Norway moves to dissolve state church system
-29/11/06
The general synod of the (Luther
Norway moves to dissolve state church system
-29/11/06
The general synod of the (Lutheran) Church of Norway has voted for the first time to radically change the church’s relations with the State, the denomination’s information service has reported – writes Oivind Ostang for Ecumenical News International.
A total of 63 out of 85 synod delegates voted that the church should no longer be referred to in the country’s constitution as a State or national church. As the governing body of the church, the synod has in it the Church of Norway’s 11 bishops and 11 diocesan councils.
The synod decided that the church should be founded on a separate act passed by parliament. The general synod said it should itself assume all church authority now resting with the king and the government. During the poll, 19 synod delegates voted to retain the State-Church system.
The general synod held its yearly meeting at Oyer in the diocese of Hamar from 13-19 November 2006. “The synod’s decision is historic”, said Jens Petter Johnsen, director of the Church of Norway national council.
He continued: “What matters is the relationship between Church and people, not between Church and State. We will do our utmost to strengthen the service of the church and with our people.”
The synod’s decision is in line with a proposal made by a government-appointed commission earlier in 2006, and has similarities to changes made by the neighbouring (Lutheran) Church of Sweden, in 2000.
A government report to Norway’s Storting (parliament) is expected in late 2008. The changes in the State Church system will require a revision of the country’s constitution and some officials see 2013 as the earliest date.
Local church councils seem less bent on dissolving the 500-year-old State Church system than do regional and central councils. The daily newspaper Vart Land had reported on 8 November that 50 per cent of local church councils are in favour of loosening State ties, while 46 per cent want the system to remain.
The State-Church system was established in Norway in 1537, when the Danish king endorsed the Lutheran reformation. Of Norway’s 4.6 million people, 85 per cent belong to the Church of Norway.
[With grateful acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches]
Norway moves to dissolve state church system
-29/11/06
The general synod of the (Lutheran) Church of Norway has voted for the first time to radically change the church’s relations with the State, the denomination’s information service has reported – writes Oivind Ostang for Ecumenical News International.
A total of 63 out of 85 synod delegates voted that the church should no longer be referred to in the country’s constitution as a State or national church. As the governing body of the church, the synod has in it the Church of Norway’s 11 bishops and 11 diocesan councils.
The synod decided that the church should be founded on a separate act passed by parliament. The general synod said it should itself assume all church authority now resting with the king and the government. During the poll, 19 synod delegates voted to retain the State-Church system.
The general synod held its yearly meeting at Oyer in the diocese of Hamar from 13-19 November 2006. “The synod’s decision is historic”, said Jens Petter Johnsen, director of the Church of Norway national council.
He continued: “What matters is the relationship between Church and people, not between Church and State. We will do our utmost to strengthen the service of the church and with our people.”
The synod’s decision is in line with a proposal made by a government-appointed commission earlier in 2006, and has similarities to changes made by the neighbouring (Lutheran) Church of Sweden, in 2000.
A government report to Norway’s Storting (parliament) is expected in late 2008. The changes in the State Church system will require a revision of the country’s constitution and some officials see 2013 as the earliest date.
Local church councils seem less bent on dissolving the 500-year-old State Church system than do regional and central councils. The daily newspaper Vart Land had reported on 8 November that 50 per cent of local church councils are in favour of loosening State ties, while 46 per cent want the system to remain.
The State-Church system was established in Norway in 1537, when the Danish king endorsed the Lutheran reformation. Of Norway’s 4.6 million people, 85 per cent belong to the Church of Norway.
[With grateful acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches]