Erling Eidem

Erling Eidem (23 April 1880 – 14 April 1972) was a Swedish theologian who served as archbishop of Uppsala 1931–1950.[1]

The Most Reverend Erling Eidem
Archbishop of Uppsala Primate of Sweden
Church	Church of Sweden
Archdiocese	Uppsala
Elected	1931
In office	1931-1950
Predecessor	Nathan Söderblom
Successor	Yngve Brilioth
Orders
Ordination	8 January 1914
Consecration	22 May 1932 by Olof Bergqvist
Personal details
Born	(1880-04-23)23 April 1880 Gothenburg, Sweden
Died	14 April 1972(1972-04-14) (aged 91) Vänersborg, Sweden
Buried	Uppsala old cemetery
Nationality	Swedish
Spouse	Elisabeth Eklund
Coat of arms

Eidem was son of Anders Magnus Andersson, a merchant in Gothenburg, and his spouse Pauline Eidem, whose maiden name he took. He received his filosofie kandidat degree from the University College of Gothenburg in 1903, his theology degree from Lund University in 1907, became licentiate there in 1912 and completed his doctorate of theology in 1918. He was docent of New Testament exegesis in Lund 1913-1924, and was assistant at Uppsala University 1918-1919. He was vicar of Gårdstånga parish 1924-1928 and professor of Biblical studies in Uppsala 1926-1928, and in Lund from 1928 until 1931, when he was elected archbishop of Uppsala. He married Elisabeth Eklund, a daughter of the theologian Pehr Eklund, dean of the cathedral of Lund and professor of church history at the university.

During the 1930s, Eidem expressed nationalist views, but kept a clear distance from the German Nazi regime and warned the Lutheran church in Germany for the prevalent anti-semitism. After the war years, Eidem was one of the churchmen who donated money to the high church St. Ansgar Foundation in Uppsala.

Following the murder of Kaj Munk on 4 January 1944 the Danish resistance newspaper De frie Danske brought condemning reactions from influential Scandinavians, including Eidem.[2]

Eidem was the last archbishop to be ex officio Pro-Chancellor of Uppsala University.

References

1. "Religious Organizations" (in Swedish). World Statesmen. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
2. "KAJ MUNK IN MEMORIAM". De frie Danske (in Danish). January 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 18 November 2014. Med oprørt Sind og Smerte har vi modtaget Budskabet om den uhyggelige Blodsdaad ved Silkeborg. Kaj Munk var indenfor vide Kredse i vort Land beundret som en benaadet Forkynder og en skabende Kunstner

• Vem är det 1955
• Sveriges dödbok 1950-1999 (CD-ROM, published 2000 by the Swedish Federation of Genealogical Societies)

Preceded by Nathan Söderblom	Archbishop of Uppsala Primate of Sweden 1931–1950	Succeeded by Yngve Brilioth