The Social Democrats were the largest party with 44 percent in the diocesan council in the church election in 2017, but value-conservative POSK continues to grow and landed just under 20 percent.
"Does not mention Christian faith once"
POSK wants to break with party politics and believes that the church's issues are theological and not party political.
And that the church is a community of faith and not a community of opinion.
- It is about non-Christian parties and in the Social Democrats' party program the words Christian, faith or Jesus are not mentioned once.
The cornerstone is instead to refer to their party color, ideology and values.
They see the church as an institution that should be shaped like society in general, says Lars-Gunnar Frisk, chairman of POSK in Luleå diocese.
Political heavyweights take over
But the Social Democrats continue on the beaten path and now launch former county council and municipal politician Yvonne Stålnacke and former municipal politician Peter Roslund as the top name on the ballot paper for the diocesan council.
- I think many people perceive this as good, that we are used to leading and controlling. The church has major challenges in the future with a declining membership and poorer finances, and together we have a long experience of leading that type of change work in other organizations, she says.