Finn Wagle
Encyclopedia
Finn Wagle 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 Norway from 2002 until 2006.
in 1962, and graduated in 1968 with the cand.theol.
degree. The following year he graduated from the Practical Theological Seminary at MF. He also studied in 1966-1967 in Berlin
with a Willy Brandt Scholarship.
His first post was serving as an army chaplain
(1970) before working as a vicar
in Sørreisa
in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland
from 1970-1975. From 1975 until 1981, he worked as an assistant professor at the Practical Theological Seminary at MF Norwegian School of Theology
, while at the same time working for the Association of Ministers in the Church of Norway. From 1981-1988 he worked as director of the institute Church Educational Center (IKO), and in 1988 he became the Dean
of the Nidaros Cathedral
.
In 1991, he became the bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros
and was succeeded by Tor Singsaas
upon his retirement in July 2008. In 2002, the Bishop's Conference of the Church of Norway
elected him to be Preses, a position he held until 2006. He retired in 2008 due to health reasons.
On 23 June 1991, he was part of the consecration ceremony at the Nidaros Cathedral
for the new king, Harald V. He also led the wedding ceremony at the Nidaros Cathedral
for the king's daughter Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn
on 24 May 2002.
Diocese of Nidaros
Nidaros is a diocese in the Lutheran Church of Norway. It covers Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag counties and its cathedral city is Trondheim, which houses the well-known Nidaros Cathedral. The diocese is divided into 12 deaneries . Finn Wagle was the bishop from 1991 to 2008...
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...
. He was also the Preses (Primus inter pares
Primus inter pares
Primus inter pares is Latin phrase describing the most senior person of a group sharing the same rank or office.When not used in reference to a specific title, it may indicate that the person so described is formally equal, but looked upon as an authority of special importance by their peers...
, “first among equals”) and thus presided over the Bishop's Conference in the Church of Norway from 2002 until 2006.
Career
Wagle enrolled as a student at MF Norwegian School of TheologyMF Norwegian School of Theology
The Norwegian School of Theology , is a private, independent, accredited Norwegian specialised university...
in 1962, and graduated in 1968 with the 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...
degree. The following year he graduated from the Practical Theological Seminary at MF. He also studied in 1966-1967 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
with a Willy Brandt Scholarship.
His first post was serving as an army chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
(1970) before working as a vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
in Sørreisa
Sørreisa
Sørreisa is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sørreisa.- General information :...
in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland
Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland
Nord-Hålogaland is a diocese in the Church of Norway. It covers Lutheran churches in the counties of Troms, Finnmark and Svalbard. The cathedral city is Tromsø, and the bishop since 2002 is Per Oskar Kjølaas...
from 1970-1975. From 1975 until 1981, he worked as an assistant professor at the Practical Theological Seminary at MF Norwegian School of Theology
MF Norwegian School of Theology
The Norwegian School of Theology , is a private, independent, accredited Norwegian specialised university...
, while at the same time working for the Association of Ministers in the Church of Norway. From 1981-1988 he worked as director of the institute Church Educational Center (IKO), and in 1988 he became the Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of the Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral is a Church of Norway cathedral located in the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It was the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nidaros from its establishment in 1152 until its abolition in 1537. Since the Reformation, it has been the cathedral of the...
.
In 1991, he became the bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros
Diocese of Nidaros
Nidaros is a diocese in the Lutheran Church of Norway. It covers Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag counties and its cathedral city is Trondheim, which houses the well-known Nidaros Cathedral. The diocese is divided into 12 deaneries . Finn Wagle was the bishop from 1991 to 2008...
and was succeeded by Tor Singsaas
Tor Singsaas
Tor Singsaas is a Norwegian Lutheran minister and the current 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 manager, and Singsaas grew up in and around these stores, which were...
upon his retirement in July 2008. In 2002, the Bishop's Conference of 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...
elected him to be Preses, a position he held until 2006. He retired in 2008 due to health reasons.
On 23 June 1991, he was part of the consecration ceremony at the Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral is a Church of Norway cathedral located in the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It was the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nidaros from its establishment in 1152 until its abolition in 1537. Since the Reformation, it has been the cathedral of the...
for the new king, Harald V. He also led the wedding ceremony at the Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral is a Church of Norway cathedral located in the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It was the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nidaros from its establishment in 1152 until its abolition in 1537. Since the Reformation, it has been the cathedral of the...
for the king's daughter Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn
Ari Behn
Ari Mikael Behn is a Norwegian author, and is best known as the husband of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway. He has written two novels, a collection of short stories and a book about his wedding...
on 24 May 2002.