The church at Böleäng together with the church at Västerslätt may be sold when Umeå pastorate will now save just over SEK 15 million over the next few years. Staff may also be terminated.

- It's just about real estate in the first place. The business continues as usual, says Leif Högnert, chairman of the church council in Umeå.

Also in Skellefteå, savings packages are planned at the church. Employees will be terminated and more premises, including parts of Moröbacke church, will be rented out.

- We are currently in union negotiations to dismiss a couple of our employees, says Lars Elvero's CFO at Skellefteå pastorate.

Save and rubbish even inland

Even in the hinterland, it is important to save and benefit, but no layoffs are planned there. Västerbotten is a religious county, but now reality catches up. More and more people are leaving the Swedish church in the county and the money is not enough. According to the Church of Sweden, about 3000 Western bouts left the Church of Sweden between 2017 and 2018.

- We want as much as we can from the two churches that can be sold. We need money, says Leif Hognert, chairman of the church council in Umeå pastorate.

On October 22, a decision will be made on the savings plans in Umeå.