September 2009
The Georg Volume 6, Issue 2
NEWSLETTER
Sixth Annual Meeting of GSS to be Held in Mpls
Saturday, October 10, will pastor be trained in order to In this Issue: mark the sixth annual meeting serve a free congregation? How of the Georg Sverdrup Society. should a seminary train pastors Sixth Annual Meeting 1 The event will be held in the to be spiritual leaders of con- to be Held in Mpls chapel on the AFLC Schools gregations, without them be- campus at 3120 East Medicine coming spiritual dictators? April Discussion 1 Lake Boulevard, Minneapolis, What should be the focus of Forum, Radcliffe, IA MN. Lunch will begin at 12:00, seminary education? What “Never an Unfree 2 followed by the program at should it avoid? Sverdrup had Man” 1:00 and the annual business strong beliefs on this issue and Aims and Activities of 4 meeting at 2:30. spoke and wrote tirelessly on the Society the necessity for the “right The speaker for the program kind” of pastoral education Pastor Robert Lee Fifty Years Under the 4 will be Rev. Robert Lee, speak- needed in order to preserve “a Southern Cross ing on the topic, “Pastoral Bethel Seminary in St. Paul. free church in a free land.” Training for the Congregation.” Mrs. Marian Christopher- The translation and discussion A graduate of Augsburg Col- son, Director of Publications focus for 2009 is “Sverdrup’s lege and the Association Free and Parish Education for the
View of Pastoral Education,” Lutheran Theological Semi- AFLC, will lead this year’s and Pastor Lee will give per- nary, Pastor Lee served as the “Sverdrup Songfest,” which spective on this subject. third president of the AFLC once again will focus on from 1992 until 2007. Since hymns from our Lutheran heri- Sverdrup’s views on pastoral tage that were sung during then he has been on the faculty education, sometimes known as Sverdrup’s day. Bring a friend. of the AFLC Schools in Min- Georg Sverdrup “The Augsburg Plan,” were Non-members are always wel- neapolis. Pastor Lee also holds hotly debated among Luther- come. Born to Pastor Harold a Th.M. from Ulrich Sverdrup and ans in his day. How should a his wife Caroline Metella, nee Suur, at April Discussion Forum Held in Radcliffe, IA Balestrand, Sogn, Norway, on Decem- Pietism: The Mother of Mod- ber 16, 1848. It could hardly be called a large country of central Iowa, and crowd that gathered in Salem many, no doubt, were involved ern Missions,” and Rev. Mar- Died on May 3, 1907, Lutheran Church in rural Rad- in the spring-planting ritual. tin Horn on “Sverdrup and in Minneapolis, MN, the Problem of Mission Unity cliffe, IA, on Saturday, April Nevertheless, those in atten- and buried in the 18, for the GSS Discussion Among Norwegian Lutherans Lakewood Cemetery dance appreciated the presenta- in America.” Discussion fol- Forum. But then again, it was a tions from Rev. Andrew Coyle lowed each presentation. warm spring day with threaten- on “Martin Luther: The Father ing rain in this corn-growing of Modern Missions, ” Rev. Eugene Enderlein on “Lutheran NEWSLETTER Volume 6, Issue 2
Page 2 “Never an Unfree Man” The Norwegian “Viking Roots” of Free Lutheranism
This paper was sparked by a question from became over time. . . . manding that they elect him king and be our president, Loiell Dyrud — “Why did the baptized. The leaders agreed, but only The essential point—the thing which Norwegian Lutherans in America organize on the condition that Olaf marry his (Eikeland believes) makes Norway almost differently from other Scandinavians?” Loiell sister Astrid to Erling Skjalgsson. unique and which (I suggest) may help to notes that Norwegian Lutherans in America explain Free Church ecclesiology—is this A very interesting exchange occurs at splintered into multiple church bodies, while proud assertion: “The Norwegian farmer has the time of Erling’s wedding to Astrid. other Scandinavians tended to form unified never been an unfree man.” In the words of Snorri: Lutheran churches on ethnic lines. Speaking of the Vikings, the historian Mag- I do not presume to be able explain this di- nus Magnusson writes, “I can never resist versity comprehensively. What I’d like to King Olav . . . offered to give Erling a reminding my sceptical friends that it was offer is a hypothesis that might contribute to jarldom. But Erling said: “Hersers have these allegedly pitiless savages who intro- a partial explanation based on my research in my kinsmen always been and I will have duced the very word law into the English my own field of interest, Viking history. no higher rank than they.” language!” A line from the Icelandic Njal’s P. J. Eikeland in a 1926 essay on Hans Niel- Saga expresses a classic Viking Age attitude: sen Hauge describes the politics of Viking “With laws shall our land be built up but Jarl (earl) would seem to be a more ex- Age Norway as understood in his own time: with lawlessness laid waste.” alted title than hersir. What then would This Icelandic law was a direct outgrowth of explain his refusal to accept a social and Norwegian law. Torgrim Titlestad, professor political promotion? . . . even in ancient times there was fully of history at the University of Stavanger, says popular government in Norway, although it Titlestad perceptively explains it this of this law: was somewhat aristocratic, as the great farm- way: ers . . . in Norway had more to say than the small farmers. Every district . . . was like an . . . The point is that after the time of the Erling could accept a collaboration be- aristocratic republic. But democratic it was. . Great Migration the Scandinavians adapted tween equal partners . . . , but to have . . and further developed the confederative accepted the title which Olaf offered him The Battle of Stiklestad, with its army of method of running things so that it became an would have meant the same as being the farmers led by farmer chieftains, provides a integral part of the Norse social system and king’s subject—of being subordinate. very illustrative picture of the situation. It came to full expression in the Viking period. By laying claim to the title of hersir was the farmer chieftains who had driven St. Erling Skjalgsson made it clear to both Olaf to Gardarike (Russia), and it was these Olaf and the other Gula Thing chieftains What was the distinctive nature of this early, same farmer chieftains who incited the Battle that he, Erling, was and would continue confederative Norwegian political system? I of Stiklestad. to be, the most important leader of Vest- think (as does Titlestad) that the answer is th land according to the ancient independ- best illustrated through an 11 Century con- ent status of the title in the region. With Further along, speaking of the development flict between two remarkable men with very this he also highlighted the old principle of centralized monarchical authority follow- different political philosophies—King Olaf of confederate self-government among ing the reign of King Sverre (12th century), Haraldsson (better known to us as St. Olaf) the different chiefdoms. Eikeland writes: and Erling Skjalgsson of Sola.
Erling Skjalgsson (c. 965-1028) was a south- western Norwegian chieftain who held the Thus, while receiving a princess in mar- The Norwegian farmer has been excluded hereditary (but democratically confirmed) riage along with the extended power that from everything that can be called govern- title of hersir. A hersir was essentially a mili- came to him as a wedding gift, Erling ment. . . . But their personal freedom they tary commander who coordinated regional successfully blocked any plans Olaf have as before, [they] can order the affairs of defense levies. might have had to subordinate the tradi- themselves and their own as they wish. . . . tional Norwegian democratic system (in And this freedom they retained down through According to Heimskringla (The Sagas of the Vestland, at least) to a more continental- the ages. The Norwegian farmer has never Norwegian Kings), King Olaf Trygvesson style monarchy. been an unfree man, a slave, something farm- confronted the southwesterners at the Gula ers in nearly all other European countries Thing (assembly) about the year 995, de- This arrangement ended with Olaf
NEWSLETTER Volume 6, Issue 2
Page 3 “Never an Unfree Man” (continued)
Trygvesson’s death around involving both threats and mur- or even to his times, in the
1000 A.D. Yet so secure was ders, culminating in Erling’s works of Sverdrup with which I Erling’s position that he was joining King Canute the Great am familiar. And indeed I make able to largely ignore the ad- of Denmark/England in driving no claim that Sverdrup had these ministration of the jarls who Olaf out. But on his way to exile matters in mind. His eyes were ruled next on behalf of the king in Russia, Olaf managed to am- always on Scripture. The apos- of Denmark. Erling seems to bush Erling’s ship and to massa- tolic church was his model. He have run Vestland almost as an cre all his crew, last of all was no Grundtvig, attempting to independent country. (against Olaf’s orders) Erling resurrect an imagined, idealized himself. Viking past. Everything changed again in 1015, when a second Olaf ap- According to Heimskringla, My contention is that Sverdrup peared to claim the throne of Olaf’s words to the killer were, was the heir to a Norwegian
Norway. This was Olaf Har- “Now hast thou struck Norway cultural tradition which valued aldsson (c. 995-1030), who had from my hands.” freedom as a priceless birthright, One is reminded of the old lived in Normandy and had and decentralized government as Vikings who, rather than bow- Olaf had no choice then but to observed there a distinctly un- a liberating principle. For Sver- ing to a high king in Norway, continue his flight, to exile in Norwegian government. Johan drup, the new land of America took their ships, families, and Russia and a last desperate foray Schreiner writes of the Norman provided an opportunity for property to Iceland and there back into Norway, ending in the Duke Richard II, “The ruler had Norwegians to stand tall again set up a republic under the rule Battle of Stiklestad and complete control over the bish- as men and as members of inde- of law. “martyrdom” in 1030. ops and the church was in ef- pendent Christian congrega- If you had asked Georg Sver- Did Erling fail? Did Olaf’s final fect an important instrument for tions: drup what he thought of Erling carrying out decisions that were victory—not military, but the Skjalgsson, he likely would triumph of a monarchical in the hands of the duke.” have repeated the judgment ideal—put an end to Erling’s But in all this, the spirit of the It seems likely that Olaf Har- that prevailed in his day— confederative vision? people is nevertheless unbowed, aldsson had adopted a vision of Erling had been a traitor, who and it longs unceasingly for a kingship in which, under God Titlestad doesn’t think so. sold good St. Olaf to the Dane greater work and a brighter life as supreme Monarch, the king for gold. But recent historians than that to which it is often was the divine surrogate on have begun to view Olaf’s Had it not been for the existence compelled by hard necessity. earth. legacy as ambivalent and to And the deepest cause of the of the powerful leadership and recognize that medieval hagi- Having arrived in Norway and mighty emigration, of the often personality of Erling ography must be read with driven the jarls out, Olaf met incomprehensible zeal with Skjalgsson . . . during this deci- skepticism. P. H. Sawyer, for with Erling in 1016. Rather which old and young yearn for sive historical period, these instance, writes, “Erling, and than accommodating himself to that great, unknown America, is kings would most probably have men like him, played as impor- Norwegian tradition, this new longing—longing for wider and been able to push through their tant a part in the conversion of Olaf demanded subordination. freer prospects, brighter and Norwegian idea in a clearly Norway as did Olaf, and it was Erling’s area of governance friendlier days than those they centralist monarchical direction. indeed in Erling’s territory that would be reduced. The title enjoy. The cottager is wearied Erling succeeded in acting as a most of the early Christian hersir, which he had retained so with consuming his strength modifying force with respect to crosses were erected.” stubbornly, was abolished. Er- the two Olafs, both of whom between rock-fall and stone, the ling would now be a lenderman appeared on the scene as exter- fisherman with risking his life If Olaf Haraldsson is seen as a (landed man) under the king. nal agents intent on introducing day after day in a small, fragile pioneer of the kind of central- He had been reduced to some- new European forms of rule. He boat on the great, wild ocean. ized, authoritarian polity thing like what would later be probably contributed to the re- The farmer is disgusted at al- against which Sverdrup re- called a “vassal.” Erling saw no moulding and Norwegianizing ways having to bow his back belled, one can easily regard alternative to submission at that of some of the more extreme under great burdens and heavy Sverdrup and Erling as broth- point, though he remained char- attitudes of the newly converted impositions, while outsiders ers in spirit—Norwegians in acteristically uncooperative and heir apparents [sic]. . . . seem to him to enjoy the bene- the ancient tradition of the insubordinate. fits which he himself has earned farmer who “has never been an
through bitter labor. unfree man.” Then followed years of conflict I can find no reference to Erling, THE GEORG SVERDRUP The Georg Sverdrup Society was organized in December 2003 and is open to anyone SOCIETY NEWSLETTER interested in the life and work of noted Norwegian-American theologian Georg Sver- 317 South Third Street drup (1848-1907). The society is registered in the State of Minnesota as a 501(C)(3) Kenyon, Minnesota 55946 nonprofit corporation. Its activities, which are guided by a seven-member board of directors, include:
Promoting the study and understanding of the New Testament congregation as under- stood and explained by Georg Sverdrup;
Endeavoring to advance the ideal of “free and living congregations” as envisioned by Sverdrup;
Ordet Blev Kjød Seeking to foster further translation of Sverdrup’s writings into English; (The Word Became Flesh) Encouraging the study and application of the “Fundamental Principles” and “Rules for Work” as used in the Lutheran Free Church and as continuing to be used in the Associa- tion of Free Lutheran Congregations; Enlarging the interest in Sverdrup’s works by organizing discussion groups and provid- ing speakers on request; Directors Operating a Sverdrup Society website linked to
Larry Walker, Editor
50 Years Under the Southern Cross By John H. Abel Reviewed by Dr. Francis Monseth John Abel, a member of the Georg Sver- nating history of the advance of Christian The cost of the book is $14.50 plus drup Society, has recently written an missions in what were once the frontiers of $2.50 for shipping and mailing. 50 Years interesting account of the pioneering Brazil. It is an amazing testimony of the Under the Southern Cross can be mission work that he and his wife, Ruby, power of the Gospel to change lives, from a ordered from Mercy and Truth were engaged in for more than a half gambling hall owner to abandoned children Publishers, 19594 350th Street NW, century in Brazil. on the streets. It is a thrilling description of miraculous deliverance. It is a moving report The book recounts God’s faithfulness to of timely answers to prayer, including physi- His Word in the Abel’s involvement in cal healing and rescue from near-death ex- planting churches, founding a Bible periences. school and seminary, and developing a Christian camp. The reader will be encouraged, challenged, and blessed by the story of John and Ruby This book is an exciting adventure story Abel. It is the earnest prayer of this dedi- demonstrating God’s provision and pro- cated couple that God would receive all the tection in difficult and sometimes im- praise and glory for the many abiding fruits possible circumstances. It is also a fasci- of their long ministry. Newfolden, MN, 56738.