February 2011 SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Anyone Interested in the Life and Work of Noted Norwegian-American Theologian P.O
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THE GEORG SVERDRUP The Georg Sverdrup Society was organized in December 2003 and is open to February 2011 SOCIETY NEWSLETTER anyone interested in the life and work of noted Norwegian-American theologian P.O. Box 400 Georg Sverdrup (1848-1907). The society is registered in the State of Minnesota The Georg Volume 8, Issue 1 Beulah, ND 58523-0400 as a 501(C)(3) nonprofit corporation. Its activities, which are guided by a www.georgsverdrupsociety.org seven-member board of directors, include: Sverdrup Society Promoting the study and understanding of the New Testament congregation as understood and explained by Georg Sverdrup; Endeavoring to advance the ideal of “free and living congregations” as envisioned by Sverdrup; NEWSLETTER 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 Georg Sverdrup Society Holds 2010 Program “Rules for Work” as used in the Lutheran Free Church and as continuing to be used in the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations; and Annual Meeting Enlarging the interest in Sverdrup’s works by organizing discussion groups and In this Issue: The Georg Sverdrup Society hos os dit ord (“Lord, Keep Stephen Mundfrom, Rev. Directors providing speakers on request; held its 2010 program and Us Steadfast in Thy Word”), Micah Hjermstad, and Loiell annual meeting on October 9 and Landstad’s Du hellige Dyrud. 2010 Program and 1 Loiell Dyrud, President Operating a Sverdrup Society website linked to <www.aflc.org> for members at Maranatha Lutheran Guds kirke her” (“Thou Holy Immediately after the Steve Mundfrom, Vice President Annual Meeting of the Society and others interested in the life and work of Georg Sverdrup; Church in Glyndon, Minne- Church, God’s City, Shine”). business meeting, the board Marian Christopherson, Secretary FLHF Plans Weenaas 1 sota, just east of Moorhead. Mr. Larry Walker read his met to reorganize. Loiell Kris Nyman, Treasurer Maintaining a current bibliography of Sverdrup’s translated work as well as a Event Following the noon recent Sverdrup translation, Dyrud was elected Larry Walker, Editor luncheon, Rev. Martin Horn, “Luther and the Bible,” and President; Steve Mundfrom, current bibliography of materials written about him; “We Lay People” 2 Micah Hjermstad Society President, led the Mr. Loiell Dyrud spoke on Vice President; Marian Craig Johnson Publishing a newsletter for members that provides information on the Society’s program. Rev. Lloyd “The Influence of the Christopherson, Secretary; Seminary Discussion 3 Quanbeck, host pastor, gave Sverdrups in Norway and and Kris Nyman, Treasurer activities as well as general information about Georg Sverdrup; Forum Prospective members are invited to the Invocation, followed by a America.” and Membership Secretary. contact the treasurer at the above And encouraging research and study of Sverdrup’s life and work by publishing Sverdrup Society 3 “Sverdrup Songfest” with After a coffee break, the The board chose “Georg address. Website Marian Christopherson lead- society held its annual busi- Sverdrup and the Role of the an annual Sverdrup Journal. Aims and Activities of 4 ing songs known at the time ness meeting. After discuss- Laity” as the 2011 topic for the Society of Georg Sverdrup. This ing several potential topics for study and discussion. year’s selections were 2011, the group passed a The 2011 annual Event Photos 4 Grundtvig’s Guds ord det er motion calling for the GSS meeting will be held in vårt arvegods (“God’s Word board to make the final deci- Minneapolis on Saturday, Photos From Society Events Is Our Great Heritage”), Mar- sion. Board members elected October 8. tin Luther’s Hold oppe, Gud, for three year terms were Rev. Georg Sverdrup Born to Pastor Harold FLHF Plans Weenaas Event Ulrich Sverdrup and his wife Caroline “Prior to Sverdrup and Oftedal, Weenaas family gravesite and Metella, nee Suur, there was August Weenaas.” then continue on to Faith at Balestrand, Lutheran Church (the former The Free Lutheran Histori- Sogn, Norway, on Rosedale Church) for coffee, cal Forum, an informal fellow- December 16, 1848. refreshments, and discussion ship of some who are interested of the place of August Died on May 3, 1907, in our common heritage, will Weenaas in the origin of the in Minneapolis, MN, meet at 1 p.m. on Monday, Free Lutheran movement in and buried in the May 2, at Heritage Hall on Panel discussion at January Discussion Forum Lakewood Cemetery America. For further the AFLC Schools campus. at AFLTS. information, contact Pastor (You may arrive at noon and Pastor Martin Horn addresses Seminarians participate in the Discussion Forum. Robert Lee, email address purchase lunch in the cafeteria.) the Society Annual Meeting Soldiers’ Cemetery in south [email protected]. We will travel together to the program in October. Minneapolis to visit the Minneapolis Pioneers’ and NEWSLETTER Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER Volume 8, Issue 1 Page 2 Page 3 GSS Holds Fifth Annual Seminary Discussion Forum Georg Sverdrup: “We Lay People” By Loiell Dyrud The Georg Sverdrup Society as Interpreter of the Word.” background necessary to held its fifth annual Discus- Moan noted that Sverdrup, the analyze Scripture from a sion Forum Friday morning, Old Testament professor, critical standpoint. According The topic chosen by the Georg have been included except professors a theological professor from 1887 January 28, at Association spent much of his lectures to church historian Sverdrup Society for study and dis- who at some time have taught until his death in 1907, and Edward Free Lutheran Theological explaining how Old Testa- E. Clifford Nelson, none of cussion in 2011 is “Georg Sverdrup theology in the seminaries operated William Schmidt was president and Seminary in Minneapolis. The ment prophecy foretold New the Norwegian-American 2 and the Role of the Laity.” It is a by the synods named.” Their num- professor at Red Wing Seminary topic was “Georg Sverdrup Testament events, including Lutheran church bodies of topic that lies at the heart of bers are few. Only eight can be found from 1908-1918. and The Word” and featured the coming of Christ and the that time were involved in Sverdrup’s emphasis on the “living” with “Not ordained” under their The only other non-ordained papers by Rev. Stephen congregation. Much of biblical criticism. congregation, in which all members names, and Georg Sverdrup is one of person included is John J. Mundfrom of Valley City, Moan’s time was spent on Rev. Horn pointed to are to be involved. them. The remaining 2,516 have their Anderson, who was teacher and ND, and Rev. Jerry Moan of Sverdrup’s lectures on Sverdrup’s embrace of Though Sven Oftedal (Georg ordination dates recorded. president of Augustana College the seminary faculty. Rev. Matthew. barnelaerdom, the simple Sverdrup’s close friend, fellow pro- The Who’s Who covers an 84- (Sioux Falls) from 1870-1876 Joel Rolf, Dean of Associa- The third session was a Norwegian approach to fessor at Augsburg Seminary, and co- year period. Considering the number when it was still in Marshall, tion Free Lutheran Bible panel discussion in which Dr. teaching the Bible in such a founder of the Lutheran Free Church) of seminaries and professors involved Wisconsin. School, opened with a brief Francis Monseth, Rev. Martin way that children and layman was ordained, Sverdrup was not. over that period of time, having only We cannot know for certain devotional, followed by Mr. Horn, Rev. Mundfrom, and of all ages and intelligence Both had earned seminary degrees eight non-ordained professors indi- why Sverdrup chose not to seek Larry Walker reading his new Mr. Loiell Dyrud discussed could understand their basic from the University of Christiania cates how rare that situation was. Of ordination, but his resolute translation of a Sverdrup arti- Sverdrup’s view of Scripture. truths. Further, Sverdrup re- (Oslo), and both had come to further significance, five of the eight retention of his layman status was cle, “Luther and the Bible.” Dr. Monseth quoted ex- jected the notion that because Larry Walker reads America within a year of each other, are associated with Augsburg College perhaps an attempt to emphasize Rev. Mundfrom presented tensively from the Systematic of their advanced education, “Luther and the Bible” Oftedal in 1873 and Sverdrup in and Seminary. Were these Augsburg Luther’s “priesthood of all the first paper, “‘According to Theology text authored by the clergy should be an ele- 1874. Besides a full teaching load in men following the example of their believers” and to send the message the Word of God . .’ Georg University of Oslo Professor vated class. He cast his lot the seminary, Oftedal was called to Mentor? that this calling was to be taken Sverdrup’s Doctrine of the Gisle Johnson. According to with the laity and believed serve as pastor of Trinity Lutheran The five Augsburg non-ordained seriously by the laity, and that Word.” Citing evidence from Sverdrup, Johnson was the both clergy and laity should Congregation, a couple blocks south men in the Who’s Who were all spiritual activity in the congrega- Sverdrup’s writings, the his- seminary professor who influ- work together in the vital of campus. He accepted and was graduates of Augsburg Seminary, or tion was not to be the sole domain torical conditions in Norwe- enced him most. Nowhere is ministry of the congregation. ordained in 1874. at least had attended the seminary. of the clergy. It is probably better gian midwestern America in there evidence that Johnson Many in the audience Sverdrup, on the other hand, John Thoresen Bugge is listed as to view the matter this way than to the latter half of the 19th sympathized with the biblical posed probing questions according to biographer Andreas having graduated from Augsburg attribute it to some quirk on his century, and the reverence for higher criticism common in regarding Sverdrup’s high Helland, never sought “ordination in Seminary in 1882 and taught there part.