Bugging a pastor

Swedish Parliament has recently passed a very controversial law giving FRA (National Defensce Radio Establishment) more possibilities to bug telephone and internet traffic passing the Swedish border. The law is controversial indeed.
Today, Dagen reports that already in the 90-ies FRA has bugged the leader of the Word of Life Church in Uppsala, Ulf Ekman, because of his missionary contacts with Russia. Apparently, FRA does not need a law at all, they seemed to think they can do whatever they like to.
Stefan Swärd, leader for another church, EFK, has put questions to FRA boss Ingvar Åkesson. Relevant questions. Why was this bugging done? Who ordered it? Have more christian leaders/organisations being bugged? What does the new law mean for the future concerning religious institutions? We wait for some good answers, if they exist.

In Sweden there is freedom of religion guaranteed. There are also laws protecting personal integrity and guaranteeing pastors and priests the right to be silent about things they have heard in confidence. How then can it be possible that FRA is bugging a pastor? Apparently they have been violating the constitution. What does this mean for missionary organisations in Sweden? Can we speak freely on the phone with our partners, or do we have to be more careful - not because of some other regimes, condemned by democratic Sweden, but because of our own governmental organisations?

Freedom of religion and protection of personal integrity are cornerstones of our society. I would hope they will remain so in future. FRA needs to be controlled in a better way. Apparently.

Warm and beautiful

The first week in April we were in Piniscola, Spain, joining the ECM (http://www.ecmi.org/) Biennial Conference. We were two families from the Mission Covenant Church in Sweden, a missionary couple in Spain and ourselves. Over 300 people, ECM staff and coworkers as well as supporters, meeting old and new friends. Hearing David Ruiz teaching, reports on developments on the different European mission fields and also some free time.

We were able to share something about the situation in the northernmost part of Sweden. I also had two seminars on Being Christian in a world of science. Which gave quite some interesting discussions.

Once again we heard about Europe, the only continent where the church diminishes, but also about signs of hope for the Christian Church in Europe.

Papa Luna was the name of our hotel. The castle in town was once the refuge of a pope, Cardinal de Luna or Benedict XIII, while he had a rivalling pope in Avignon. We learned about this history when visiting the castle. The castle on the isthmus is today a geautiful place to visit with a nice view on the surroundings.

Blessed Easter

It was too long ago I did write here. Now I just want to wish you all a blessed Easter time.
Christos anesti - Christ has risen, that is the greeting with which people meet at Easter morning in Greece. He is truly risen, is the reaction then. A great way of greeting one another, says more than just "hej" as we use in Sweden!

I did spend a few days in Stockholm, where we were gathered who in some way do pioneering church work like church planting in the Mission Covenant Church. It became interesting days and things are happening in this country, which basically must be regarded a mission field. New churches start to emerge, which is a great blessing. Not an easy task however.

After Easter we will be in Spain on the European Christian Mission conference. I will have a series of two seminars on Science and Theology there, focussing on evolution and creation. Many interesting things can be said on that topic.