– I think there is a reason why we should look at our rules, whether we should make them more open. This is according to the leader of the Church Council, Kristin Gunleiksrud Raaum. She wants to challenge the rules for who can have funerals in Norwegian churches, and believes there may be room for pro-life funerals or funerals linked to other religions in their church premises. – Makes an impression on me The idea came after a comment by author Agnes Ravatn in Aftenposten last year with the title “Bury me, but not in the gymnasium” – It makes an impression on me when people tell me that they have a strong relationship with the church at a a place that is perhaps the only beautiful room with long lines and great stories and that makes you want to be buried there. Many in the Christian community have reacted to the proposal. One of them is the editor-in-chief of Dagen, Vebjørn Selbekk. Leader of the Church Council, Kristin Gunleiksrud Raaum. Photo: CF-WESENBERG / CF-WESENBERG Say no in 2020 – Everyone is welcome in the church, even when they are going to bury their dead. But when they choose a church as the setting for the farewell, then it is not too much to ask that the funeral should take place out of the Christian faith with a Christian setting. A similar proposal was also up at the Bishops’ Meeting in 2020, but was then voted down. Selbekk thinks it is strange that someone wishes to welcome such a proposal. He fears that it is about the number of visitors to the Church of Norway falling, and that people want to attract people to the church in other ways. – I think it is the wrong way to go and think that is where we are headed with Raaum as a guide. Can’t change the church room Raaum rejects the claim from Selbekk, and believes that attendance figures in The Norwegian Church are stable. At the same time, she adds that should such a proposal be adopted, it will not be the case that things can be removed from the church room in order to hold a funeral. – It is not appropriate to change anything or cover anything up. So if you wish to use the church room, you must tolerate being surrounded by the gospel preached through church art and architecture and everything that a church room consists of. But Selbekk also stands his ground, and believes that the proposal is bad. – If you want a church, you have to bring a little God and Jesus into the bargain. Vebjørn Selbekk does not like the proposal Photo: Jon Bolstad / news
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The church will facilitate pro-life funerals – Vebjørn Selbekk does not like the proposal – news Trøndelag
