- Norwegian:
- Den norske kirke
- Areas Of Involvement:
- Lutheranism
Church of Norway
-
What is the Church of Norway?
The Church of Norway is Norway's state-supported Lutheran church that transitioned from the Roman Catholic faith during the Protestant Reformation. Officially accepting the new faith in 1539, Norwegians ousted Roman Catholic clergy who would not accept Lutheranism.
More than 70% of Norwegians are official members, though they have been able to legally withdraw since 1845 to join another church or no church. The country is divided into dioceses, each led by a bishop, with the bishop of Oslo as the primate. Until 2012, the king and parliament determined church organization, practices, doctrine, and education.
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Where is the Church of Norway located?
The Church of Norway is the established, state-supported Lutheran church in Norway. More than four-fifths of Norwegians belong to it. The church transitioned from the Roman Catholic faith during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. The seat of the archbishop was established in Nidaros (Trondheim) in 1152 when the church was organized nationally. Norway is divided into dioceses, each headed by a bishop, with the bishop of Oslo as the primate of the bishops.
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What does it mean that the Church of Norway is Lutheran?
That the Church of Norway is Lutheran means it adheres to the Christian teachings of Martin Luther and the 16th-century religious reforms that followed. Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism, alongside Anglicanism, Calvinism, Methodism, and the Baptist churches.
The Church of Norway officially adopted Lutheranism in 1539, when the king of Denmark and Norway, Christian III, embraced the faith. The government took over church property, and Roman Catholic clergy who refused to accept Lutheranism were removed. Today, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway is state-supported, with most Norwegians as members.
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How is the Church of Norway organized and governed?
The Church of Norway is an Evangelical Lutheran church, supported by the government, with over four-fifths of Norwegians as members.
Norway is divided into dioceses, each led by a bishop, and the Bishop of Oslo is the primate. Until 2012, the king and parliament determined the church's organization, practices, and doctrine. The king appointed bishops and pastors, but the government often denied the church more autonomy. Since 1845, Norwegians can legally leave the state church, but most remain members.
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What is the historical relationship between the Church of Norway and the Norwegian government?
The Church of Norway is a state-supported Lutheran church that was established following the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. The government took over the church's property, and the king had complete authority in appointing church leaders.
In May 2012, a constitutional amendment gave the church more autonomy, though it remains endowed by the government. Norwegians have had the right to join other churches since 1845, but nearly 70% remain members of the Church of Norway.
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What are some important traditions and practices in the Church of Norway?
The Church of Norway is an Evangelical Lutheran church, supported by the government, with over four-fifths of Norwegians as members.
Key traditions and practices:
* Acceptance of Lutheranism Norwegians officially adopted the Lutheran faith in 1539. Bishops and clergy who did not accept Lutheranism were removed, and church property was taken over by the government.
* Pietism influence The church was influenced by Pietism in the 18th century. Truth Unto Godliness, explaining Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, significantly impacted Norwegian religious life for about 200 years.
* Lay movements Laymen were legally forbidden to preach, but Hans Hauge led a Pietistic revival, establishing brotherhoods for religious study and prayer.
* Resistance during World War II Bishops and clergy led the Resistance movement against the Nazis, maintaining their work with the people despite facing opposition.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Church of Norway, established, state-supported Lutheran church in Norway, which changed from the Roman Catholic faith during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation.
Unsuccessful attempts were made to win converts to Christianity in Norway during the 10th century, but in the 11th century Kings Olaf I Tryggvason (reigned 995–c. 1000) and Olaf II Haraldsson (reigned 1015–30), each of whom had been baptized outside Norway before becoming king, forced many of their subjects to accept Christianity. Olaf II brought clergy from England to organize the church. After he was killed in battle, he became a national hero and was eventually canonized as Norway’s patron saint (1164). The country was primarily Christian by the end of the 11th century. In 1152 the church was organized nationally, with the seat of the archbishop in Nidaros (Trondheim).
The Reformation was brought to Norway by Christian III, king of Denmark and Norway (reigned 1534–59), who was converted to Lutheranism as a young man. Norwegians officially accepted the new faith in 1539. Roman Catholic bishops and clergy who would not accept Lutheranism were forced out of the church, and the church’s property was taken over by the government. By the end of the 16th century, the church had been reorganized, and Lutheranism was accepted by most of the people and clergy.
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During the 17th century Lutheran orthodoxy prevailed, but in the 18th century the church was influenced by Pietism. A work with a Pietistic emphasis, Truth Unto Godliness, an explanation of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism published in 1737 by Erik Pontoppidan, a Danish-Norwegian Lutheran professor and bishop, extensively influenced Norwegian religious life for about 200 years. A Pietistic revival from 1797 to 1804 was led by Hans Hauge, a peasant’s son who experienced a religious conversion when he was 25 years old. Although laymen were legally forbidden to preach, Hauge did so throughout the country and established brotherhoods that met for religious study and prayer. Despite being opposed by some of the clergy and being imprisoned several times for his activities, he and his followers remained within the Church of Norway and influenced it greatly. The work of Gisle Johnson, a theology professor from 1849 to 1873 who combined Lutheran orthodoxy and Pietism, also influenced the clergy and laity and led to the establishment of mission programs.
In the 20th century the church experienced theological disagreements between liberals and conservatives. During World War II the bishops and clergy led the Resistance movement against the Nazis, who attempted to control the church after defeating Norway. The bishops gave up their state offices, and almost all the clergy resigned from their parishes, but they continued to work with and were supported by the people. After Germany’s defeat, pastors returned to their churches, and the state church again resumed functioning.
Norway is divided into dioceses, each headed by a bishop, with the bishop of Oslo as the primate of the bishops. Until a constitutional amendment was passed in May 2012, the king and the Storting (parliament) retained power to determine church organization, practices, doctrine, and education. Prior to that time, the king also had complete freedom in appointing bishops and pastors, and the government long refused to authorize changes in church organization requested by the bishops that would allow more autonomy for the church. Although Norwegians since 1845 have been able to legally withdraw from the state church and join another (or no) church, nearly 70 percent retain official membership.