Christian Sørenssen was a Norwegian theologian, politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 and bishop

Bishop

A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...

.

Sørenssen received his cand.theol.

Cand.theol.

Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...

 in 1785. He worked as a teacher in his home town of Christiansand and in Strømsø

Strømsø

Strømsø is a brough of Drammen, in Buskerud county, Norway. Strømsø is located at the southern side of the river Drammenselva. Until about 1600, Stømsø was an island surrounded by the Drammenselva, but was later made landfast. In 1728 Strømsø was granted rights as a trade center by the king, and...

 in Drammen

Drammen

Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...

, before in 1797 he became a priest

Priest

A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...

 in Risør

Risør

is a city and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The city belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet. It is a popular tourist place. The surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills, and is known for its beautiful coastline as well....

. In 1804, he was the most important priest in Christiansand. On 11 April 1811, he was invited to be bishop of Christiansand

Diocese of Agder og Telemark

The Diocese of Agder og Telemark Agder og Telemark bispedømme) is a diocese of the Church of Norway, covering the counties of Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder in Norway...

, and Sørenssen was the last Norwegian bishop to be ordained in Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...

. The bishopric covered Agder and Rogaland at that time.

He was a representative at the first two Stortings, and was also a politician from 1814 to 1817. He did not have a special interest in politics, and did not speak at the Storting's meetings.

From 1823 to 1845, he was bishop of Akershus, which is now the bishopric of Oslo, Hamar

Diocese of Hamar

Hamar is a present Lutheran diocese, named after its episcopal see, the Norwegian city of Hamar.There are 164 parishes in the diocese.-Lutheran diocese:...

 and Tunsberg

Diocese of Tunsberg

Tunsberg is a diocese of the Church of Norway. It includes parishes located within the counties of Vestfold and Buskerud, with the cathedral city located in Tønsberg.-History:...

, up to Telemark

Telemark

is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...

.

He died on 16 August 1845, on the way between Moss and Son on a visit.