THE SWEDISH IONA-INSPIRED NETWORK
Our Region is inspired by the Iona Community in several ways, and whilst we have few Associate Members and Friends, we come together to seek inspiration and share our experiences.
Many of us have been to Iona as visitors or volunteers. As individuals, we engage in the world around us in the transition movement, pilgrim movement, the anti-arms export movement, supporting EU-migrants and refugees, working as teachers and pursuing the UN Sustainable Development Goals in fellowship with others.
HOW WE WORK IN THIS REGION
We have two regular Network meetings every year: the winter meeting in January, which is for one full day and includes our informal annual meeting; and a summer meeting when we invite anyone who is interested to a 3–5-day meeting. Here we share the common life, as on Iona. In 2021 the theme was ‘We will live again – but how?’, where we together reflected upon how our experiences of the pandemic can be used toward the transition work to be done when we take the issues of climate change and resource use seriously.
Another thing that brings us together is our prayer list.
We share information on our Facebook page – Det Iona-inspirerade nätverket and on our webpage – https://www.ionasverige.se/
We have groups that meet regularly in Katrineholm and Umeå. Our networks main language is Swedish but many of us know English.
KEY PARTNERS AND NETWORKS IN THIS REGION
The Iona Community is a Member of Oikosnet Europe, an ecumenical network of Christian academies and laity centres in Europe.
Through this network we work in close partnership with our friends at the Sigtuna Foundation in Swdend, a “centre for education and research, and also for various kinds of cultural programs and retreats.”
