Baptist Union of Norway

The Baptist Union of Norway (Norwegian: Det Norske

Baptist Union of Norway
Baptistsamfunn) is a Baptist Christian denomination in Norway. It
is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Det Norske Baptistsamfunn
Stabekk. Classification Evangelical
Christianity
History Theology Baptist
Chairman Per Øvergaard

First congregations Secretary-general Terje Aadne

Associations Baptist World
The first Baptist in Norway was Enok Richard Haftorsen Svee. Alliance
Raised in a Haugianer family in Orkanger, he moved to European
Copenhagen in 1837 to attend missionary training. There he came
Baptist
into contact with a group of unorganized Baptists and participated
in the founding of Denmark's first Baptist congregation the Federation
following year. This was illegal at the time. Svee returned to Christian
Orkanger in 1842 and died a year later, never establishing a Council of
congregation in Norway.[1] Norway
Headquarters Stabekk,
The Parliament of Norway passed the Dissenter Act on 16 July
Norway
1845, allowing Christian congregations outside the Church of
Norway to be established. The Swedish Baptist Fredrik Olaus Origin 1879
Nilsson visited Norway several times from 1851, but his preaching Congregations 105
was futile.[2] Instead the Danish preacher Fredrik L. Rymker from
Members 10,657 (2022)
Odense was successful at establishing a congregation. The Danish
[1] (https://ww
community dispatched him to Norway to preach. He arrived in
Skien on 21 September 1857 and started preaching in the various w.regjeringen.n
free churches there. He also travel around to neighboring towns.[3] o/contentasset
Carl Gundersen Kongerød became the first Baptist baptized in s/8e328011f0e
Norway, on 25 December 1858. By 22 April 1860 there were nine 541d99e0b624
Baptists in the area and the Baptist congregation in Porsgrunn and 3387e38dd/ant
Solum was founded.[4] all-tilskuddstell
ende-medlem
Rymker continued to travel and preach until 1862, funded through mer-tros-og-liv
grants from congregations in the United States. He helped establish
ssynssamfunn-
Larvik Baptist Congregation on 14 November 1860 and Kragerø
2022.pdf)
Baptist Congregation on 31 August 1862.[4][5] A congregation of
baptists in Levanger was founded in 1862. New preachers arrived Official website baptist.no (htt
in Norway and the cause spread throughout the 1860s. Eidsvoll p://baptist.no)
Baptist Congregation was founded on 29 August 1864 and in
Melum on 25 December 1865. Additional congregations were founded in Arendal presumably on 14
August 1867, followed by Bergen, Tromsø and Tvedestrand in 1870. Two years later congregations were
established in the towns of Langesund, Risør and Trondheim.[6]
Focus shifted to the capital Kristiania (today Oslo). The
Swedish pastor Sven Svensson visited the city, funded by
the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) and helped
incorporate a congregation in 1874. It became the subject
of personal conflicts and part of the congregation split in
favor of the Adventist Church, and the organization was
disestablished in 1880.[6] It was reestablished in 1884 and
within a decade had become the largest Baptist
congregation in the country.[7]

All the congregations were established as independent Skien Baptist Church.

denominations under the protection that the Dissenter Act
provided, even if they could have as few as six
members.[4] Following a movement inspired by the United States,
there was a trend towards weak congregationalism. This
established a common understanding of the legal and organizational
independence of each congregation, while retaining the need for a
national administrative and theological coordination. By the early
1870s the congregations in Skien, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø
had largely taken on regional responsibilities and covered areas far
exceeding the city limits.[7]

Establishing the
Oslo First Baptist Church
union

The Sønnenfjellske District Association was founded in 1872 as a

The Baptist church in Bærum
cooperative body in Eastern Norway.[7] Tromsø Missionary
Society was founded in 1877. It originally was a subset of the
Tromsø congregation, but was soon joined by newly established
congregations in Northern Norway. The same year the
congregations in Trondheim and Bergen established Vestenfjellske
Missionary Society. These were responsible for inter-
congregational coordination and activities, especially evangelism.[8]

The first national conference took place on 6 to 8 July 1877 in Bergen, with ten delegates from five
congregations. For the first time the number of Baptists were calculated, totaling 511 at the end of 1867.
The main organization outcome was the establishment of a committee to establish a common Sunday
school curriculum.[8] The following year a meeting was held in Bergen with most of the pastors in the
country. BMS attended with a representative, Edward Bean Underhill. An agreement was made whereby a
national union would be established and receive financial support from BMS.[9] Another outcome of the
meeting was the foundation of Adelfia, an association for the pastors.[10]

The formal decision to establish the Baptist Union of Norway was taken at the second national conference,
held in Trondheim the following year. Thirteen delegates from eight congregations participated. Nine
congregations joined the union; the remaining six refrained either because they were not represented at the
conference or because they were feared the union would interfere in congregational affairs.[9] Janne M.
Sjödahl was appointed the union's first chairman.[10]

It was officially founded in 1879.[11]

The first inter-congregational bulletin was Palmebladet, first
published by G. Hübert in 1879. Three years later the hymnal
Salmer og Sang was published. Adelfia began publishing the
national newsletter Unions-Banneret in 1880. These initiatives led
to the union establishing a publishing office, Den evangeliske Bok
& Traktatforening.[12]

The Baptist communities in

Raufoss Baptist Church
main point of contact with the American Baptist community. Forty-two Norwegians attended the seminary
from 1884 to 1910.[14]
Norway enjoyed close The Baptist church in Lillehammer.
relations with BMS in
England and Scandinavian
expatriate congregations in the United States through the American
Baptist Missionary Union (ABMU). The latter was mostly
concentrated in Minnesota. After first establishing a common
Scandinavian seminary, it split and a Norwegian–Danish seminary
was established in the Chicago community of Morgan Park as part
of the Baptist Union Theological Seminary (later to become the
University of Chicago Divinity School).[13] This remained the

The establishment of the seminary caused a close connection between the Norwegian Baptist congregations
and that of the Midwestern United States; it was the source of new inspiration. A major step took place in
1885 when pastors began to be ordained.[15] The number of Baptist congregations reached eighteen in
1886, although the membership growth was significantly steeper with 1,335 members that year. Ten years
later it had increased to 26 congregations and 2,132 members. It reached 35 congregations and 2,900
members in 1902.[16]

BMS announced in 1890 that it would withdraw all financial support for work in Norway starting in 1892.
They cited that Norway no longer was seen as a missionary site, and that recruitment had leveled off. They
also argued that the congregations should have the capacity to fund their own operations.[17] The Baptist
Union of Norway therefore contacted the Norwegian expatriate community. ABMU offered support to the
union on the condition the Norwegians would preach in line with the American organization's theology and
that Norwegian international missionaries would represent ABMU.[14]

Establishment of institutions

The Baptist Union of Norway became a founding member of the

Baptist World Alliance in 1905 and J. A. Øhrn became an inaugural
vice president.[18] The Norwegian Baptist Theological Seminary
was founded in 1910, allowing both pastors and missionaries to be
educated domestically for the first time. Olaf J. Øie was hired as the
first rector, a role he held until his death in 1943. The seminary
soon offered a bachelor-level degree.[19]

A separate Norwegian mission was founded at the annual

The Norwegian Baptist Seminary,
conference in 1915. Fundraising secured Bernhard Ålbu's travel to
now the Norwegian School of
the Belgian Congo. This was the first time that Norwegian Baptist
Leadership and Theology, was
missionaries traveled without being under the auspices of the
founded in 1910
ABMU. Due to the First World War he was not able to travel until
1918.[20] The effort was concentrated in the Bas-Uele District,
especially in the settlements of Bili and Monga.[21] The network was gradually expanded and by the 1970s
there were additional missionary stations in Bondo, Butu, Likati and Ndu.[22] By 1945 the Congo mission
had baptized 3,000 converts.[23]

The Baptist Women's Association of Norway was founded in 1916 to coordinate women's work between
the congregations. This included both evangelism and missions, as well as annual seminars. The Baptist
Youth Association was founded in 1922 to coordinate the activities of the youth associations in each
congregation.[24] From 1921 the local congregation operated a fishermen's home in Honningsvåg. Another
attempt to spread the word in Northern Norway took place through the "skerries mission". Boats were used
to reach coastal hamlets without regular church services.[12]

The organization saw its membership hit a plateau during the

1900s, but then saw significant growth again during the 1910s.
Membership numbers grew again during the 1930s and hit an all-
time high of 7,500 members in the late 1940s. By then
Pentecostalism was increasing in Norway. Many Baptists changed
to Pentecostal congregations and locally there was often
competition for the same congregants. Similarities in theological
stances, especially regarding baptism and congregationalism, often
eased the transition between congregations.[25]

Sel Baptist Church in Otta Along with the Baptist Union of Denmark and the Baptist Union of
Sweden, the Norwegian union established a congregation in San
Francisco, the Scandinavian Seamen Mission in 1946.[12] Two
Norwegians have been secretary-general of the Baptist World Alliance. The first was Arnold T. Øhrn from
1948 to 1960, and his successor Josef Nordenhang from 1960 to 1969.[18] The Baptist Folk High School
was inaugurated in 1958.[19] It changed its name to Holtekilen Folk High School in 1979.[26]

Many of the smallest congregations had problems funding both a church

and the pastor's wages. In some congregations this was solved by only
hiring the pastor part-time, or having them funded through their spouse
working. In any case wages were comparatively low for the education.
From the 1960s a "wage fund" was created, whereby larger congregations
subsidized the wages of pastors in smaller congregations.[27] The Baptist
Study Council was established in 1972 to publish study circles.[24] This
agency remained until 2010.[28] The missionary activity was expanded
from 1984, when the annual conference voted to allow mission to other
countries than Zaïre.[29]

Oppdal Baptist Congregation left the union in 1986. During the mid 1980s Åse Baptist Church in
the union experienced major economic problems and a large deficit.[30] Andenes
The congress of the European Baptist Federation was hosted in
Lillehammer in 1994, with the union as the organizer. Four thousand
delegates participated at the event at Håkons Hall.[31] The union launched its website on 19 February
1996.[32] Banneret was reorganized in 2004 and changed from a weekly newspaper to a monthly
magazine.[33] It took the name Baptist.no in 2009.[34]

Oslo Third Baptist Congregation was excluded from the union in 2006 after it had elected a member living
in a same-sex partnership to its board.[35] After decades with stagnating membership, the Baptist
community experienced rising membership numbers and increasing number of congregations from the late
2000s. The Norwegian Baptist Seminary was reorganized in 2008. It merged with the Pentecostal Center
for Leadership and Theology to form the Norwegian School of Leadership and Theology. It was accredited
as a college and was situated at the Baptist complex at Stabekk.[36]

Organization
The union has 97 congregations.[37] Membership is tied to the
individual congregations rather than to the union. Based on a form
of weak congregationalism, these are autonomous organizations
which elect their own leadership. The union therefore acts as a
coordinating organization. The congregations are organized into
five regional districts, each with their own board. The union has an
annual meeting with delegates from each congregation. This body
holds the supreme authorities within the union. It appoints the main
board, other committees and various issues regarding economy,
institutions and plans.[28] Interior of Trondheim Baptist Church

The head office is situated at Stabekk in Bærum outside Oslo.[38]

The union has an administration with seven employees,[39] led by Secretary-General Terje Aadne.[37] The
Baptist Union of Norway is a member of the Baptist World Alliance, the European Baptist Federation and
the Christian Council of Norway.[28]

Membership
Statistics Norway counted 10,283 members of the Baptist Union of Norway in 2014. This is based on the
official reported numbers of adherents to the state for state grants. This number includes children and non-
baptized adherents.[40]

According to a census published by the association in 2023, it claimed 103 churches and 6,651
members.[41]

Institutions
The Norwegian School of Leadership and Theology is an
accredited college jointly owned by the Baptist Union and
Filadelfia Oslo, a Pentecostal congregation.[42] Approved by the
Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education, it offers a
three-year bachelor's degree in leadership and theology, and a one-
year course in Christianity.[43] Although not a formal requirement,
most pastors have taken a four-year theological education at the
college.[44]

Holtekilen Folk High School is situated at Stabekk and has 85 Holtekilen Folk High School in
pupils.[45] It features six tracks: music, fashion/design, travel, Bærum is owned by the union

film/photography, street sociology and ethics/sustainability.[46]

The union publishes a monthly magazine, Baptist.no, which is distributed to all members of the
congregations.[34] The Norwegian Baptist Historical Society is given the task of maintaining Baptist
archives in Norway and publishing historical and theological presentations. Its main work is the semi-
annual magazine Baptist which provides articles on Baptist history, theology and practice. It also publishes
literature.[47]

References
1. Eidberg (1976): 26
2. Eidberg (1976): 27
3. Eidberg (1976): 28
4. Eidberg (1976): 29
5. William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p.
419
6. Eidberg (1976): 30
7. Eidberg (1976): 31
8. Eidberg (1976): 32
9. Eidberg (1976): 33
10. Eidberg (1998): 165
11. John H. Y. Briggs, A Dictionary of European Baptist Life and Thought, Wipf and Stock
Publishers, USA, 2009, p. 358
12. Eidberg (1976): 38
13. "Thomas W. Goodspeed: The Story of the University of Chicago: Chapter 1: Beginnings" (htt
ps://brocku.ca/MeadProject/Goodspeed/1925/Goodspeed_1925_01.html). brocku.ca.
Retrieved 2021-11-20.
14. Eidberg (1976): 36
15. Eidberg (1998): 164
16. Eidberg (1976): 41
17. Eidberg (1976): 35
18. Eidberg (1976): 37
19. Eidberg (1976): 39
20. Eidberg (1976): 112
21. Eidberg (1976): 113
22. Eidberg (1976): 114
23. Eidberg (1976): 117
24. Eidberg (1976): 40
25. Eidberg (1976): 42
26. Liland & Iversen (2010): 43
27. Eidberg (1976): 62
28. "Historie" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150204030655/http://www.baptist.no/om/historie2/)
(in Norwegian). Baptist Union of Norway. Archived from the original (http://www.baptist.no/o
m/historie2/) on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
29. Liland & Iversen (2010): 51
30. Liland & Iversen (2010): 54
31. Liland & Iversen (2010): 66
32. Liland & Iversen (2010): 76
33. Liland & Iversen (2010): 88
34. Liland & Iversen (2010): 100
35. Liland & Iversen (2010): 92
36. Liland & Iversen (2010): 97
37. "Norway" (http://www.ebf.org/norway). European Baptist Federation. Retrieved 6 January
2015.
38. "Kontakt" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150417102246/http://www.baptist.no/om/kontakt/)
(in Norwegian). Baptist Union of Norway. Archived from the original (http://www.baptist.no/o
m/kontakt/) on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
39. "Ansatte" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150417101119/http://www.baptist.no/om/ansatte/)
(in Norwegian). Baptist Union of Norway. Archived from the original (http://www.baptist.no/o
m/ansatte/) on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
40. "Trus- og livssynssamfunn utanfor Den norske kyrkja, 1. januar 2014" (http://ssb.no/kultur-og
-fritid/statistikker/trosamf/aar/2014-11-18?fane=tabell&sort=nummer&tabell=204087).
Statistics Norway. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
41. Baptist World Alliance, Members (https://www.baptistworld.org/member-unions/),
baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
42. "About us" (https://web.archive.org/web/20160115201555/http://hoyskolen.org/about-us/?lan
g=en). Norwegian School of Leadership and Theology. Archived from the original (http://hoy
skolen.org/about-us/?lang=en) on 2016-01-15. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
43. "Studies" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150211092928/http://hoyskolen.org/studies/?lang=
en). Norwegian School of Leadership and Theology. Archived from the original (http://hoysko
len.org/studies/?lang=en) on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
44. Eidberg (1976): 60
45. "Arbeidsgrener" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150417102224/http://www.baptist.no/om/arb
eidsgrener/) (in Norwegian). Baptist Union of Norway. Archived from the original (http://www.
baptist.no/om/arbeidsgrener/) on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
46. "Linjefag" (http://holtekilen.no/linjefag.html) (in Norwegian). Holtekilen Folk High School.
Retrieved 6 January 2015.
47. "Norsk Baptist-Historisk Selskap" (http://www.baptist.no/nbhs/) (in Norwegian). Baptist
Union of Norway. Retrieved 6 January 2015.

Bibliography
Eidberg, Peder A. (1976). Baptistene – tro og liv (http://www.nb.no/nbsok/nb/0291d12d3217
ec63d4ac06e94ee74c89) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk Litteraturselskap.
Eidberg, Peder A. (1998). Det folk som kalles baptister (http://www.nb.no/nbsok/nb/dcb9ef89
1e6d6839459a85996004aa35) (in Norwegian). Oslo: University of Oslo.
Liland, Ola; Iversen, Frithjov (2010). Norges baptister 150 år (in Norwegian). Norsk
Lutteraturselskap. ISBN 978-82-510-0385-8.

External links
Official website (https://www.baptist.no/)
Evangelical
Christianity portal
Norway portal

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