September 2010

The Georg Volume 7, Issue 2 Sverdrup Society NEWSLETTER

Sverdrup Society Annual Meeting to Be Held in Glyndon, MN The 2010 Annual Meeting For reservations contact In this Issue: of the Georg Sverdrup Society Pastor Terry Olson, 6834 14th will be held 12:00—4:00 p.m. Avenue NE, Grafton, ND, Annual Meeting 1 Saturday, Oct. 9, at Maranatha 58237, telephone 701-330-5757, announcement Lutheran Church, Glyndon, email [email protected]. MN. Lunch will be served at

H. U. Sverdrup’s 1 noon, followed by the program Catechism . . . at 1:00 p.m. and the business JOURNAL It Didn’t Mean a Thing 2 meeting at 2:30 p.m. The 2010 Sverdrup Journal to Me The program will feature will focus on “Sverdrup and the traditional Songfest, led by Scripture.” Publication is Marian Christopherson. Loiell scheduled for this spring. The cover of a Pontoppidan Dyrud will make a presentation Catechism. Originally published on the Sverdrup family, and in Norway in 1737 under the title, Erik Pontoppidan’s Truth Unto Larry Walker will read from a Godliness, this catechism con- new translation of one of Sver- tained 759 questions and answers drup’s articles. explaining Luther’s Small Cate- chism. H. U. Sverdrup’s Catechism and the Lutheran Free Church “Alterations,” by Loiell Dyrud

Georg Sverdrup H.U. Sverdrup’s Forklar- to Luther’s Small Catechism Sverdrup’s work, and pub-  Born to Pastor Harold ing (or “Explanation”), a ver- called Truth Unto Godliness. lished his edited version as Ulrich Sverdrup and sion of Erik Pontoppidan’s It contained 759 questions the official catechism for his wife Caroline Truth Unto Godliness, was a and answers, and was used to church, school, and home. In Metella, nee Suur, cornerstone of Norway’s reli- instruct Denmark’s young 1865 the Sverdrup Catechism at Balestrand, gious life. It was used in people. received royal authorization. Sogn, Norway, on nearly all the Norwegian Since Norway was under Sverdrup, a pastor in Bales- December 16, 1848. Lutheran Synods in America, Danish rule, this work also trand parish in Sogn, edited including the Conference, in became the text for its chil- and cut over 125 questions  Died on May 3, 1907, whose seminary (Augsburg) dren, though it is probable from the original. The final in Minneapolis, MN, H.U. Sverdrup’s son Georg that some informal editing reduction came in 1893, and buried in the 1 Lakewood Cemetery served as professor of the Old and reduction was practiced. when Norway’s Department Testament. Several attempts were made of Church and Education In 1737, Erik Pontoppi- by the Norwegian Church to abridged Sverdrup’s version dan, chaplain to the King of reduce and edit Pontoppidan. to 388 questions and answers, Denmark and later Bishop of In 1864, the State Church about half of Pontoppidan’s Bergen, wrote an explanation officially accepted Rev. H. U. (Continued on page 3) NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Issue 2

Page 2 It Didn’t Mean a Thing to Me By Kris Nyman

In late August of 1979, I arrived Though I never used the Uni- Arctic Ocean, west of Ellesmere in Oslo, Norway, on the campus of versity’s library, I later found it was Island at around 82° north and 95° Det Menighetsfakultet (The Congre- named Georg Sverdrup Huset (The west. The islands are named after gation’s [or Independent] Seminary) Georg Sverdrup House). At the time, Norwegian explorer Otto Sverdrup, of the Lutheran Church. I was an it didn’t mean a thing to me. who explored and mapped them exchange student from the United Fast forward 24 years, and from 1898 to 1902. States. I was welcomed into the family of In fact, Sverdrup is even a As a first year student at an the AFLC from the ELCA! One of technical term in oceanography! ALC seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, the first names I learned, within the “The sverdrup, named in honor of I learned of the possibility of study- first month of coming into the AFLC, the pioneering oceanographer Har- ing in Norway for a year. My pater- was Georg Sverdrup. The Georg ald Sverdrup, is a unit of measure nal grandparents came from Sweden, Sverdrup Society was just getting of volume transport. It is used al- and I heard a lot of Swedish as I grew started, though I had totally forgotten most exclusively in oceanography, up, but could only speak a few about the name of the university to measure the transport of ocean phrases. When I heard about the op- library. currents. Its symbol is Sv. Note portunity to study in Norway, I asked Now, years later, it meant a lot that the sverdrup is not an SI unit, one of the Norwegian students at the to me that the University of Oslo’s and that its symbol conflicts with seminary in Dubuque to tutor me in Library was named Georg Sverdrup the sievert's symbol. It is equiva- Norwegian. Huset. I assumed it was named after lent to 106 cubic metres per second I studied hard and learned quite the founder of the Lutheran Free (0.001 km3/s, or about 264 million a bit. At the end of my first year of Church. Then my bubble was burst. U.S. gallons per second). The en- seminary I applied to study in Nor- I read a Wikipedia article about the tire global input of fresh water way. I figured that with my limited library, and learned that the library from rivers to the ocean is equal to language skills, I would keep apply- was named for a different Georg about 1 sverdrup.” (Accessed, ing each year until, hopefully, Sverdrup. Not only was he a different http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ I would be accepted during or just Sverdrup, but he was born with the Sverdrup). after my senior year of seminary. To name Jørgen Sverdrup! He was the Though the name Georg my amazement, I got accepted at the first librarian at the university library. Sverdrup didn’t mean a thing to me end of my first year. I have come to learn that the until 2004, when I heard it at my My relatives in Sweden owned name Sverdrup is quite prominent in first Pastors’ Conference at the a metal factory, and I was able to get Norway, and there are many different Association Retreat Center, it a job working there for the summer things named after one Sverdrup or means a lot to me now. The months just before I started at the another. Even here in the U.S., there principles Sverdrup fought for and seminary in Oslo. This gave me a are many things with the Sverdrup taught, concerning founding a free good head start. I was forced to speak name. church in a free land based upon Swedish because most of the factory There is a Sverdrup engineering the Word of God, have been and workers were uncomfortable with corporation in Missouri. Sverdrup is continue to be a great blessing to their English skills. So I had good a township in Minnehaha County in me. conversational skills in Swedish the Sioux Falls metro area. There is a when I arrived in Norway. Norwe- Sverdrup insurance company in Un- gian and Swedish are quite similar derwood, MN. There is even a when spoken. In fact, one complaint Sverdrup Lutheran Church in I heard as I was living in Oslo was Underwood, located between Fergus that Norwegians watch too much TV Falls and Battle Lake, MN. Presently from Sweden! this congregation is part of the Part of my seminary training was ELCA. continuing to learn Norwegian, which There are the Sverdrup Islands, I did at the University of Oslo, whose an archipelago of the northern Queen campus was only a few blocks from the Elizabeth Islands, in Nunavut, Can- seminary where I was studying. ada. The islands are situated in the NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Issue 2

Page 3 H. U. Sverdrup’s Catechism

(Continued from page 1) Question 243 of Sver- should expel the openly un- original. But it retained the drup’s Catechism (translated godly and unbelieving; but it name H.U. Sverdrup’s in 1900 by Prof. E. G. Lund) cannot judge concerning the Forklaring. asks “Is the word ‘Church’ secret thoughts of the heart.” When the Lutheran Free always used of the commun- This addition would seem to Church was established in ion of believers only?” [ans.] reinforce LFC Fundamental 1897, largely through the “No; in a wider sense the Principle Four, which origi- work of Georg Sverdrup, the word ‘Church’ is also used of nally stated that not all mem- use of his father’s catechism the assembly of all those who bers are believers, “and such was a foregone conclusion. are baptized with Christian hypocrites often derive false But some alterations were Baptism and confess the hope from their external con- made. Augsburg Seminary Name of Christ, whether they nection with the congrega- Title pages from 1864 version of Professor H. A. Urseth says in truly belong to the Lord or tion.”2 H. U. Sverdrup’s catechism, contain- his 1900 catechism translation not.” This same question, in Because the LFC cate- ing 624 questions. This edition pub- that in 1897 “Some altera- the LFC version (Urseth chism includes this additional lished 1892 by the Conference. Note royal authorization on right hand tions were made in answers trans.) asks, “Is the holy question, one question had to page: “Royal Resolution of Decem- 244-252.” (The alterations Christian church found in this be dropped from the original ber 16, 1865. This edition of Pontop- actually included question place? [ans.] Yes; in the con- Sverdrup Catechism so that pidan’s Explanation, produced by 243 as well.) Apparently a gregation, which in the Scrip- both would be on track again H. U. Sverdrup of Balestrand parish, committee rewrote some tures is called ‘the body of at question 253. Apparently, is graciously offered for use in public questions on the Third Article Jesus Christ,’ and ‘the house question 252 of Sverdrup’s religious education.” of the Creed, specifically the of God’” (italics mine). The Catechism was thought ex- section on the role of “The emphasis on the local congre- pendable: “By what espe- holy Christian Church; The gation is consistent with the cially is such a sorrow for sin On the other hand, the Communion of Saints; [and] first Fundamental Principle of awakened? [ans.] By consid- LFC catechism’s question The Forgiveness of Sins.” the LFC, which states: “The ering God’s boundless love to 251 reads: “Whom has God This seems to have been to Congregation is the right form us and our great ingratitude to given power to declare the make the section conform of the Kingdom of God on Him.” forgiveness of Sins? [ans.] more closely to the congrega- earth.” The remaining questions The congregation, through its tionalism of the Fundamental In question 244 we find in this section, though differ- ministers. [Absolution.]” Principles, around which the the word “congregation” ently arranged, are essentially Why would the Sverdrup Lutheran Free Church had again interjected. The Sver- the same. Catechism say both the been organized. drup Catechism asks, “How But there is a seeming clergy and the members of Examination of this ten- many kinds of members are contradiction between ques- the church have authority question section reveals that there in the outward commu- tion 250 in the Sverdrup from God to forgive sins, the wording of some ques- nity of the Church?” while the Catechism and its counter- while the LFC catechism tions was indeed changed to LFC catechism asks “Are all part, question 251 in the LFC seems to limit this power to promote the “congregational” the members of the organized version.3 The Sverdrup Cate- the clergy only? beliefs of LFC. But why ques- body, called a congregation, chism asks: “To whom has Why would the LFC, tion 250 was altered as it was true Christians?” (italics God given authority to de- which was organized around is somewhat mystifying. mine). The answers in both clare the forgiveness of sins? principles of congregational- In the following discus- versions are similar—both [ans.] To the ministers of the ism and the diminution of sion, whenever reference is hypocrites and true Christians Word; but any member of the clerical control, deny the made to Sverdrup’s Cate- are represented among the Christian Church may declare right to pronounce absolution chism, it is always to the membership. it in case of need. to its congregational mem- authorized Norwegian State Both catechisms define (Confession.).” Rev. H. P. bers and (on the surface at Church catechism, revised by “hypocrite” in similar terms Grimsby in his Teachers’ least) make it appear to be the H. U. Sverdrup and used in in question 245, but question Helps on Sverdrup’s Expla- exclusive right of the clergy? most Norwegian Lutheran 246 in the LFC catechism is nation makes this comment No explanation or clarifica- synods in America well into an entirely different question, on question 250: “Not only tion seems to have been the twentieth century. When one not found in the Sverdrup the minister has power to forthcoming. reference is made to the LFC Catechism: “Should not the forgive sin, but any Christian But there may be another catechism, it is to the same congregation remove those can forgive the sins of a peni- explanation. At the beginning catechism with alterations to hypocrites from its midst? tent sinner if he is asked to do of the answer in the Sverdrup 4 questions 243-252. [ans.] Yes; the congregation so.” (Continued on page 4) belongs to the congregation as a whole. given his ministers power and authority The congregation possesses this authority. to, in His place, proclaim to the penitent THE GEORG SVERDRUP The pastor then exercises it on behalf of the forgiveness of sins.” Sverdrup’s SOCIETY NEWSLETTER the congregation. What may be implied, version appears to have added the 317 South Third Street implicitly, is that since the congregation notion of the congregation. Kenyon, Minnesota 55946 has this original authority, individual mem- 4 www.georgsverdrupsociety.org bers may exercise it as the need may arise. H. P. Grimsby, Teachers’ Helps on As Georg Sverdrup writes elsewhere, the Sverdrup’s Explanation (Minneapolis: fact that it is the pastor’s role to visit the Augsburg Publishing House, 1925), sick and the shut-in on behalf of the con- 127. gregation does not imply that individual members should be excluded from visita- 5For an explanation of the tion because the pastor is directly involved. “Emergency Principle” in Norway at Or might this statement be read in yet the time, see Andreas Helland, Georg another way? Could the “ministers” here Sverdrup: The Man and His Message Ordet Blev Kjød actually mean “the priesthood of all believ- (Minneapolis: Messenger Press, 1947), (The Word Became Flesh) ers” since the word is not capitalized and is 32. set in the plural? In this case question 251 6 would include all members of the congre- In 2007, the AFLC revised and gation as “ministers” holding this authority updated its catechism, the altered LFC —clergy as well as laity. If the congrega- version of Sverdrup’s Catechism. In its tion’s role discussed in question 251 rendering of question 251, the Board of Directors expresses either of these intents, it would Publications chose to go with a combi-

be more consistent with the LFC’s under- nation of the two answers: “Who has Martin Horn, President standing of the congregation. God given authority to declare the for- Robert Lee, Vice-President It is always dangerous, however, to giveness of sins? [ans.] The congrega- Terry Olson, Secretary read “intent” into statements written well tion, through its ministers; but any Kris Nyman, Treasurer over a hundred years ago. Suffice it to say, member of the Christian Church may Larry Walker, Editor question 251 in many ways appears to raise declare it in case of need. (Confession Marian Christopherson more questions than answers.6 and Absolution)” Craig Johnson

NOTES Prospective members are

invited to contact the secretary 1 For an interesting discussion of the at the above address. role of Pontoppidan’s Catechism in Norway and America, see Bjørn Sandvik, “‘Suffered under Pontius Pontoppidan’ or ‘Good, Old Pontoppidan’?” in Crossings: Norwegian-American Lutheranism as a H. U. Sverdrup’s Transatlantic Tradition, ed. Todd W. Nichol (Northfield, Minnesota: Norwegian Catechism . . . American Historical Association, 2003), 57-71. (Continued from page 3) Catechism, the authority to forgive sins is 2The first sentence of Fundamental given “To the ministers of the Word.” In Principle #4 of the Lutheran Free Church other words, the clergy first. “But any originally read: “Members of the organized member of the Christian Church may de- congregation are not, in every instance, clare it in case of need.” This rendering believers, and such hypocrites often derive would seem to reflect the Emergency false hope from their external connection Principle commonly practiced among with the congregation.” In 1956, the word H.U. Sverdrup’s Forklaring, published some Norwegian Lutheran churches at the “members” was inserted in place of in 1923 by Augsburg Publishing. This time. That is, the right to preach and “hypocrites.” The AFLC, which sub- bilingual edition includes Prof. E. G. proclaim the gospel was the sole posses- scribes to the Fundamental Principles, uses Lund’s translation from 1900. This sion of the pastor, except in extreme “members” in its version today. version contains 388 questions and emergencies. 5 answers, having been reduced to that The LFC answer reverses the order 3 Sverdrup’s question 250 in Pontoppi- number by Norway’s Department of and begins with the congregation. The full dan’s catechism corresponds with number Church and Education in 1893. statement reads: “The Congregation, 535 and reads: “By what means does God through its ministers.” In other words, the impart to men the forgiveness of sins? authority to declare forgiveness of sins [ans.] By His Holy Gospel whereby He has