Church of Norway

The Church of Norway (Bokmål: Den norske kirke, Nynorsk:

Church of Norway
Den norske kyrkja, Northern Sami: Norgga girku, Southern Sami:
Nöörjen gærhkoe) is an evangelical Lutheran denomination of Den norske kirke
Protestant Christianity and by far the largest Christian church in
Norway.[2] The church became the state church of Norway around
1020,[3] and was established as a separate church intimately
integrated with the state as a result of the Lutheran reformation in
Denmark–Norway which broke ties with the Holy See in 1536–
1537; the King of Norway was the church's head from 1537 to
2012. Historically the church was one of the main instruments of
royal power and official authority, and an important part of the
state administration; local government was based on the church's
parishes with significant official responsibility held by the parish
priest. Coat of arms of the Church of
Norway, a cross laid over two St.
In the 19th and 20th centuries it gradually ceded most Olaf's axes. Based on the coat of
administrative functions to the secular civil service. The modern arms of 16th-century archbishops
Constitution of Norway describes the church as the country's of Nidaros.
"people's church" and requires the King of Norway to be a
Classification Protestant
member.[4][5][6][7][8] It is by far the largest church in Norway; until
the mid 19th century the state church had a near-total monopoly on Orientation Lutheran
religion in Norway. It was the only legal church in Norway, Scripture Bible
membership was mandatory for every person residing in the
Theology Lutheranism
kingdom and it was forbidden for anyone other than the official
priests of the state church to authorise religious meetings. After the Polity Episcopal
adoption of the 1845 Dissenter Act, the state church retained its Preses Olav Fykse Tveit
legally privileged position, while minority religious congregations of Nidaros
such as Catholics were allowed to establish themselves in Norway
and were legally termed "dissenters" (i.e. from the government- Associations Lutheran World
sanctioned Lutheran state religion).[9][2] Church employees were Federation
civil servants from the Reformation until 2017, when the church World Council of
became a legal entity separate from the state administration. The Churches
Church of Norway is mentioned specifically in the 1814
Conference of
constitution and is subject to the Church Act. Municipalities are
required by law to support activities of parishes and to maintain European
church buildings and church yards. Other religious communities Churches
are entitled to the same level of government subsidies as the Communion of
Church of Norway.[10] Protestant
Churches in
The church is led by ordained priests, traditionally and primarily
Europe
divided into the ranks chaplain, parish priest (sogneprest) who was
traditionally the head of a parish (prestegjeld; literally area that Porvoo
owes allegiance to a priest), provost (prost) and bishop. Today Communion
more priests may hold the title parish priest, while some priests Region Norway
who work directly under a provost are known as provostship priest
(prostiprest). All priests were appointed by the King-in-Council Origin 934
until the late 20th century and thus held the status of embetsmann (Introduction of
(higher civil servant appointed by the King). Prior to 2000
Christianity)
ordination required the theological civil servant examination
(cand.theol.) that required six years of university studies, but from 1537 (Lutheran
2000 other equivalent degrees may also be accepted for certain Reformation)
applicants over the age of 35 with relevant experience.[11] Separated from Roman Catholic
Church
Overview Separations Nordic Catholic
Church (1999)
Norway was gradually Christianized beginning at the end of the
Members 3,526,133
Early Middle Ages and was part of Western Christianity,
acknowledging papal authority until the 16th century. The Roman (2021)[1]
Catholic Church exercised a significant degree of sovereignty in Official website Official website
Norway and essentially shared power with the King of Norway as (https://kirken.n
the secular ruler. The Lutheran reformation in Denmark–Norway o/) (in
in 1536–1537 broke ties with the Holy See, around two decades Norwegian)
after the start of the Protestant Reformation. It later resulted in the Official website
separation of the Catholic Church dioceses in Norway and
(https://kirken.n
throughout Scandinavia and establishment of a state church
o/english/) (in
intimately integrated with the state and completely subject to royal
authority, with the King as Head of the Church on Earth instead of English)
the Pope/Bishop of Rome. This action followed the example set
earlier in the reformation of the Church of England (Anglican Church) that was begun by the intense
political action and requests for an annulment by King Henry VIII. This was followed in later centuries by
a worldwide movement of the Anglican Communion which later recognized in the 20th and 21st century
and declared intercommunion with several other denominations such as the Lutherans, Presbyterians,
Reformed, Methodists, etc. Until the modern era, the Church of Norway was not only a religious
organisation but also one of the most important instruments of royal power and official authority, and an
important part of the state administration, especially at the local and regional levels.

The church professes to be "truly Catholic, truly Reformed, truly Evangelical" in the Evangelical Lutheran
tradition of Western Christian faith, with its foundation on the Bible's Old and New Testaments and
occasionally including the Apocrapha, along with the three historic creeds of faith in the Apostles', Nicene,
and Athanasian Creeds, Luther's Small Catechism, Luther's Large Catechism, the Smalcald Articles and the
Augsburg Confession of 1530, along with several other seminal documents in the Book of Concord:
Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church presented in 1580. All Evangelical Lutheran clergy
(bishops, priests/pastors, deacons and other ministers) along with the teaching in classes for the Rite of
Confirmation for young people and those considering full adult membership are required to read and
understand with clergy swearing faithfulness at their ordination. The church is a member of Communion of
Protestant Churches in Europe, having signed the Leuenberg Agreement with other Lutheran and
Reformed churches in 1973. It is also a member of the Porvoo Communion with 12 other churches, among
them, the Anglican churches of Europe. It has also signed some other ecumenical texts, including the Joint
Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with the Roman Catholic Church and the Joint Declaration of
Pope Francis and Bishop Munib Younan in the city of Lund, Sweden, in 2016.

As of 2017 the church is legally independent of the government. According to the constitution it serves as
the "people's church" in the Kingdom of Norway.[4][5][6][7][12] Until 1969, the church's name for
administrative purposes was simply the "State Church" or sometimes just "the Church", whereas the
constitution described it as the "Evangelical-Lutheran Church". A constitutional amendment of 21 May
2012 designates the church as "Norway's people's church" (Norges Folkekirke), with a new provision that
is almost a verbatim copy of the provision for the Danish state church (folkekirken) in the Constitution of
Denmark; the Minister of Church Affairs Trond Giske stressed that the reform meant that "the state church
is retained",[4] On 27 May 2016 Stortinget (Parliament of Norway) approved a new legislative act to
establish the Church of Norway as an independent legal entity rather than a branch of the civil service, and
the law took effect on 1 January 2017.[13][14][15] The church remains state funded.[16]

Organization

State and church

Until 1845 the Church of Norway was the only legal religious
organization in Norway and it was not possible for a person to end
membership in the Church of Norway. The Dissenter Act (Lov
angaaende dem, der bekjende sig til den christelige Religion, uden
at være medlemmer af Statskirken) was approved by the Storting
on 16 July 1845 to allow the establishment of alternative religious
(Christian) bodies.[17][18][19] This act was replaced in 1969 by Lov
om trudomssamfunn og ymist anna.[20]

Until 2012, the constitutional head of the church was the King of
Norway, who is obliged to profess himself a Lutheran. After the
constitutional amendment of 21 May 2012, the church is self-
governed with regard to doctrinal issues and appointment of clergy. Dioceses of the Church of Norway

The Church of Norway was subject to legislation, including its

budgets, passed by the Storting, and its central administrative
functions were carried out by the Royal Ministry of Government
Administration, Reform and Church Affairs until 2017. Bishops
and priests were civil servants also after the 2012 constitutional
reform. Each parish has an autonomous administration. The state
itself does not administer church buildings; buildings and adjacent
land instead belong to the parish as an independent public
institution.[21] The Minister of Church Affairs, Trond Giske, was
responsible for proposing the 2012 amendments, explaining that
"the state church is retained".[4]

An act approved in 2016 created the Church of Norway as an

independent legal entity, effective from 1 January 2017.[22][23]

Structure

The church has an episcopal-synodal structure, with 1,284 parishes,

106 deaneries, 11 dioceses and, since 2 October 2011, one area Bakka kyrkje in Aurland, Sogn,
under the supervision of the Preses. The dioceses are, according to Norway
the rank of the five historic sees and then according to age:
 Founded
No Diocese Cathedral Incumbent
Dissolved

Bishop-Preses
Olav Fykse
Tveit (2020–
present) (Preses
Diocese of Nidaros of Norway)
I 1068
Nidaros Cathedral
Bishop Herborg
Finnset (2017–
present) (Bishop
of Nidaros)

Bishop Halvor
Diocese of Bergen
II 1068 Nordhaug
Bjørgvin Cathedral
(2008–present)
Bishop Kari
Diocese of Oslo
III 1068 Veiteberg
Oslo Cathedral
(2017–present)
Førde kyrkje, Førde, Norway
1112
Diocese of Stavanger
(IV) 1682 (Moved n/a
Stavanger Cathedral
to Kristiansand)

1152
Diocese of Old Hamar
(V) 1537 (united n/a
Hamar Cathedral
with Oslo)

Diocese of Bishop Stein

Kristiansand
IV Agder og 1682 Reinertsen
Cathedral
Telemark (2012–present)

1804:
1804 Alstahaug
Diocese of 1952 (split into Church
(X) n/a
Hålogaland Nord- and Sør- 1864:
Hålogaland) Tromsø
Cathedral

Bishop Solveig
Diocese of Hamar
V 1864 Fiske (2006–
Hamar Cathedral
present)
Bishop Anne
Diocese of Stavanger
VI 1925 Lise Ådnøy
Stavanger Cathedral
(2019–present)

Bishop Jan
Diocese of Tønsberg
VII 1948 Otto Myrseth
Tunsberg Cathedral
(2018–present)

Bishop Ann-
Diocese of
Bodø Helen Fjeldstad
X Sør- 1952
Cathedral Jusnes (2015–
Hålogaland
present)
Diocese of Bishop Olav
Tromsø
XI Nord- 1952 Øygard (2014–
Cathedral
Hålogaland present)

Bishop Kari
Diocese of Fredrikstad Mangrud
VIII 1969
Borg Cathedral Alvsvåg (2022–
present)
 Bishop-Vice Preses Ingeborg
IX Diocese of Møre 1983 Molde Cathedral
Midttømme (2008–present)

Governing bodies

The General Synod of the Church of Norway, which convenes once a year, is the highest representative
body of the church. It consists of 85 representatives, of whom seven or eight are sent from each of the
dioceses. Of these, four are lay members appointed by the congregations; one is a lay member appointed by
church employees; one is a member appointed by the clergy; and the bishop. In addition, one representative
from the Sami community in each of the three northernmost dioceses, representatives from the three
theological seminaries, representatives from the youth council. Other members of the national council are
also members of the general synod.

The national council, the executive body of the synod, is convened five times a year and comprises 15
members, of whom ten are lay members, four are clergy and one is the presiding bishop. It prepares matters
for decision-making elsewhere and puts those decisions into effect. The council also has working and ad
hoc groups, addressing issues such as church service, education and youth issues.

The Council on Ecumenical and International Relations deals with international and ecumenical matters,
and the Sami Church Council is responsible for the Church of Norway's work among the country's
indigenous Sami people.

The Bishops' Conference of the Church of Norway convenes three times a year, and consists of the twelve
bishops in the church (the 11 diocesan bishops and the Preses). It issues opinions on various issues related
to church life and theological matters.

The church also convenes committees and councils both at the national level (such as the Doctrinal
Commission (Den norske kirkes lærenemnd),[24] and at diocesan and local levels, addressing specific issues
related to education, ecumenical matters, the Sami minority and youth.

There are 1,600 Church of Norway churches and chapels. Parish work is led by a priest and an elected
parish council. There are more than 1,200 clergy (in 2007, 21% were women ministers) in the Church of
Norway. The Church of Norway does not own church buildings, which are instead owned by the parish
and maintained by the municipality.

Worship
The focus of church life is the Sunday Communion and other services, most commonly celebrated at
11:00 a.m. The liturgy is similar to that in use in the Roman Catholic Church. The language is entirely
Norwegian, apart from the Kyrie Eleison, and the singing of hymns accompanied by organ music is central.
A priest (often with lay assistants) celebrates the service, wearing an alb and stole. In addition, a chasuble is
worn by the priest during the Eucharist and, increasingly, during the whole service.

The Church of Norway baptises children, usually infants and usually as part of ordinary Sunday services.

This is a summary of the liturgy for High Mass:[25][26]

Praeludium
Opening Hymn
 Greeting
Confession of Sin
Kyrie
Gloria[27] (This may be omitted during Lent)
Collect of the Day

(If there is a baptism it together with the Apostles' Creed may take place here or after the Sermon)

First Lesson (Old Testament, an Epistle, the Acts of the Apostles or the Revelation to
John)[28]
Hymn of Praise
Second Lesson (An Epistle, the Acts of the Apostles, the Revelation to John or a Gospel)
Apostles' Creed
Hymn before the Sermon
Sermon (concluding with the Gloria Patri)
Hymn after the Sermon
Church Prayer (i.e., Intercessions)

(If there is no Communion, i.e., the Eucharist, the service concludes with the Lord's Prayer, an optional
Offering, the Blessing and a moment of silent prayer)

Hymn before the Communion

Threefold Dialogue and Proper Preface
Sanctus
Prayer before the Lord's Supper,
Lord's Prayer
Words of Institution
Agnus Dei
Reception of Communion
Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion
Blessing
Silent Prayer (as the church bell is toned nine – 3x3 – times)
Postludium

History

Origin

The Church of Norway traces its origins to the introduction of

Christianity to Norway in the 9th century. Norway was
Christianized as a result of missions from both the British Isles
(by Haakon I of Norway and Olaf I of Norway), and from the
Continent (by Ansgar). It took several hundred years to
complete the Christianization, culminating on 29 July 1030
Old private altar in Hedmark, Norway
with the Battle of Stiklestad, when King Olaf II of Norway
was killed. One year later, on 3 August 1031, he was
canonised in Nidaros by Bishop Grimkell, and a few years
later enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral. The cathedral with its shrine to St. Olav became the major Nordic
place of pilgrimage until the Lutheran reformation in 1537. The whereabouts of Saint Olaf's grave have
been unknown since 1568.

Saint Olaf is traditionally regarded as being responsible for the final conversion of Norway to Christianity,
and is still seen as Norway's patron saint and "eternal king" (Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae). The Nordic
churches were initially subordinate to the Archbishop of Bremen, until the Nordic Archdiocese of Lund
was established in 1103. The separate Norwegian Archdiocese of Nidaros (in today's Trondheim) was
created in 1152, and by the end of the 12th century covered all of Norway, parts of present Sweden,
Iceland, Greenland, the Isle of Man, the Orkney Islands, the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands and the
Hebrides.

Another site of medieval pilgrimage in Norway was the island of

Selja on the northwest coast, with its memories of Saint Sunniva
and its three monastery churches with Celtic influence, similar to
Skellig Michael.

Reformation

The Reformation in Norway was accomplished by force in 1537

when Christian III of Denmark and Norway declared Lutheranism
as the official religion of Norway and Denmark, sending the
Roman Catholic archbishop, Olav Engelbrektsson, into exile in
Lier in the Netherlands (now in Belgium). Catholic priests were
persecuted, monastic orders were suppressed, and the crown took
over church property, while some churches were plundered and Urnes Stave Church
abandoned, even destroyed. Bishops (initially called
superintendents) were appointed by the king. This brought forth
tight integration between church and state. After the introduction of absolute monarchy in 1660 all clerics
were civil servants appointed by the king, but theological issues were left to the hierarchy of bishops and
other clergy.

When Norway regained national independence from Denmark in 1814, the Norwegian Constitution
recognized the Lutheran church as the state church.

The pietism movement in Norway (embodied to a great extent by the Haugean movement fostered by Hans
Nielsen Hauge) has served to reduce the distance between laity and clergy in Norway. In 1842, lay
congregational meetings were accepted in church life, though initially with limited influence. In following
years, a number of large Christian organizations were created; they still serve as a "second line" in Church
structure. The most notable of these are the Norwegian Missionary Society and the Norwegian Lutheran
Mission.

During World War II, after Vidkun Quisling became Minister President of Norway and introduced a
number of controversial measures such as state-controlled education, the church's bishops and the vast
majority of the clergy disassociated themselves from the government in the Foundations of the Church
(Kirkens Grunn) declaration of Easter 1942, stating that they would function only as pastors for their
congregations, not as civil servants. The bishops were interned with deposed clergy and theological
candidates from 1943, but congregational life continued more or less as usual. For three years the Church
of Norway was a church free of the State.
Since World War II, a number of structural changes have taken place within the Church of Norway, mostly
to institutionalize lay participation in the life of the church.

Current issues
Norwegians are registered at baptism as
Church
members of the Church of Norway, and
Population of Change
many remain members, using services Year [29] Percentage
Norway Annually
such as baptism, confirmation, marriage Members
and burial, rites which still have cultural
standing in Norway. 2000 4,503,436 3,869,147 85.9%
2005 4,640,219 3,938,723 84.9% 0.2%
68.7% of Norwegians were members of
2006 4,681,134 3,871,006 82.7% 2.2%
the state Church of Norway as of the end
of 2019, a 1.2% drop compared to the 2007 4,737,171 3,873,847 81.8% 1.1%
year before and down about 11% from 2008 4,799,252 3,874,823 80.7% 1.1%
ten years earlier. However, only 20% of 2009 4,858,199 3,848,841 79.2% 1.5%
Norwegians say that religion occupies an
2010 4,920,305 3,835,477 78.0% 1.2%
important place in their life (according to
a recent Gallup poll), making Norway 2011 4,985,870 3,851,145 76.9% 1.1%
one of the most secular countries of the 2012 5,051,275 3,848,295 75.8% 1.1%
world (only in Estonia, Sweden and
2013 5,109,056 3,843,721 75.2% 0.6%
Denmark were the percentages of people
who considered religion to be important 2014 5,165,802 3,835,973 74.3% 0.9%
lower), and only about 3% of the 2015 5,213,985 3,799,366 72.9% 1.4%
population attends church services or 2016 5,258,317 3,758,070 71.5% 0.6%
other religious meetings more than once a
month.[31] Baptism of infants fell from 2017 5,295,619 3,740,920 70.6% 0.9%
96.8% in 1960 to 51.4% in 2019, while 2018 5,328,212 3,724,857 69.9% 0.7%
the proportion of confirmands fell from 2019 5,367,580 3,686,715 68.7% 1.2%
93% in 1960 to 54.4% in 2019.[30][32]
2020 5,391,369 3,655,556 67.7% 1.0%
The proportion of weddings to be
celebrated in the Church of Norway fell 2021 5,425,270 3,526,133 64.9% 2.8%
from 85.2% in 1960 to 31.3% in Källor:[1][30]
2019.[30][33] In 2019 85.5% of all
funerals took place in the Church of
Norway.[30] A survey conducted by Gallup International in 65 countries in 2005 found that Norway was
the least religious among the Western countries surveyed, with only 36% of the population considering
themselves religious, 9% considering themselves atheist, and 46% considering themselves "neither religious
nor atheist".[34]

In spite of the relatively low level of religious practice in Norwegian society, the local clergy often play
important social roles outside their spiritual and liturgical responsibilities.

By law all children who have at least one parent who is a member, automatically become members.[35]
This has been controversial, because many become members without knowing, and this favours the Church
of Norway over other churches. This law remained unchanged even after the separation of church and state
in 2012.
In 2000, the Church of Norway appointed the first openly partnered
gay priest.[36] In 2007, a majority in the general synod voted in favour
of accepting people living in same-sex relations into the priesthood.[37]
In 2008, the Norwegian Parliament voted to establish same-sex civil
marriages, and the bishops allowed prayers for same-sex couples.[38]
In 2014, a proposed liturgy for same-sex marriages was rejected by the
general synod.[39] This question created much unrest in the Church of
Norway and seems to serve as a trigger for conversions to independent The "Arctic Cathedral" in Tromsø,
congregations and other churches.[40][41] In 2015, the Church of example of modern church
Norway voted to allow same-sex marriages.[42] The decision was architecture in Norway
ratified on 11 April 2016.[43] The first same-sex marriage ceremony in
the church occurred on 1 February 2017 just after midnight.[44][45][46]

Legal status
On 21 May 2012, the Norwegian Parliament passed a constitutional amendment for the second time (such
amendments must be passed twice in separate parliaments to come into effect) that granted the Church of
Norway increased autonomy, and states that "the Church of Norway, an Evangelical-Lutheran church,
remains Norway's people's church, and is supported by the State as such" ('people's church' or folkekirke is
also the name of the Danish state church, Folkekirken), replacing the earlier expression which stated that
"the Evangelical-Lutheran religion remains the public religion of the State." The constitution also says that
Norway's values are based on its Christian and humanist heritage, and according to the Constitution, the
king is required to be Lutheran. The government still provides funding for the church as it does with other
faith-based institutions, but the responsibility for appointing bishops and provosts now rests with the church
instead of the government. Prior to 1997, the appointments of parish priests and residing chaplains was also
the responsibility of the government, but the church was granted the right to hire such clergy directly with
the new Church Law of 1997. The 2012 amendment implies that the church's own governing bodies, rather
than the Council of State, appoints bishops. The government and the parliament no longer have an
oversight function with regard to day-to-day doctrinal issues, although the Constitution states that the
church is to be Evangelical-Lutheran.[47][5]

After the changes in 1997 and 2012, until the change in 2017, all clergy remained civil servants (state
employees), and the central and regional church administrations remained a part of the state administration.
The Church of Norway is regulated by its own law (kirkeloven) and all municipalities are required by law
to support the activities of the Church of Norway and municipal authorities are represented in its local
bodies. The amendment was a result of a compromise from 2008. Minister of Church Affairs Trond Giske
then emphasized that the Church of Norway remains Norway's state church, stating that "the state church is
retained. Neither the Labour Party nor the Centre Party had a mandate to agree to separate church and
state."[48] Of the government parties, the Labour Party and the Centre Party supported a continued state
church, while only the Socialist Left Party preferred a separation of church and state, although all parties
eventually voted for the 2008 compromise.[49][50]

The final amendment passed by a vote of 162–3. The three dissenting votes, Lundteigen, Ramsøy, and
Toppe, were all from the Centre Party.[51]
Though still supported by the state of Norway, the church ceased to be the official state religion on 1
January 2017 and its approximately 1250 active clergy ceased to be employed by the Norwegian
government on 1 January 2017.[52]

See also
Christianity portal

Norway portal

2011 Church of Norway elections

List of cathedrals in Norway
Sami Church Council
Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway
Lutheran World Federation
Sjømannskirken
Nordic Catholic Church
Norges kirker

Other Nordic national Lutheran churches

Church of Denmark
Church of the Faroe Islands
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Church of Iceland
Church of Sweden

References
1. "Den norske kirke" (https://www.ssb.no/kultur-og-fritid/religion-og-livssyn/statistikk/den-norsk
e-kirke). Statistics Norway. 15 June 2022. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/202209021
04011/https://www.ssb.no/kultur-og-fritid/religion-og-livssyn/statistikk/den-norske-kirke) from
the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
2. "Norway and its national church part ways" (http://religionnews.com/2017/01/05/norway-and
-its-national-church-part-ways/). Religion News Service. 5 January 2017. Archived (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20190401081739/https://religionnews.com/2017/01/05/norway-and-its-n
ational-church-part-ways/) from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
3. Norgeshistorie.no, Om; Institutt for arkeologi, konservering og historie (IAKH) ved UiO.
"Landet blir kristnet" (https://www.norgeshistorie.no/vikingtid/religion-og-verdensbilder/0813-
landet-blir-kristnet.html). www.norgeshistorie.no. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2019
1227163305/https://www.norgeshistorie.no/vikingtid/religion-og-verdensbilder/0813-landet-b
lir-kristnet.html) from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
4. Løsere bånd, men fortsatt statskirke (http://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/080410/losere-band-
men-fortsatt-statskirke) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140108043939/http://www.a
bcnyheter.no/nyheter/080410/losere-band-men-fortsatt-statskirke) 8 January 2014 at the
Wayback Machine, ABC Nyheter
 5. "Staten skal ikke lenger ansette biskoper" (https://www.nrk.no/norge/kirkeradet-skal-ansette-
biskoper-1.8076910) (in Norwegian). NRK. 16 April 2012. Archived (https://web.archive.org/
web/20181120092729/https://www.nrk.no/norge/kirkeradet-skal-ansette-biskoper-1.807691
0) from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
6. Forbund, Human-Etisk. "Ingen avskaffelse: / Slik blir den nye statskirkeordningen" (http://frita
nke.no/index.php?page=vis_nyhet&NyhetID=8840). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0181120093721/https://fritanke.no/index.php?page=vis_nyhet&NyhetID=8840) from the
original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
7. I dag avvikles statskirken (http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/05/14/nyheter/innenriks/kirken/relig
ion/21593869/) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160918174020/http://www.dagblad
et.no/2012/05/14/nyheter/innenriks/kirken/religion/21593869/) 18 September 2016 at the
Wayback Machine (State church will be abolished today), Dagbladet, published 14 May
2012, accessed online 24 October 2015.
8. State church in Norway? (https://kirken.no/nb-NO/konfirmasjon/sporsmal-og-svar/om-kirken/
er-det-statskirke-i-norge/) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042914/https://kirk
en.no/nb-NO/konfirmasjon/sporsmal-og-svar/om-kirken/er-det-statskirke-i-norge/) 4 March
2016 at the Wayback Machine, Church of Norway, published, 6 March 2015, accessed 24
October 2015.
9. "Kristen-Norge åpnes" (https://www.norgeshistorie.no/bygging-av-stat-og-nasjon/1425-kriste
n-norge-apnes.html). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200918082321/https://www.n
orgeshistorie.no/bygging-av-stat-og-nasjon/1425-kristen-norge-apnes.html) from the original
on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
10. Kulturdepartementet (5 March 2019). "Endringer i finansiering av Den norske kirke som
følge av skille mellom stat og kirke fra 1. januar 2017" (https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/tr
o-og-livssyn/den-norske-kirke/innsiktsartikler/kirkens-okonomi/id2009472/). Regjeringen.no
(in Norwegian). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200705152950/https://www.regjerin
gen.no/no/tema/tro-og-livssyn/den-norske-kirke/innsiktsartikler/kirkens-okonomi/id2009472/)
from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
11. "Kvalifikasjonskrav for prestetjeneste" (https://kirken.no/globalassets/kirken.no/bispemotet/2
018/dokumenter/bm-saksdokumenter/bm-27_18-kvalifikasjonskrav-for-prestetjeneste.pdf)
(PDF). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210917213627/https://kirken.no/globalasset
s/kirken.no/bispemotet/2018/dokumenter/bm-saksdokumenter/bm-27_18-kvalifikasjonskrav-f
or-prestetjeneste.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved
19 September 2021.
12. State church in Norway? (https://kirken.no/nb-NO/konfirmasjon/sporsmal-og-svar/om-kirken/
er-det-statskirke-i-norge/) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042914/https://kirk
en.no/nb-NO/konfirmasjon/sporsmal-og-svar/om-kirken/er-det-statskirke-i-norge/) 4 March
2016 at the Wayback Machine, Church of Norway, published, 6 March 2015, accessed 24
October 2015.
13. Lov om endringer i kirkeloven (omdanning av Den norske kirke til eget rettssubjekt m.m.) (htt
ps://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2016-05-27-17) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2016
0919121012/https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2016-05-27-17) 19 September 2016 at the
Wayback Machine, Bill passed on 27 May 2016 regarding the Church as a legal entity
14. Reform for the separation of church and state (https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokument/dep/
kud/sak/forvaltningsreform-for-et-tydelig-skille-mellom-kirke-og-stat/id2424037/) Archived (htt
ps://web.archive.org/web/20170912191539/https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokument/dep/ku
d/sak/forvaltningsreform-for-et-tydelig-skille-mellom-kirke-og-stat/id2424037/) 12 September
2017 at the Wayback Machine, Royal Ministry of Culture
15. kontor, Statsministerens (27 May 2016). "Offisielt frå statsrådet 27. mai 2016" (https://www.re
gjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/offisielt-fra-statsradet/id2501869/). Regjeringa.no. Archived (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20170909185939/https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/offisielt-fra-statsr
adet/id2501869/) from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
16. "Fortsatt en statsbudsjettkirke" (http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/Fortsatt-en-statsbudsjett
kirke-162563b.html). 7 March 2012. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2017041214273
5/http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/Fortsatt-en-statsbudsjettkirke-162563b.html) from the
original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
17. "dissenter – Store norske leksikon" (https://snl.no/dissenter). 21 January 2023. Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20161020173028/https://snl.no/dissenter) from the original on 20
October 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
18. Unstad, Live: Religion, nasjonalisme og borgerdannelse. Religion og norsk nasjonal
identitet – en analyse av dissenterlovene av 1845 og 1891. Master thesis, University of Oslo,
2010.
19. "Info" (https://www.regjeringen.no/globalassets/upload/kud/samfunn_og_frivillighet/tro-og_liv
ssyn/innstilling_om_lov_om_trossamfunn_avgitt_av_dissenterlovkomiteen_1962_.pdf)
(PDF). www.regjeringen.no. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160814023036/https://
www.regjeringen.no/globalassets/upload/kud/samfunn_og_frivillighet/tro-og_livssyn/innstilli
ng_om_lov_om_trossamfunn_avgitt_av_dissenterlovkomiteen_1962_.pdf) (PDF) from the
original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
20. "Lov om trudomssamfunn og ymist anna" (https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1969-06-13-2
5). Lovdata. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160919163233/https://lovdata.no/doku
ment/NL/lov/1969-06-13-25) from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
21. NOU 2006: 2: Staten og Den norske kirke [The State and the Church of Norway]. Utredning
fra Stat – kirke-utvalget oppnevnt ved kongelig resolusjon av 14. mars 2003. (Official report
to the Minister of Culture available online (http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/kud/dok/nouer/2
006/nou-2006-2.html?id=156177) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140911001719/h
ttp://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/kud/dok/nouer/2006/NOU-2006-2.html?id=156177) 11
September 2014 at the Wayback Machine).
22. Offisielt frå statsrådet 27. mai 2016 (https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/offisielt-fra-statsra
det/id2501869/) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170909185939/https://www.regjeri
ngen.no/no/aktuelt/offisielt-fra-statsradet/id2501869/) 9 September 2017 at the Wayback
Machine regjeringen.no «Sanksjon av Stortingets vedtak 18. mai 2016 til lov om endringer i
kirkeloven (omdanning av Den norske kirke til eget rettssubjekt m.m.) Lovvedtak 56 (2015–
2016) Lov nr. 17 Delt ikraftsetting av lov 27. mai 2016 om endringer i kirkeloven (omdanning
av Den norske kirke til eget rettssubjekt m.m.). Loven trer i kraft fra 1. januar 2017 med
unntak av romertall I § 3 nr. 8 første og fjerde ledd, § 3 nr. 10 annet punktum og § 5 femte
ledd, som trer i kraft 1. juli 2016.»
23. Lovvedtak 56 (2015–2016) Vedtak til lov om endringer i kirkeloven (omdanning av Den
norske kirke til eget rettssubjekt m.m.) (https://stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Vedta
k/Beslutninger/Lovvedtak/2015-2016/vedtak-201516-056/) Archived (https://web.archive.org/
web/20180703220253/https://stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Vedtak/Beslutninger/L
ovvedtak/2015-2016/vedtak-201516-056/) 3 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine
Stortinget.no
24. "Startside kirken.no" (http://www.kirken.no/?event=doLink&famID=240). Den norske kirke,
Kirkerådet. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20080914194901/http://www.kirken.no/?ev
ent=doLink&famID=240) from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 25 August
2008.
25. "Startside kirken.no" (http://www.kirken.no/?event=doLink&famID=9252). Den norske kirke,
Kirkerådet. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20110606012916/http://www.kirken.no/?ev
ent=doLink&famID=9252) from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
26. "Church of Norway" (http://www.kirken.no/english). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20
150620224727/https://kirken.no/english) from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved
20 June 2015.
27. Only the first two verses of the Gloria are used.
28. It is preceded by the singing of the acclamation: "God be praised! Halleluja. Halleluja.
Halleluja."
29. Population (https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/list/folkemengde) Archived (https://web.archive.o
rg/web/20191116002430/https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/list/folkemengde/) 16 November
2019 at the Wayback Machine Statistics Norway
30. Church of Norway, 2019 (http://www.ssb.no/en/kultur-og-fritid/statistikker/kirke_kostra/aar)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20171125173428/http://www.ssb.no/en/kultur-og-fritid/
statistikker/kirke_kostra/aar) 25 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine 17 May 2020
Statistics Norway
31. Religiøsitet og kirkebesøk (http://www.forskning.no/artikler/2005/oktober/1128932447.69)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20131105210342/http://www.forskning.no/artikler/200
5/oktober/1128932447.69) 5 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine (Religion and church
attendance); Forskning.no, published 2005, retrieved 23 February 2014.
32. Basics and statistics (http://www.kirken.no/english/engelsk.cfm?artid=5276) Archived (https://
web.archive.org/web/20070714085413/http://www.kirken.no/english/engelsk.cfm?artid=527
6) 14 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine Church of Norway
33. Marriages and divorces, 2019 (http://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/statistikker/ekteskap)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20140621135333/http://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/sta
tistikker/ekteskap) 21 June 2014 at the Wayback Machine 2 April 2020 Statistics Norway
34. Lønnå, Eline; Kristin Rødland. "Nordmenn minst religiøse" (https://web.archive.org/web/201
10717135229/http://www.klassekampen.no/31940/mod_article/item). Klassekampen (in
Norwegian). Archived from the original (http://www.klassekampen.no/31940/mod_article/ite
m) on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
35. "Lov om Den norske kirke (kirkeloven)" (https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1996-06-07-31?
q=kirkeloven). Lovdata. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20150620162327/https://lovd
ata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1996-06-07-31?q=kirkeloven) from the original on 20 June 2015.
Retrieved 20 June 2015.
36. "Lutheran Church of Norway Appoints Practicing Homosexual" (http://www.christianitytoday.
com/ct/2000/septemberweb-only/24.0b.html). September 2000. Archived (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20161013091519/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/septemberweb-only/2
4.0b.html) from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
37. "Church of Norway ready to ordain same-sex priests" (https://www.neweurope.eu/article/chu
rch-norway-ready-ordain-same-sex-priests/). 24 November 2007. Archived (https://web.archi
ve.org/web/20191225191232/https://www.neweurope.eu/article/church-norway-ready-ordain
-same-sex-priests/) from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
38. "Norwegian bishops consider special liturgy for gay couples" (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/20
08/11/14/norwegian-bishops-consider-special-liturgy-for-gay-couples/). 14 November 2008.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160606231025/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2008/1
1/14/norwegian-bishops-consider-special-liturgy-for-gay-couples/) from the original on 6
June 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
39. "Kirkemøtet avviste liturgi for homofile « Sambåndet" (http://xn--sambndet-d0a.no/2014/04/0
8/kirkemotet-avviste-liturgi-for-homofile/). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2023091813
3146/https://sambaandet.no/2014/04/08/kirkemotet-avviste-liturgi-for-homofile/) from the
original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
40. "Kirkelig avskalling" (http://www.magnelero.no/2012/08/06/kirkelig-avskalling/). 6 August
2012. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20150620181337/http://www.magnelero.no/201
2/08/06/kirkelig-avskalling/) from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
41. "Normisjon vil utvikle menigheter (visited 27.04.15)" (https://archive.today/2015.04.27-10254
6/http://m.k-s.no/artikkel/article/116910). Archived from the original (http://m.k-s.no/artikkel/art
icle/116910) on 27 April 2015.
42. "Norway bishops open doors to gay church weddings" (https://web.archive.org/web/201601
23110631/http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/norway-bishops-open-doors-to-gay-church-w
eddings/). 2 November 2015. Archived from the original (http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/
norway-bishops-open-doors-to-gay-church-weddings/) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved
4 November 2015.
43. "Church of Norway Approves Gay Marriage After 20 Years of Internal Debate" (http://www.ch
ristianpost.com/news/church-of-norway-approves-gay-marriage-after-20-years-of-internal-de
bate-161479/). 12 April 2016. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160919170945/http://
www.christianpost.com/news/church-of-norway-approves-gay-marriage-after-20-years-of-int
ernal-debate-161479/) from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September
2016.
44. "First gay couple wed" (https://web.archive.org/web/20170203113857/http://norwaytoday.inf
o/news/first-gay-couple-wed/). Norway Today. 1 February 2017. Archived from the original (h
ttp://norwaytoday.info/news/first-gay-couple-wed/) on 3 February 2017.
45. "Vi har ventet så lenge, at vi ikke har et sekund til å miste" (https://www.nrk.no/norge/det-forst
e-homofile-paret-som-gifter-seg-kirkelig-1.13350701). NRK (in Norwegian). 30 January
2017. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170205095724/https://www.nrk.no/norge/det-f
orste-homofile-paret-som-gifter-seg-kirkelig-1.13350701) from the original on 5 February
2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
46. "Efter 36 års venten: Kjell og Erik er det første homopar gift i norsk kirke" (http://www.bt.dk/ud
land/laest-klar-efter-36-aars-venten-kjell-og-erik-er-det-foerste-homopar-gift-i-norsk).
www.bt.dk (in Danish). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170205102018/http://www.b
t.dk/udland/laest-klar-efter-36-aars-venten-kjell-og-erik-er-det-foerste-homopar-gift-i-norsk)
from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
47. "Kongeriket Norges Grunnlov" (https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1814-05-17). lovdata.no.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20190411082635/https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/
1814-05-17) from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
48. "Løsere bånd, men fortsatt statskirke – ABC Nyheter" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140108
043939/http://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/080410/losere-band-men-fortsatt-statskirke).
Archived from the original (http://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/080410/losere-band-men-fortsa
tt-statskirke) on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
49. NRK (19 March 2007). "Ap vil beholde statskirken" (http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.20797
01). NRK. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20230918133159/https://www.nrk.no/norge/
ap-vil-beholde-statskirken-1.2079701) from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved
20 June 2015.
50. "- Tilfreds med statskirke-forlik" (https://web.archive.org/web/20111224124049/http://www.se
nterpartiet.no/article51796.html). Archived from the original (http://www.senterpartiet.no/articl
e51796.html) on 24 December 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
51. Her vedtar Stortinget å avvikle statskirken (http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/politikk/her-ve
dtar-stortinget-aa-avvikle-statskirken-3786678.html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0120524095259/http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/politikk/her-vedtar-stortinget-aa-avvikle-
statskirken-3786678.html) 24 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine TV2. 21 May 2012
52. "Norway Ends 500-Y-O Lutheran Church Partnership, 'Biggest Change Since the
Reformation' " (http://www.christianpost.com/news/norway-ends-500-year-old-lutheran-churc
h-partnership-biggest-change-since-reformation-172480/). 2 January 2017. Archived (https://
web.archive.org/web/20170201041716/http://www.christianpost.com/news/norway-ends-50
0-year-old-lutheran-church-partnership-biggest-change-since-reformation-172480/) from the
original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.

External links
Official website (http://www.kirken.no/english/)
Official website in Norwegian (https://kirken.no/)
Churches in Norway, locator (http://www.kirkesok.no/) (in Norwegian)
Norway, the Lutheran Church of (https://books.google.com/books?id=H3NBAAAAYAAJ&dq
=%22The+Catholic+Church+in+Norway+was+a+direct%22&pg=PA342) in the Lutheran
Cyclopedia

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Church_of_Norway&oldid=1186386876"