Svenska kyrkan i integrationens gränsland : En studie om Svenska kyrkans roll i integrationsarbete för migranter och dess integrationssyn

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study is to examine the role of the Church of Sweden in the context of migrant integration in Sweden, drawing insights from its official website, www.svenskakyrkan.se, and the publication Framtiden bor hos oss: metoder och förhållningssätt i urbana mångfaldsförsamlingar i Svenska kyrkan. Employing qualitative content analysis and Håkon Lorentzen's four perceptions of integration, the investigation aims to elucidate the Church's stance on integration as reflected in the examined materials. The analysis reveals a multifaceted manifestation of the Church of Sweden's involvement in migrant integration, delineating five pivotal roles: an open church, a cooperating church, a conflict-bearing and conflict-resolving church, a supporting church, and a bridge-building church. Collectively, these roles signify the Church of Sweden's self-conceptualization regarding its primary function in the realm of migrant integration, characterized as a welfare church. Furthermore, the research indicates a substantial alignment between the Church of Sweden's perspective and Håkon Lorentzen's dual views on integration, namely "Integration through differentiation" and "Integration through social networks." The objective of this essay has been to contribute to the expansion of perspectives within the Church of Sweden and the field of integration. Despite its acknowledged limitations and restricted generalizability, the study aims to stimulate interest in the imperative continuation of research within this subject area.