The Church of Sweden says it has elected the country's first female archbishop, who will join a growing number of female church leaders around the world.

The Lutheran church says Antje Jackelen, 58, secured 55.9 percent of the votes among 325 members of local church boards.

While the Roman Catholic Church doesn't allow the ordination of women, it is not uncommon among some Protestant churches. The church of Norway is led by a woman, Helga Haugland Byfuglien, and the Episcopal Church of the United States is headed by Katharine Jefferts Schori.

The German-born Jackelen, who studied at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, has been the bishop of the city of Lund in southern Sweden since 2007.

She takes over from Anders Wejryd, who will retire.