Nattvardsdryckens beskaffenhet - En debatt inom Svenska kyrkan

Sammanfattning: The Church of Sweden has during the 1980s and in 2010 discussed the contents of the communion drink. The debate has been taken up in Church of Sweden’s supreme body, the General Synod, where members have presented several suggestions for changes the opinion of the communion drink. Initially, members wanted to increase information to parishes about using alcohol-free alternatives instead of wines with high levels of alcohol, and in the most recent general synods there have been proposals to change the guidelines completely. These members desire for changes have, however faced resistance from many other members. The contents of the communion drink are also an important issue for pastors in the parishes. The pastors are responsible for choosing, in consultation with their parish councils, the communion drink to be used at the Lord's Supper. This thesis paper looks at the debates in the 1980s and 2010 and examines positions and orientations that the Church of Sweden has with regard to the contents of the communion drink. I also look at how pastors think and reason about communion drink's content and about the General Synod’s views.