In what is being seen as a landmark decision, the Church of Sweden has formally agreed to recognise same-sex marriages and conduct gay weddings and blessings, becoming the first major church to do so.

The Lutheran Church of Sweden will today mark the 50th anniversary of its decision in 1958 to ordain women as priests, and cathedrals in all of the church's 13 dioceses are to hold services to celebrate the anniversary.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus and author Peter Matthiessen are among those who have said they will attend an interfaith climate summit being organized by the (Lutheran) Church of Sweden in Uppsala in November 2008.

Religious communities can and do make a positive contribution to peace and justice in Africa, say diplomatic representatives meeting with Nordic church leaders at an interfaith meeting on women's development priorities.

The Church of Sweden, which has been criticised by other Lutherans for blessing civil partnerships, says the state should not redefine marriage.