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
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF; ) is a global Communion (religion), communion of national and regional Lutheran denominations headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of L ...
1985–1993 and bishop of
Oslo
Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...
, in the
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway (, , , ) is an Lutheranism, evangelical Lutheran denomination of Protestant Christianity and by far the largest Christian church in Norway. Christianity became the state religion of Norway around 1020, and was established a ...
1998–2005.
Early life
Gunnar Stålsett was born in
Repvåg in
Nordkapp Municipality
Nordkapp (; or ; or ) is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Honningsvåg, where most residents live. Other settlements in Nordkapp include the villages of Gjesvær, Kåfjor ...
to principal Johan Emil Stålsett and Alma Elisabeth Joki. He was one of eight children. When he was seven the family moved to
Gildeskål Municipality
Gildeskål is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Nordland Counties of Norway, county, Norway. It is part of the Bodø Region and the Districts of Norway, traditional district of Salten. The administrative centre of the municipali ...
. His parents were inspired by the
Laestadian movement in
Finnmark
Finnmark (; ; ; ; ) is a counties of Norway, county in northern Norway. By land, it borders Troms county to the west, Finland's Lapland (Finland), Lapland region to the south, and Russia's Murmansk Oblast to the east, and by water, the Norweg ...
. After having completed school in
Leknes
Leknes () is a town in Vestvågøy Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The town is also the administrative centre of Vestvågøy Municipality (with 11,619 inhabitants, it is the most populous municipality in Lofoten and Vesterålen). Lek ...
he went to high school in
Nordfjordeid
Nordfjordeid is the administrative centre of the municipality of Stad, Norway, Stad in Vestland county, western Norway. It is located at the end of the Eidsfjorden, an arm of the main Nordfjorden (Sogn og Fjordane), Nordfjorden, west of the large ...
where he graduated in 1953.
Theological career
Stålsett is a graduate from
MF Norwegian School of Theology in Oslo, and was awarded the qualification
cand.theol. in 1961. He has worked as a minister and taught at the
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo (; ) is a public university, public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation#Europe, oldest university in Norway. Originally named the Royal Frederick Univ ...
. He has also been a General Secretary of the
Lutheran World Federation
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF; ) is a global Communion (religion), communion of national and regional Lutheran denominations headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of L ...
and a member of the
Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Norwegian Nobel Committee () selects the recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize each year on behalf of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel's estate, based on instructions of Nobel's will.
Five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament. ...
until he was appointed to bishop in 1998. He stepped down from office on 28 February 2005. His predecessor was
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 ...
, and he was succeeded in Office by
Ole Christian Kvarme.
Stålsett has also had a political career. From 1972 to 1973, during the
cabinet Korvald, he was appointed
state secretary in the
Ministry of Church Affairs and Education. He served as a deputy representative to the
Norwegian Parliament
The Storting ( ; ) is the supreme legislature of Norway, established in 1814 by the Constitution of Norway. It is located in Oslo. The unicameral parliament has 169 members and is elected every four years based on party-list proportional represe ...
from
Oslo
Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...
in during the term 1977–1981, and chaired the
Centre Party from 1977 to 1979.
Awards
*2013:
Niwano Peace Prize
*2021: Officers Cross of the
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (, or , BVO) is the highest state decoration, federal decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It may be awarded for any field of endeavor. It was created by the first List of president ...
References
External links
*
*Gunnar Stålsett, (in
Norwegian)
Norsk Biografisk Leksikon
is the largest Norwegian biographical encyclopedia. It is part of the '' Great Norwegian Encyclopedia''.
Origin
The first print edition (NBL1) was issued between 1923 and 1983; it included 19 volumes and 5,100 articles.
Kunnskapsforlaget to ...
1935 births
Living people
People from Nordkapp
Bishops of Oslo
Norwegian theologians
MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society alumni
Academic staff of the University of Oslo
20th-century Norwegian Lutheran bishops
21st-century Lutheran bishops
Deputy members of the Storting
Norwegian state secretaries
Politicians from Oslo
Centre Party (Norway) politicians
Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
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