Tord Godal
Encyclopedia
Tord Godal was a Norwegian theologian and bishop
for the Diocese of Nidaros
. He was decorated Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1969. Godal was also a Freemason.
Godal was born on 27 June 1909 in Stavanger
, Norway
. He was educated in theology
receiving his cand.theol.
degree in 1932 and his dr.theol.
degree in 1947. He served as a pastor in various positions in the Diocese of Oslo
between 1934 and 1940. He was a chaplain in Trondheim
from 1940 to 1948, resident chaplain at Bakke Church
in Trondheim from 1948 to 1956 and Dean
of the Oslo Cathedral
from 1956 to 1960. He was bishop
of the Diocese of Nidaros
from 1960 to 1979, the longest serving bishop in Nidaros during the 20th century. He also served as praeses of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
from 1966 to 1973. Godal died in Trondheim
on 27 February 2002.
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...
for 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...
. He was decorated Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1969. Godal was also a Freemason.
Godal was born on 27 June 1909 in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, Norway
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...
. He was educated in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
receiving 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...
degree in 1932 and his dr.theol.
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
degree in 1947. He served as a pastor in various positions in the Diocese of Oslo
Diocese of Oslo
Oslo bishopric is The Church of Norway's bishopric for the municipalities of Oslo, Asker and Bærum. It is one of Norway's five traditional bishoprics and was founded around the year 1070.-History:...
between 1934 and 1940. He was a chaplain in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
from 1940 to 1948, resident chaplain at Bakke Church
Bakke Church
Bakke Church is a parish church in the municipality of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the Bakklandet area of the city of Trondheim, and the church serves the Bakklandet, Møllenberg, Rosenborg, and Nedre Elvehavn areas of Østbyen in Trondheim...
in Trondheim from 1948 to 1956 and 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 Oslo Cathedral
Oslo Cathedral
Oslo Cathedral — formerly Our Savior's Church — is the main church for the Oslo bishopric of the Church of Norway, as well as the parish church for downtown Oslo. The present building dates from 1694-1697....
from 1956 to 1960. He was 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...
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...
from 1960 to 1979, the longest serving bishop in Nidaros during the 20th century. He also served as praeses of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters is a learned society based in Trondheim, Norway.-History:DKNVS was founded in 1760 by bishop of Nidaros Johan Ernst Gunnerus, headmaster at the Trondheim Cathedral School Gerhard Schøning and Councillor of State Peter Frederik Suhm under the name...
from 1966 to 1973. Godal died in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
on 27 February 2002.
Selected works
- Kristen seksual-moral (1939)
- Meditasjonen og dens betydning for erkjennelsen (1947)
- Tilbake til troen. Religiøs fundamentalisme (1949)
- Meditasjon: En veg for Guds ord til den enkelte (1979)