ABSTRACT
The Church of Sweden's role as a folk church was integrated into the framework of the Swedish welfare model. The church became a provider of public welfare in the spiritual sphere, with clear and legally-defined boundaries in relation to the social welfare responsibility of the state. Having experienced a gradual marginalization from its dominant position in an agricultural society, the Church of Sweden found a new role in the folkhemmet as the people's church, expected to serve the religious needs of all citizens. Since 2000, the Church of Sweden has become a free agent in relation to the state, and expectations of its role both as a direct provider of welfare services and as a defender of the values of solidarity and care have moved on. The Swedish case shows therefore signs of an emerging new role for the church in society as a social agent distinct from the state.
