The move is one of several taken by the national Evangelical Lutheran church in updating a 31-year-old handbook setting out how services should be conducted in terms of language, liturgy, hymns and other aspects.

The decision was taken at the end of an eight-day meeting of the church’s 251-member decision-making body, and takes effect from May 20 on the Christian holiday of Pentecost.

A former state church, headquartered in Uppsala, some 37 miles north of the capital, the church has 6.1 million baptised members in a country of 10 million.

It is headed by a woman, Archbishop Antje Jackelen.

Ms Jackelen told Sweden’s TT news agency a more inclusive language had already been discussed at the 1986 conference.

“Theologically, for instance, we know that God is beyond our gender determinations, God is not human,” Ms Jackelen was quoted as saying by TT.

The change was met with criticism, however.

Christer Pahlmblad, an associate theology professor with Sweden’s
Lund University, told Denmark’s Kristeligt Dagblad that the move was “undermining the doctrine of the Trinity and the community with the other Christian churches”.

“It really isn’t smart if the Church of Sweden becomes known as a church that does not respect the common theology heritage,” he said.

Experts have predicted the American imported tradition, which sees heavy discounts in stores and online a day after Thanksgiving, will be the biggest ever weekend of spending.

On Friday alone, spending of up to £2.6 bn is expected – an 8 per cent increase on last year.

Helen Webb from Christians Against Poverty told Premier it’s important for people to plan in advance how much they’re willing to spend to avoid buying what they don’t need.

She explained: “Bag a bargain – if you’ve done your research and you think that’s a really good price for an item and it’s actually what you need for yourself or you want to give it to someone else for a Christmas present or a birthday present.

“But the key thing is here is doing your research and making sure… it’s actually what you want to buy.”

Retailers are relying on a successful weekend and are hoping consumers will continue to spend confidently despite the first rise in interest rates in 10 years and a squeeze on disposable income driven by rising inflation and stagnant wage growth.

A number of big-name chains such as John Lewis, Game, Tesco and Argos have extended their high street opening hours and many retailers have already offered days of deals in a bid to maximise hype and spending around the global event.

Webb expressed to Premier her concern about people ending up in debt.

She said: “Borrowing is cheap but obviously we’re seeing the base rate is going up at…

Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, will join labour movement leaders at a two-day meeting studying the injustices suffered by workers around the world.

She will say: “The Catholic Church and trade unions both understand that much more can be achieved together than alone.

“We share values of community, dignity and social solidarity, values that bind us together as workers, citizens and human beings.

“Together, we can improve working lives and put dignity for working people ahead of market forces and freedom of capital.

“We can build a popular alliance for economic justice, in Britain and around the world.

“So speak out and support the courageous workers who stand up against injustice.

“Call on your congregation to join a union, and encourage Catholic employers to do the right thing and recognise trade unions.”

Ofsted revealed on Thursday that 49 per cent are now rated as below ‘good’, while 26 per cent have been deemed ‘inadequate’.

The figures include private faith schools which are not affiliated with the Independent Schools Council.

Inspectors say a fresh focus on leadership and British values, under new standards implemented three years, is one factor behind the decline.

Ofsted said: “The new standards on fundamental British values look at requirements in relation to written policies on the curriculum, the quality of teaching and the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils.

“While numbers are small, a higher proportion of the weaker faith schools are failing on these requirements when compared to those with no faith.”

The number of UK independent faith schools, which are fee-paying and usually smaller than other schools, now number slightly more than 1,000.

One third of private Christian schools were rated less than good, while 81 of 139 Muslim ones were rated as ‘requiring improvement’ or ‘inadequate’.

Of the 58 independent Jewish schools, more than 50 per cent were deemed to be below good.

All schools are required to model and teach British values, following the Trojan horse affair when concerns were raised that a small number of schools in Birmingham were propagating Islamist ideology.

Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood was honoured for “exceptional and long service to the Church of Scotland” and “promoting tolerance and understanding” through raising awareness of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia.

She said: “It has been a wonderful day shared with my husband Peter and our children, Laura and Michael.”

Collecting her award the day after Ratko Mladic was found guilty of genocide and other atrocities during the 1990s Bosnian war, Dr Hood the occasion was “very poignant”.

She added: “Important though Mladic is, he is but one man in a web of violence and slaughter that spread over Srebrenica and other towns and villages in the region.

“As yet those thousands who carried out his orders remain at large often living in the same communities and in positions of responsibility.”

Dr Hood, who served as Moderator at the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly between 2013 and 2014, established the Scottish board of the charity Remembering Srebrenica.

She dedicated the award to the Mothers of Srebrenica organisation and survivors of the killings who have spoken out against hate and intolerance.

Dr Hood first visited Srebrenica in 2013, when she visited the location of the massacre and met the mothers of some of the victims.

Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood was honoured for “exceptional and long service to the Church of Scotland” and “promoting tolerance and understanding” through raising awareness of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia.

She said: “It has been a wonderful day shared with my husband Peter and our children, Laura and Michael.”

Collecting her award the day after Ratko Mladic was found guilty of genocide and other atrocities during the 1990s Bosnian war, Dr Hood the occasion was “very poignant”.

She added: “Important though Mladic is, he is but one man in a web of violence and slaughter that spread over Srebrenica and other towns and villages in the region.

“As yet those thousands who carried out his orders remain at large often living in the same communities and in positions of responsibility.”

Dr Hood, who served as Moderator at the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly between 2013 and 2014, established the Scottish board of the charity Remembering Srebrenica.

She dedicated the award to the Mothers of Srebrenica organisation and survivors of the killings who have spoken out against hate and intolerance.

Dr Hood first visited Srebrenica in 2013, when she visited the location of the massacre and met the mothers of some of the victims.