February 14, 2005

GENEVA, – During the first week of March, Norway's King Harald V will name a new bishop for the diocese of Oslo. The incumbent Bishop Dr. Gunnar J. Stalsett, who was General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) from 1985 to 1994 will retire on March 1. He turned 70 on February 10.

The search process for a new bishop of Oslo has been going on since August 2004 when the diocesan council nominated seven candidates. Since then one more candidate was added after a vote by the parish councils and pastors of the Oslo Diocese.

The election process is now in its final round. There are four eligible candidates ñ three men and one woman: Dean Trond Bakkevig; General Secretary Helen Bjornoy; Bishop of Borg, Ole Christian Kvarme; and Erling J. Pettersen, Director of the Church of Norway National Council. After a vote by the bishops of the Church of Norway, followed by the National Council and the Oslo Diocese Council, the King, within the Council of State, will then appoint one of the four candidates as the new bishop at the beginning of March.

Article 2 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Norway states, "The Evangelical-Lutheran religion shall remain the official religion of the State." The King is the head of the church and the state. Within government, only ministers who are Church of Norway members may vote on major decisions concerning the church.

The bishop of Norway's capital city, Oslo, traditionally has a prominent position in society, because of the close proximity to the government, parliament and royal family. The diocese has 493,000 members in 77 parishes served by 170 pastors.

The Church of Norway has eleven bishops. The Bishops' Conference elects its president every four years. The position is currently held by Bishop Finn Wagle, Nidaros Diocese.

The Church of Norway has 3.9 million members, representing around 87 percent of the Norwegian population. It joined the LWF in 1947.

Lutheran World Information