Børre Knudsen
Encyclopedia
Børre Knudsen is a Norwegian
Lutheran minister noted for his pro-life
activism.
Knudsen completed his seminary education in 1966 and was ordained in the Church of Norway
in 1967. He served as an assistant minister in Balsfjord
from 1968 until 1971, when he was made minister of the parish there.
In 1979, when the Norwegian parliament finalized legislation allowing abortion
on demand in the first trimester, Knudsen protested by refusing to perform any duties on behalf of the Norwegian state. He modelled his actions from the Norwegian bishops and majority of priests' opposition to the Nazi-friendly regime in Norway during occupation in World War II
: He continued his duties as a minister of the church and pastor for his congregation, but did not report statistics to the state, issue birth certificates, open mail addressed to him as a civil servant, etc. He also did not accept his salary from the state.
Minister of Church and Education Einar Førde
dismissed Knudsen from his post for neglecting his duties, but Knudsen refused to leave his pastoral duties. His active congregation insisted that he was still their pastor and urged him not to leave. Knudsen was sued by the state, but won the first round. He eventually lost the case on appeal to the Supreme Court of Norway
in 1983. The Supreme Court decision held that the state part of the church office could not be separated from the ecclesial or spiritual part of it within a State Church. Knudsen was replaced as minister in Balsfjord
, but most of his active congregation followed him in establishing an independent local congregation in the tradition of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He still serves as their pastor. Knudsen was finally defrocked
in the Church of Norway in 2001.
Two other ministers, Ludvig Nessa and Per Kørner, joined him in his protest and were also terminated from their posts and defrocked. In 1987, these three started non-violent protests at abortion clinics, turning up in traditional ministerial robes and singing psalms. They would continue until they were brought in by the police and receiving fines. From October 4. to 24 1994, Knudsen was in jail for his protests at abortion clinics, having not paid the subsequential fines.
These activists and others established the deanery of Strandebarm, proclaiming it the "Old Norwegian church in exile." Knudsen was made bishop of this church on April 5, 1997, and immediately excommunicated from it all responsible for abortions, including Norwegian medical doctors, politicians and bishops of the state church; accepting the constitutional loyalty to the state. The deanery consists of seven clergy and about ten congregations in different parts of Norway, and focuses on reversing what it considers heresies
in the Norwegian state church, including issues related to abortion, homosexuality, and the ordination of women
.
Knudsen has written a large amount of religious hymn poetry, and collections of some of his sermons have been printed in books and booklets. His hymns point to Chalcedonian Christology, and to a high interpretation of the sacraments. His hymns are mainly edited in Det Hellige Bryllup, (Oslo 1976) Sangverk for Den Norske kirke, (Oslo 1980), and may be found in the Norwegian 1998 Roman Catholic Hymn book as well as in other collections.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Lutheran minister noted for his pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
activism.
Knudsen completed his seminary education in 1966 and was ordained in the Church of Norway
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
in 1967. He served as an assistant minister in Balsfjord
Balsfjord
Balsfjord is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Storsteinnes, while Nordkjosbotn at the head of the fjord is another village....
from 1968 until 1971, when he was made minister of the parish there.
In 1979, when the Norwegian parliament finalized legislation allowing abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
on demand in the first trimester, Knudsen protested by refusing to perform any duties on behalf of the Norwegian state. He modelled his actions from the Norwegian bishops and majority of priests' opposition to the Nazi-friendly regime in Norway during occupation in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: He continued his duties as a minister of the church and pastor for his congregation, but did not report statistics to the state, issue birth certificates, open mail addressed to him as a civil servant, etc. He also did not accept his salary from the state.
Minister of Church and Education Einar Førde
Einar Førde
Einar Førde was the Norwegian Minister of Education and Church Affairs 1979–1981, and director-general of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation from 1989-2001...
dismissed Knudsen from his post for neglecting his duties, but Knudsen refused to leave his pastoral duties. His active congregation insisted that he was still their pastor and urged him not to leave. Knudsen was sued by the state, but won the first round. He eventually lost the case on appeal to the Supreme Court of Norway
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
in 1983. The Supreme Court decision held that the state part of the church office could not be separated from the ecclesial or spiritual part of it within a State Church. Knudsen was replaced as minister in Balsfjord
Balsfjord
Balsfjord is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Storsteinnes, while Nordkjosbotn at the head of the fjord is another village....
, but most of his active congregation followed him in establishing an independent local congregation in the tradition of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He still serves as their pastor. Knudsen was finally defrocked
Defrocking
To defrock, unfrock, or laicize ministers or priests is to remove their rights to exercise the functions of the ordained ministry. This may be due to criminal convictions, disciplinary matters, or disagreements over doctrine or dogma...
in the Church of Norway in 2001.
Two other ministers, Ludvig Nessa and Per Kørner, joined him in his protest and were also terminated from their posts and defrocked. In 1987, these three started non-violent protests at abortion clinics, turning up in traditional ministerial robes and singing psalms. They would continue until they were brought in by the police and receiving fines. From October 4. to 24 1994, Knudsen was in jail for his protests at abortion clinics, having not paid the subsequential fines.
These activists and others established the deanery of Strandebarm, proclaiming it the "Old Norwegian church in exile." Knudsen was made bishop of this church on April 5, 1997, and immediately excommunicated from it all responsible for abortions, including Norwegian medical doctors, politicians and bishops of the state church; accepting the constitutional loyalty to the state. The deanery consists of seven clergy and about ten congregations in different parts of Norway, and focuses on reversing what it considers heresies
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
in the Norwegian state church, including issues related to abortion, homosexuality, and the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
.
Knudsen has written a large amount of religious hymn poetry, and collections of some of his sermons have been printed in books and booklets. His hymns point to Chalcedonian Christology, and to a high interpretation of the sacraments. His hymns are mainly edited in Det Hellige Bryllup, (Oslo 1976) Sangverk for Den Norske kirke, (Oslo 1980), and may be found in the Norwegian 1998 Roman Catholic Hymn book as well as in other collections.