The Deregulation of Swedish Welfare and Religion - New Challenges for the Lutheran Majority Church

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "The Deregulation of Swedish Welfare and Religion - New Challenges for the Lutheran Majority Church"

Claire Johnston
8 years ago
Views:

1 The Deregulation of Swedish Welfare and Religion - New Challenges for the Lutheran Majority Church Berlin April 5 th 2014 Per Pettersson, Professor of Sociology of Religion Uppsala Religion and Society Research Centre, Uppsala University, Sweden CTF-Service Research Center, Karlstad University, Sweden

of Sociology of Religion Uppsala Religion and Society Research Centre,

2 Deregulation of religion in Sweden - a process during 138 years: From a complete unity between church and state 1862 Separation at local level between church and municipality, by creating municipality as separate authority 1951 Religious freedom Act 1991 Civil registration moved from church to the tax authority 2000 Separation at national/legal level between church and state

creating municipality as separate authority 1951 Religious freedom Act 1991 Civil registration

3 Welfare in Swedish 18-19th century agricultural society Family/relatives No 1 Big farms Private business No 2 Welfare services Voluntary Organizations No 3 State (incl. the Church)

4 Building of the Swedish welfare model the people s home (folkhemmet) and - the people s Church (folkkyrkan) Family/relatives Private business Voluntary organizations State public authorities (incl. the Church)

5 From 1980s: Deregulation of public welfare, as effect of: New social challenges: Demographic development an ageing population Transnational economic and political networks, e.g. IMF and EU putting pressure on states to cut public finances Global migration of people in need Growing economic/social gaps between different groups The neo-liberal economy wave: Neo-liberal economy models were imported from US and UK New public management - implementation of market models in public welfare services

IMF and EU putting pressure on states to cut public finances Global migration of people in need Growing economic/social

6 From 1980s: Outsourcing of public services to private firms and increasing expectations on families and voluntary organisations Family/relatives Private business Voluntary organizations (incl. the Church) State public authorities

voluntary organisations Family/relatives Private business

7 Deregulation/privatisation of Swedish public services Sweden is today one of the European countries that to the largest degree has degregulated and market oriented public services E.g.: Railway, electricity infrastructure, post, tele communication, pharmacies Market oriented welfare services, e.g.: Child care Public schools for 6-18 years old Social services and care for old people Social care for physically and mentally handicapped people Medical care

post, tele communication, pharmacies Market oriented welfare services, e.g.

8 Four interrelated highly debated political issues: -deregulation/privatisation of welfare -cutbacks in public financies -reduction of taxes -increasing cleavages between rich and poor Major issues in the 2010 elections and for the coming 2014 elections Many argue that the quality in welfare has been reduced. This is supported by scandals in welfare service delivery and suffering people exposed in media Hot issue: If private companies should be allowed to take out profit from social welfare services The largest private Swedish welfare providers today are risk capitalist companies driven by profit, often exporting their profit to tax free zones abroad

This is supported by scandals in welfare service delivery and suffering people exposed in media Hot issue: If private companies should be allowed to take out profit

9 Parallel deregulation of religion and welfare around the year 2000 Family/relatives Private business Voluntary organizations Year 2000 Church of Sweden State public authorities

10 Church of Sweden in Swedish society 2012

11 1st January 2000 The Church of Sweden changed its status: From being part of the State to becoming the largest organization in Sweden next to the State What does this mean for the State? What does this mean for the Church?

largest organization in Sweden next to the State What

12 A changed division of labor between state and Church Before 2000: internal division of labor within the state saying that the Church was not allowed to carry out similar social services as the municipality and state After 2000: No state regulation of the Church activities = the Church is a potential social service provider

carry out similar social services as the municipality and state After 2000: No

13 State agreement 2008 with the voluntary sector = a new regulation that is part of the welfare deregulation process The agreement is aiming to strengthen the independent role of voluntary organisations as voice and opinion builders, and to increase the diversity of providers within social-, health- and medical care, and to clarify the role of NGO agents in the social field and make it possible for them to compete on equal conditions with other agents in this field (like for profit firms) The Church of Sweden is of certain interest for the state The Church has initiated several projects and studies to investigate how to act in relation to the new welfare market

clarify the role of NGO agents in the social field and make it possible for them to compete on equal conditions with other agents in this field (like for profit

14 Challenges to the Church of Sweden How should the Church react to the market orientation and cutbacks of the state s welfare provision? Should the Church be a critical voice in relation to the state? Or should the Church involve as social welfare entrepreneur in contract relationships with the state? Or should the Church act in some other way?

Should the Church be a critical voice in relation to the state?

15 Can a majority Church be a critical voice? A majority of the population are members When all political parties are represented at all levels of the Church organisation it is difficult to take stand in social issues that have a political dimension And who is to speak for the Church? Bishops, pastors, members? This question if the Church can take on a critical role to the state is especially problematic in Lutheran majority churches with democratic principles and structure The Church of Sweden is heard in debate on international justice - but not in debate on the Swedish welfare system

take stand in social issues that have a political dimension And who is to speak for the Church? Bishops, pastors, members?

16 Should the Church involve as social welfare entrepreneur? Would this mean an acceptance of the demounting of the solidary welfare system? What happens to the values of the Church if it becomes organisationally part of the neoliberal market logic in its caring functions? Would it be OK if the Church took profit from welfare service funding in the same way as the risk capitalist firms? Can the Church both become a large entrepreneur in welfare and be a critical voice in the welfare debate? What will financial contracts with the state mean for the freedom and independence of the Church?

Would it be OK if the Church took profit from welfare service funding in the same way as the risk capitalist firms?

17 New forms of state-church relationships as effect of Neoliberal Economic Philosophy and Market Economy Economy and financial relationships steer the focus of the state The Church (as other organisations) is valued according to the economic benefit it can provide for the state Difficult for the state to handle and steer religious organisations and escpecially a majority church New agreements and contract relationships can be seen as new forms of state-church re-regulation and control of religious agents

can provide for the state Difficult for the state to handle and steer religious organisations and escpecially a majority

18 An emerging pattern of increase and decrease in several European countries (WREP) An increasing social role of the majority Church in the public sphere simultaneous with a decreasing role in individuals private sphere This paradox creates - financial problems for the Church by reduced membership - identity conflict within the Church

with a decreasing role in individuals private sphere This paradox creates -

19 Identity conflict: When Sunday services are decreasing and the social activites are increasing The Sunday service is in the official discourse and documents of most Churches stressed as the most important activity The identity of the Church is highly related to the Sunday service Success and failure of the Church is often measured in relation to the Sunday service and it s attendance rate What will happen to the identity and core values of the Church if social services by state regulated contracts will expand and the Sunday services continues to decrease?

service Success and failure of the Church is often measured in relation to the Sunday service and it s attendance rate What will happen to

20 Lutheran theology highlight the role of the state and the individual in welfare provision The two kingdoms idea mean that the state is acting on behalf of God The Church has a critical function as a corrective to the state, but shall not take over the function of the state A major task for the Church is to be a value provider and guardian of values of humanity and solidarity The church members and all human beings serve God in their daily work and life Most of a majority Church s welfare work is accomplished through the state welfare activities in which a major part of the workers are Church members (nurses, doctors, councelors, social workers, administrators etc.) An important task for Church officials is to acknowledge and confirm the Church members contributions in society as part of God s and the Church s mission in society, and to encourage the Church members to also see it in that way

and all human beings serve God in their daily work and life Most of a majority Church s welfare work is accomplished through the state welfare activities in which a major part of the workers are

21 The primary role in welfare for the Church (Four main types of roles for voluntary organisations, Ralph Kramer 1981) 1. Value-guardian holding and defending values of humanity and solidarity 2. Vanguard highlighting hidden need, giving voice to suffering people 3. Service-provider Support the responsibility of the state Confirm the individuals calling and responsibility 4. Improver Support the responsibility of the state Confirm the individuals calling and responsibility

22 End

Hospitality I Compassion I Respect I Justice I Excellence

Hospitality I Compassion I Respect I Justice I Excellence St John of God Health Care s Mission is to continue the healing mission of Jesus Christ. In his life and ministry, Jesus provided compassionate