To Örebro University

Abstract

The purpose for writing this essay is to study the culture of kindness in the Church of Sweden, as the church constitutes as an idealistic organization (non-profit or voluntary organization).

The focal point is on how such a culture affects the employees, and if any new components

that can amplify the concept can be distinguished.

To do this a case study-design has been employed. The primary sources are qualitative

interviews with six employees in a congregation in the Church of Sweden, and participant

observations on two different occasions at the same congregation.

Theories of organizational sociology has been applied to the material, more specific Edgar H

Schein’s definition of organizational culture and the concept of a culture of kindness (deriving

from a report by the Swedish Work Environment Authority) as a specific part of the church’s

organizational culture.

The conclusions we can make from our study is that a culture of kindness affect employees in

both a positive and a negative way. There are many expectations that come with working in

the Church of Sweden, and these do have an effect on the work performed. There is also

evidence pointing to the fact that leadership can counteract the fear of conflicts that otherwise

is associated with the culture of kindness. Finally one can conclude that the concept of

kindness culture could be elaborated, for instance with a notion of leadership.