meaningful social work in the parishes, partly due to the Parish Governance Act, Församlingsstyrelselagen. It was the international work that offered a “space of action” for the active parish members. Lutherhjälpen (Church of Sweden Aid) and Svenska kyrkans mission (Church of Sweden Mission) grew in importance and affected parishwork and the witness of the church at the time