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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Tuesday, 11 April 2017. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
by Hugh White
ON 12 April in Uppsala, Fredrik Modeus will be consecrated 59th Bishop of Vaxjo, Oxford's link diocese in Sweden. Bishop Andrew will be among those laying on hands.
Fredrik Modes was born and brought up in Jonkoping in the diocese of Vaxjo. He studied theology at Lund University and was ordained priest in 1991, serving in Varnamo, Hassleholm and Oskarshamn before settling in Lund where he is currently in charge of the cathedral parish. He is 50 years old and married with three children.
A sports fan, he lists running among his leisure activities. He also enjoys literature, history and travel. Modeus is the author of several books and is about to be examined for a doctorate. He has a particular interest in the dynamics of church growth.
His experience as a priest and his scholarly research into congregations lead him to believe that more important for church growth than programmes of activity are caring personal relationships.
He stresses the importance of listening to other people and taking their thinking and view of the world with the utmost seriousness.
He is concerned about the cocksure certitude that simply writes off opinions and people it disagrees with. Openness, though, shouldn't mean lack of commitment:
"It's a pain when the Church is lukewarm," says Modeus, who believes the Church should go deep in prayer and meditation and at the same time be right out there among the vulnerable of society. We pray for God's blessing on Fredrik Modeus in his new ministry as bishop and for Vaxjo Diocese and for its continuing relationship with Oxford.