Daniel Alm has been a prominent leader within the Swedish Pentecostal movement. Since 2016, he served as the national leader for Pingst FFS, the largest Christian denomination in the country outside of the former state church, the Church of Sweden.

He previously chaired the Swedish Christian Council. His leadership has often been praised for fostering ecumenical collaboration between virtually all Swedish churches and for driving renewal within the Pentecostal movement.

In October 2023, Alm unexpectedly resigned as national leader following allegations of abuse of power directed at a female colleague.

Six months later, in March 2024, the Pentecostal congregation in Västerås terminated his position as senior pastor, citing serious personal reasons. An external inquiry ordered by Pingst FFS had concluded that there was no conclusive evidence to establish that a criminal offense had taken place. Nevertheless, the congregation stated that Alm had violated the trust and confidence required of a pastor, making it impossible for him to continue in his role, SVT reported.

In an interview with Västmanlands Läns Tidning (VLT), Alm compared his misconduct to speeding, stating, “I may have been driving 20 km/h too fast, but I’ve been judged in public as if I were driving 200 km/h too fast.”

What followed was a labour dispute in which Alm claimed the dismissal lacked just cause and that his sexual relationships with the two female employees had been mutually consensual. He sued the congregation, but in April 2025 the District Court of Västmanland ruled that there were clear and justifiable grounds for the dismissal. The court held that Alm’s conduct constituted a serious breach of his obligations as an employee and pastor.

The women’s testimonies

Direct reporting from the Christian newspaper Hemmets Vän during the trial offers deeper insight into the women’s experiences, which were crucial to the court’s ruling. The two female employees testified about a work environment where they felt vulnerable and exposed, with a clear imbalance of power between them and Alm.

One of the women described feeling pressured and manipulated by Alm during their collaboration, which affected both her job satisfaction and personal well-being. She recounted frequent situations where Alm blurred professional and private boundaries in ways that made her uncomfortable, and where her objections were dismissed.

The other woman shared similar experiences and spoke of occasions when she tried to set boundaries but felt these were ignored or minimised by Alm. Both women described how their experiences of abuse of power and not being heard created a work environment filled with anxiety and insecurity.

During the trial, the women emphasised that their testimonies were not about personal conflicts, but about a serious imbalance in the relationship that negatively impacted their working conditions. This was a key factor in the court’s judgment that Alm’s behaviour represented a breach of trust.

The court’s decision and the road ahead

The District Court of Västmanland’s ruling was clear: the Västerås Pentecostal congregation had just cause to dismiss Alm.

It could not be established beyond reasonable doubt to what extent the sexual activity had been consensual or nonconsensual, due to the significant discrepancies between Alm’s and the two women’s testimonies. However, the court concluded that Alm had “exploited his position in relation to [both women], resulting in a degree of control and sexual advantages to the harm of [both women]”. 

In May 2025, the Labour Court denied him leave to appeal, which means the lower court’s decision stands.

This conflict has shaken the Swedish Pentecostal movement and raised questions about how leadership and accountability should be handled when allegations of abuse of power arise within church contexts.

Author’s comment: The importance of responsibility and repentance

Pastors and leaders within the church must be willing to take responsibility for their actions and show humility when they sin. When a congregation follows biblical principles and acts in the best interests of its members and community, it builds trust.

When a congregation dismisses a pastor after serious breaches of trust, this is a message that shows it prioritises protecting the congregation and its members. Suing the congregation in such cases risks harming both the community and the faith. Repentance, reconciliation, and the courage to face the consequences of one’s actions are therefore essential—especially in the case of pastors.

I have sought to reach Daniel Alm through his legal counsel for comment, but have not received a response.

Carl Lindahl, youth counselor and prison chaplain in northern Sweden. He writes about faith, ethics, and culture from a Christian perspective.