MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society ( no, MF vitenskapelig høyskole for teologi, religion og samfunn), formerly the Free Faculty of Theology ( no, Det teologiske menighetsfakultet) and MF Norwegian School of Theology, is an accredited Norwegian Specialized University focused on Theology, Religion, Education and Social Studies, located in Oslo, Norway. MF was founded in 1907 as an independent theological institution at university level and is Norway's largest provider of theological education and research. MF has around 110 employees, 1300 bachelor and master students and about 60 ph.d. students. Since 1967, MF has offered academic studies in Christianity and religion for use in school and society. As needs have arisen, MF has developed a broad portfolio of professional degrees for church and school. The religious demography of Norway has changed significantly. There is an increasing need and demand for knowledge and quality in research on, education in and communication about religion and society. MF meets this challenge through interdisciplinary research on religion and society, along with relevant bachelor, master and ph.d. degrees in theology, religion and society. MF has two centers: ''MF KOM – Center for Excellence in Research, Development and Communication for Church and Congregation''. This center is an intermediary between scholars at MF and church workers who wish to utilize MF's competency in their own contexts. ''MF Center for the Advanced Study of Religion, MF CASR'', organizes the research on religion done at MF. It facilitates joint projects between MF and other institutions. MF CASR encompasses areas of research including religious studies, history of religion, philosophy of religion, texts and manuscript research, cultural and art history, along with sociology of religion. ''Norwegian Philological Institute'' (PHI) is affiliated with and located at MF. The cooperation involves offering courses in classical languages connected with major world religions and cultures. MF's areas of activity are education, research and communication. Beginning as a confessional school, today it is an ecumenical inclusive school offering education specific to a number of denominations (

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

Salvation Army Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...

and

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement

History

MF was founded in 1907 by a body of people (Norwegian academics, politicians, clergy and lay people) wanting to build the education and research on the

Holy Scriptures Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They differ from literature by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual pra ...

and the

Lutheran Confessions ''The Book of Concord'' (1580) or ''Concordia'' (often referred to as the ''Lutheran Confessions'') is the historic doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church, consisting of ten credal documents recognized as authoritative in Lutheranism since ...

. The main reason for the establishing of the School was an appointment to a professoriate at the Faculty of Theology at

University of Oslo The University of Oslo ( no, Universitetet i Oslo; la, Universitas Osloensis) is a public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the highest ranked and oldest university in Norway. It is consistently ranked among the top universit ...

. The Chair of

Systematic Theology Systematic theology, or systematics, is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topi ...

was vacant after the death of Fredrik Petersen in 1903, and in 1906 the liberal theologian Johannes Ording was appointed to the Chair. Ording was appointed after a lengthy debate which almost led to a crisis in the Government of Norway. It was not supported by the other leading professors at the faculty, and

Sigurd Odland Sigurd Vilhelm Odland (December 5, 1857 – April 30, 1937) was a Norwegian theologian and church leader. Odland was born in Bergen. After receiving his theology degree in 1879, he studied at various universities in Germany. He was the recipient o ...

at the Faculty of Theology and the Minister of Church Affairs Christopher Knudsen in the Government left their positions following the appointment. Notable people in the society and the Church gathering around Odland then took steps to found an independent institution training the clergy. The founding charter was signed October 16, 1907, and the School was opened in the autumn of 1908 with only 8 students (a number that increased to 14 before the end of the first term). The earliest teachers were

(

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...

Edvard Sverdrup Johan Edvard Sverdrup (22 June 1861 – 21 January 1923) was a Norwegian educator, author and church leader. Sverdrup was one of the key theologians in the Church of Norway in the first few decades of the 1900s. Biography Sverdrup was born in B ...

(

Church history __NOTOC__ Church history or ecclesiastical history as an academic discipline studies the history of Christianity and the way the Christian Church has developed since its inception. Henry Melvill Gwatkin defined church history as "the spiritua ...

), Peter Hognestad (

Old Testament The Old Testament (often abbreviated OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew writings by the Israelites. The ...

Ole Hallesby Ole Kristian Hallesby (5 August 1879 – 22 November 1961) was a conservative, Norwegian Lutheran theologian, author and educator. Biography Ole Kristian Hallesby was born in Aremark, in Østfold, Norway. Hallesby grew up as the sixth of eight s ...

(

Systematic theology Systematic theology, or systematics, is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topi ...

). From 1919 the members of academic staff was granted the right to call themselves professors. The school grew steadily, and in 1913 MF was given the right to offer degrees in

Theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

, and also in

Practical Theology Practical theology is an academic discipline that examines and reflects on religious practices in order to understand the theology enacted in those practices and in order to consider how theological theory and theological practices can be more full ...

from 1925. The school expanded in 1967 and an institute of

Christian theology Christian theology is the theology of Christianity, Christian belief and practice. Such study concentrates primarily upon the texts of the Old Testament and of the New Testament, as well as on Christian tradition. Christian theology, theologian ...

was founded giving a minor, major and a master's degree in Christian Studies. 1977 the school started to train Christian Educators (catechists). A major step was the right to award the doctoral degree in 1990. The school was the first private school given the right to do this, and in 2005 the school was accredited as a specialized university institution by the Norwegian authorities. In 2018 the school changed its name from "MF Norwegian School of Theology" to "MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society".

Academics

MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society awards the following degrees: bachelor, master, candidatus/a theologiae and Ph.D. It offers the following programmes of study that results in the mentioned degrees: * At undergraduate level ** Introductory Studies in Christianity and Religious and Ethical Education (1 year), ** Introductory Studies in Social Studies (1 year), ** Introductory Studies in Cross-cultural Communication (1 year), ** Bachelor of Arts (BA), specializing in Christianity and Religious and Ethical Education (3 years), ** Bachelor of Arts, specializing in Religion and Society (3 years), ** Bachelor of Arts, specializing in Youth Ministry (3 years), ** Bachelor of Arts, specializing in Social Sciences (3 years), ** Bachelor of Theology (3 years). * At postgraduate level ** Master of Arts (MA) in Religious Education (1 ½ years, part-time studies), ** Master of Arts in Religion, Society and Global Issues (2 years, offered in English), ** Master of Arts in History of Religions (2 years, offered in English), ** Master of Theology (Th.M.) (2 years, offered in English) specializing in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies, New Testament Studies, Church History, or Theology, Mission and Society, ** Master of Theology (5 years, one-tier, together with BA degree), ** Master of Philosophy (Ph.M) in Religious Education (2 years), ** Master of Philosophy in Educational Ministry (2 years), ** Master of Philosophy in Diaconal Ministry (2 years), ** Master of Practical Theology, ** Master of Christian Clinical Counseling, ** Professional Degree in Theology and Ministry (6 years, leading to the cand.theol.-degree), ** Professional Teaching Degree in Religious Education and Social Studies lektor/adjunkt. * At PhD level ** Philosophiae doctor (Ph.D.) in Theology (3 ½ years), specializing in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies, New Testament Studies, Church History, or Theology, Mission and Society. ** Philosophiae doctor (Ph.D.) in Religious Education (3 ½ years).

Notable alumni and faculty staff

Alumni

Andreas Grasmo Andreas Grasmo (7 November 1912 – 13 October 1986) was a Norwegian priest and organizational leader. He was born in Vardø; the son of parish priest Johan Oskar Grasmo. He graduated as cand.theol. from the MF Norwegian School of Theology in 19 ...

Politicians

Kjell Magne Bondevik Kjell Magne Bondevik (; born 3 September 1947) is a Norwegian Lutheran minister and politician. As leader of the Christian Democratic Party, he served as the 33rd prime minister of Norway from 1997 to 2000, and from 2001 to 2005, making him, af ...

Valgerd Svarstad Haugland Valgerd Svarstad Haugland (born 23 August 1956) is a Norwegian teacher, politician and civil servant. She was leader of the Christian Democratic Party in Norway from 1995 to 2004. She was Minister of Children and Family Affairs from 1997 to 20 ...

, Torild Skogsholm, Helen Bjørnøy.

Musicians

Bjørn Eidsvåg Bjørn Eidsvåg (born 17 March 1954) is a Norwegian pop singer, songwriter, and ordained Lutheran minister. He was born in Sauda, and is a graduate of the MF Norwegian School of Theology. He has released more than 25 albums since his 1976 debu ...

Morten Harket Morten Harket () (born September 14, 1959) is a Norwegian vocalist and songwriter, who is the lead singer of the synthpop/rock band A-ha. A-ha has released 10 studio albums to date, and topped the charts internationally after their breakthrough ...

Authors

Jan Kjærstad Jan Kjærstad (born 6 March 1953 in Oslo) is a Norwegian author.Jan Kjærstad
in Ole Hallesby Ole Kristian Hallesby (5 August 1879 – 22 November 1961) was a conservative, Norwegian Lutheran theologian, author and educator. Biography Ole Kristian Hallesby was born in Aremark, in Østfold, Norway. Hallesby grew up as the sixth of eight s ...

Clergy

Helga Haugland Byfuglien Helga Haugland Byfuglien (born 22 June 1950Biskop som programvert
NRK ...

, Presiding Bishop in the Church of Norway *

Ole Christian Kvarme Ole Christian Mælen Kvarme (born November 11, 1948 in Molde) is a Norwegian bishop of the Church of Norway. He was bishop of Oslo in the Lutheran Church of Norway from 2005 and 2017. As Bishop of Oslo, Kvarme was the personal prelate of the Norw ...

, Bishop of Oslo *

Gunnar Stålsett Gunnar Johan Stålsett (born 10 February 1935, in Nordkapp) is a Norwegian theologian and politician. He was leader of the Centre Party 1977–1979, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation 1985–1993 and bishop of Oslo, in th ...

, Bishop Emeritus of Oslo *

Andreas Aarflot Andreas Aarflot (born 1 July 1928) is a Norwegian theologian and bishop emeritus in the Church of Norway. He was bishop of Oslo from 1977 to 1998. Early life Aarflot was born in Yiyang, China where his mother and father served the Norwegian Mis ...

, Bishop Emeritus of Oslo *

Stein Reinertsen Stein Reinertsen (born 21 January 1960) is a Norwegian Lutheran clergyman who since January 2013 has been bishop in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark of the Church of Norway. Early life and education Stein Reinertsen was born and grew up in O ...

, Bishop of Agder and Telemark *

Olav Skjevesland Olav Skjevesland (31 May 19428 September 2019) was a Norwegian theologian and priest. He was the Bishop of the Diocese of Agder og Telemark from 1998 until his retirement in 2012, and since that time he was a Bishop Emeritus. He was also the ...

, Bishop Emeritus of Agder and Telemark *

Halvor Bergan Halvor Bergan (8 August 1931 – 3 May 2015) was a Norwegian theologian and priest. He served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Agder from 1983 until his retirement in 1998. Personal life He was born 8 August 1931 in Skien in Telemark county ...

, Bishop Emeritus of Agder and Telemark *

Per Arne Dahl Per Arne Dahl (born 18 August 1950 in Sarpsborg) is a Norwegian author and former Bishop of Tunsberg. Biography He grew up in Gjøvik, Vålerenga in Oslo, and Kolbotn. Dahl is also known for a long-standing commitment as a columnist in ''Aftenpo ...

, Bishop of Tunsberg *

Laila Riksaasen Dahl Laila Riksaasen Dahl (born 7 March 1947, in Oslo) is a Norwegian theologian who served as bishop of the Diocese of Tunsberg in the Church of Norway from 2002 to 2014. Dahl is a graduate from both the University of Oslo (1970, cand.mag. degree) a ...

, Bishop Emeritus of Tunsberg *

Olav Øygard Olav Øygard (born 29 July 1956) is a Norwegian Lutheran prelate of the Church of Norway who serves as the Bishop of Nord-Hålogaland since 2014. Nord-Hålogaland covers Troms and Finnmark countries, and also Svalbard. Øygard is a self-descr ...

, Bishop of Nord Hålogaland *

Per Oskar Kjølaas Per Oskar Alfred Kjølaas (born 25 May 1948 in Kirkenes, Norway) was the bishop of the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland in the Church of Norway from 2002 until 2014. Kjølaas studied at the MF Norwegian School of Theology in Oslo, having graduated w ...

, Bishop Emeritus of Nord Hålogaland *

Erling Pettersen Erling Johan Pettersen (born 1950) is a Norwegian theologian, priest, and since 2016, a Bishop Emeritus of the Church of Norway. Pettersen served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Stavanger in Stavanger, Norway from 2009 until his retirement in 2 ...

, Bishop of Stavanger *

Ernst Baasland Ernst Oddvar Baasland (born 3 April 1945 in Kristiansand, Norway) was the Bishop of the Diocese of Stavanger in the Church of Norway from 1998 to 2009. He resigned from his position on 15 June 2009, following the ''Baasland case'' involving his s ...

, Bishop Emeritus of Stavanger *

Tor Singsaas Tor Singsaas (born 1 February 1948) is a Norwegian Lutheran minister and the former bishop in the Diocese of Nidaros. Background Singsaas was born and baptized in Hølonda, Norway and grew up in Buvika and Melhus. His father was a general store ...

, Bishop of Nidaros * Herborg Finnset, Bishop of Nidaros *

Finn Wagle Finn Wagle (born 19 June 1941) is a theologian and a former bishop of Nidaros in the Church of Norway. He was also the Preses ('' Primus inter pares'', “first among equals”) and thus presided over the Bishop's Conference in the Church of ...

, Bishop Emeritus of Nidaros * Halvor Nordhaug, Bishop of Bjørgvin * Ole D. Hagesæther, Bishop Emeritus of Bjørgvin * Ingeborg Midttømme, Bishop of Møre *

Odd Bondevik Odd Bondevik (20 June 1941 – 6 September 2014) was a Norwegian theologian who was the Bishop of the Diocese of Møre in the Church of Norway from 17 November 1991 until retirement in 2008. He also served as Preses of the Bishop's Conference o ...

, Bishop Emeritus of Møre * Atle Sommerfelt, Bishop of Borg *

Per Lønning Per Lønning (24 February 1928 – 21 August 2016) was a Norwegian Lutheran bishop and politician. Lønning received a Doctor of Theology degree from the University of Oslo in 1955 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1958. Lønning began his ...

, Bishop Emeritus of Borg and Bjørgvin * Solveig Fiske, Bishop of Hamar *

Tor Berger Jørgensen Tor Berger Jørgensen (born 27 December 1945 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian bishop who until 2015 was Bishop of the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland in the Church of Norway. Appointed in 2019, he now serves as the Bishop of the Lutheran Church in ...

, Bishop of Sør-Hålogaland * Øystein I. Larsen, Bishop Emeritus of Sør-Hålogaland *

Olav Fykse Tveit Olav Fykse Tveit (born 24 November 1960) is a Norwegian Lutheran theologian and bishop, and the current Preses of the Bishops' Conference of the Church of Norway. He was elected to the post of general secretary of the World Council of Churches ...

, General Secretary, World Council of Churches *

Trond Bakkevig Trond Bakkevig (born 22 November 1948) is a Norwegian priest and organizational leader, an active participant in contemporary debate. He was born in Oslo, and graduated in theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divin ...

, Canon, Provost of Vestre Aker

Faculty staff

Old Testament theology

* Karl William Weyde * Gard Granerød * Andrew Wergeland, Hebrew * Corinna Körting * Magne Sæbø

New Testament theology

* Karl Olav Sandnes * Reidar Hvalvik * Ole Jacob Filtvedt * Hanne B. S. Tveito * Glenn Wehus, Greek * Morten Hørning Jensen, *

Ernst Oddvar Baasland Ernst Oddvar Baasland (born 3 April 1945 in Kristiansand, Norway) was the Bishop of the Diocese of Stavanger in the Church of Norway from 1998 to 2009. He resigned from his position on 15 June 2009, following the ''Baasland case'' involving his so ...

Church history

* Kristin Bliksrud Aavitsland, Medieval Church History and Culture * Otfried Czaika, Reformation and Early Modern History * Vidar Leif Haanes (rector) * Victor Ghica, Antiquity and Early Christian Studies * Kristin Norseth, Norwegian Church and Mission History * John Wayne Kaufman], Patristics and Early Christian Studies * Oskar Skarsaune * Bernt T. Oftestad *

Systematic theology

* Jan-Olav Henriksen, Contemporary Theology * Harald Hegstad, Dogmatics and Practical Ecclesiology * Gunnar H. Heiene, Ethics * Svein Olaf Thorbjørnsen, Ethics * Atle Ottesen Søvik, Systematic Theology * Sturla Stålsett, Diakonia, Religion, Society * Terje Hegertun, Systematic Theology * Else-Britt Nilsen, Catholic Theology *

, Religion and Society * Ivar Asheim, Systematic Theology * Torleiv Austad, Systematic Theology * Lars Østnor, Theological Ethics *

Kjell Olav Sannes Kjell is a Scandinavian male given name. In Denmark, the cognate is Kjeld or Keld. The name comes from the Old Norse word ''kętill'', which means "kettle" and probably also "helmet" or perhaps "cauldron". Examples of old spellings or forms are '' ...

, Dogmatics *

Peder Gravem Peter is a common masculine given name. It is derived directly from Greek , ''Petros'' (an invented, masculine form of Greek ''petra,'' the word for "rock" or "stone"), which itself was a translation of Aramaic ''Kefa'' ("stone, rock"), the new na ...

, Christian and Religious Studies * Marion S. Grau, Systematic Theology and Missiology

Religious studies

* Liv Ingeborg Lied *

Trine Anker Trine may refer to: People * Ralph Waldo Trine, American philosopher and educator * Trine Dyrholm, Danish actress * Trine Jensen, Danish handball player * Trine Tsouderos, American journalist Religion and mythology * Trine (astrological aspect), ...

, Religious Studies, Education * Arild Romarheim * Ann Midttun

Social sciences and religious education

* Sverre D. Mogstad, Religious Education * Geir Afdal, Religious Education * Heid Leganger-Krogstad, Religious Education *

Kjetil Fretheim Kjetil is a Norwegian masculine given name. It may refer to: * Kjetil Aleksander Lie (born 1980), Norwegian chess player, Norway's eighth International Grandmaster *Kjetil André Aamodt (born 1971), Norwegian former alpine ski racer *Kjetil Bang-H ...

, Diakonia, Social Science *

Lars Laird Eriksen Lars is a common male name in Scandinavian countries. Origin ''Lars'' means "from the city of Laurentum". Lars is derived from the Latin name Laurentius, which means "from Laurentum" or "crowned with laurel". A homonymous Etruscan name was born ...

, Social Science * Janicke Heldal Stray, Social Science, Education * Håkon W. Lorentzen, Social Science * Gry Stålsett, Psychology of Religion * Leif Gunnar Engedal, Psychology of Religion

Practical theology and missiology

* Lars Johan Danbolt, Pastoral Counseling, Psychology of Religion * Roar Fotland, Missiology * Tone S. Kaufman, Practical Theology *

Erling Birkedal Erling is a Scandinavian male name, meaning "Heir of clanchief", i.e. prince or similar. Notable people named Erling include: Given name * Erling Aas-Eng (born 1965), Norwegian politician * Erling Aastad (1898–1963), Norwegian long jumper and sp ...

, Congregational Development * Knud Jørgensen, Missiology * Jeppe Bach Nikolajsen, Missiology *

Astrid Sandsmark Astrid is a feminine given name of Scandinavian origin, a modern form of the name Ástríðr. Derived from the Old Norse Ássfriðr, a compound name composed of the elements (a god) and (beautiful, fair). Variants * Assan (diminutive) (Swed ...

, Youth Ministry *

Tron Fagermoen ''Tron'' (stylized as ''TRON'') is a 1982 American science fiction action-adventure film written and directed by Steven Lisberger from a story by Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird. The film stars Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, a computer programmer a ...

, Diaconia * Sjur Isaksen, Pastoral Counseling *

Jan Terje Christoffersen Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to: Acronyms * Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN * Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code * Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group * Japanese Article Numb ...

, Liturgy * Hallvard Mosdøl, Homiletics * Idun Strøm Sefland, Pastoral Training * Fredrik Saxegaard, Homiletics * Knud Jørgensen, Missiology * Jeppe Bach Nikolajsen, Missiology * Tormod Engelsviken, Missiology *

, Practical Theology

References

External links

Det teologiske Menighetsfakultet Official website
{{authority control Church of Norway Education in Oslo Religion in Oslo Seminaries and theological colleges in Norway Universities and colleges in Norway Educational institutions established in 1907 1907 establishments in Norway Christian seminaries and theological colleges