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Church of Norway Pre You are welcome in the Church of Norway! Contact Church of Norway General Synod Church of Norway National Council Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations Church of Norway Sami Council Church of Norway Bishops’ Conference Address: Rådhusgata 1-3, Oslo P.O. Box 799 Sentrum, N-0106 Oslo, Norway Telephone: +47 23 08 12 00 E: [email protected] W: kirken.no/english Issued by the Church of Norway National Council, Communication dept. P.O. Box 799 Sentrum, N-0106 Oslo, Norway. (2016) The Church of Norway has been a folk church comprising the majority of the popu- lation for a thousand years. It has belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran branch of the Christian church since the sixteenth century. 73% of Norway`s population holds member- ship in the Church of Norway. Inclusive Church inclusive, open, confessing, an important part in the 1537. At that time, Norway Church of Norway wel- missional and serving folk country’s Christianiza- and Denmark were united, comes all people in the church – bringing the good tion, and political interests and the Lutheran confes- country to join the church news from Jesus Christ to were an undeniable part sion was introduced by the and attend its services. In all people. of their endeavor, along Danish king, Christian III. order to become a member with the spiritual. King Olav In a certain sense, the you need to be baptized (if 1000 years of Haraldsson, and his death Church of Norway has you have not been bap- Christianity in Norway at the Battle of Stiklestad been a “state church” tized previously) and hold The Christian faith came (north of Nidaros, now since that time, although a permanent residence to Norway in the ninth Trondheim) in 1030, played this designation fits best permit. However, Church century. It was brought to a significant role toward for the constitutional form of Norway also welcomes western Norway by mis- uniting the nation in the of the church after 1660. migrants without perma- sionaries from the British Christian faith. The Norwegian Constitu- nent stay to take part in Isles, and to eastern Nor- With its roots in the Catho- tion of 1814 confirmed that the life and activities of the way by missionaries from lic Church of the Middle the Norwegian state would congregation and to attend Germany and Friesland, by Ages the Church of Norway retain “the Evangelical the services. The Church way of Denmark. became a Lutheran church Lutheran religion” as the of- of Norway seeks to be an Norwegian kings played through the Reformation in ficial state religion. Norwegian church architecture spans the periode from the stave (wooden) church- es and Romanesque stone churches of the 11th century to the streamline concrete of the 21st century. Photo: Ræge Church in South-Western Norway, (Jiri Havran). In 2012 (May 21), the Nor- Today more than 3.8 million wegian Parliament passed Norwegians are members a constitutional amendment of the Church of Norway – that granted the Church of i.e.73 % of the population. Norway increased autono- my. This loosens historical The Church of Norways ties between institutions long-standing episcopal of State and the majority order was supplemented Lutheran Church. by a synodical structure in In the new wording of the twentieth century. Par- the Constitution there no ish Council members and longer is any referance members of the Diocesan to an “official religion of Councils are elected by the State.” Article 2 in the the church members. The Constitution now says that eleven Diocesan Councils Norway’s values are based gathers once a year for on its Christian and hu- the General Synod of the manist heritage. church. One major consequence Systematic teaching of all is that the responsibility for the baptised is developed the appointment of bishops in recent years. Plan for of the Church of Norway Christian Education was shifted from the state to the adopted by the General church. Synod 2009. A growing number of The Church of pastors are women (30% A renewed focus on religious education has stimulated the creativity in many Norway today in 2014) and four of the Church of Norway congregations. Here children are having an Easter meal in Church of Norway is the twelve bishops are women. Vangen Church in Aurland. (Photo: Bjarne Aagaard.) majority church in Norway. This symbol marks the pilgrim- In 2004, 2009 and 2013 the Scandinavian ways to Nidaros (symbol churches together arranged Nordic Sami designed by Johanna Figur Church-days. Photo from a service in a Lavvo Waddington). (tent) in Jokkmokk, Sweden 2004. The Sami people is a significant part of the Church of Norway. Since 1992 there has been a Sami Church Council. Its task is to develop Sami church life built on Sami languages and cultures. Around 58 % of those born in Norway 2015, were baptised in the Church of Church relations Norway. In the twentieth century the ecumenical movement has Church of Norway is among the founding and active shaped Church of Norway’s identity and profile in many members of the Christian Council of Norway and its ways. It is among the founding and active members of the Multicultural Church Network. The network provides the World Council of Churches (WWC), the Lutheran World platform for cooperation and partnership between new Federation (LWF) and migrant churches and traditional churches in Norway. the Conference of European Churches Church of Norway figures (CEC). Church of • Church membership 3.8 million – 73 % of the population Norway has signed • 58 % of all infants baptized in the Church of Norway 2015 the “Porvoo Agree- • Approximately 100 people attend each service • Approximately 62 000 services are ment”, by which held per year Nordic and Baltic Lu- • 11 dioceses theran churches and • 105 deaneries the Anglican churches • 1250 parishes/congregations The signing of the Porvoo Agreement in the of Great Britain and Cathedral of Nidaros on 1 September 1996. • 1600 churches/chapels Ireland affirm each (NTB-photo, Gorm Kallestad). • 1300 pastors other’s proclamation, • 6200 employees in other categories sacraments and ministries. Church of Norway has also • 9000 elected members signed the “Leuenberg Concord”, which is an ecumenical of Parish Councils agreement between the reformation churches in Europe. • Total grants from the The agreement with the Methodist Church, “The Church – National Budget and A Community of Grace”, links the Church of Norway with from the Municipal the Methodist Church of Northern Europe. Councils, In addition to these multilateral ecumenical agreements, – approximately The Church of Norway has signed formal agreements NOK 4,3 billion (2015). of cooperation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, the Evangelical Church of Lu- theran Confession in Brazil, and the Evangelical Lutheran There are 11 dioceses Church in Southern Africa. in the Church of Norway.
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