Marianne Eiternes is studying for her exam at the cottage in Levanger in Trøndelag. On the kitchen table are lots of sheets and markers. She had no plans to become a priest. – If you had asked me two years ago, I would have said that I am not going to become a priest. She started thinking the thought just a year and a half ago. In January, the 50-year-old, as one of the first in the country, was offered the chance to become a PUU – a priest in training. Too few priests This is a recent arrangement adopted by the church meeting last year, because the church is struggling to find enough priests. – This can solve much of the acute shortage of priests, says the leader of the Priests’ Association, Martin Enstad. If you are over 35 and have previous vocational training, you have the opportunity to change your career path to become a priest. The study takes two years. At the same time, it is still important to get young people to choose the six-year study of theology. There were 124 vacant priest positions in Norway at the end of last year. The greatest shortage of priests is in Northern Norway. – We have to think anew, and desperately need to recruit more priests to the profession, says Enstad. Former teacher Marianne Eiternes takes further education and becomes a priest. Photo: Privat / news Teacher-turned-priest Marianne Eiternes is not completely green in theology. 20 years ago, she submitted a master’s thesis in Christianity at the Faculty of Church Affairs. She dabbled in several subjects, and became a lecturer and teacher. Now she works 60 percent as a priest and studies 40 percent of the time. – This means that I have the opportunity to work while studying. I think it’s brilliant, she says. Great interest Director of Studies Hilde Brekke Møller at MF University of Science and Technology says they receive many inquiries about the two-year, new study called experience-based master priest. They had between 60 and 70 applicants this year, but only take in 35. The basic theological studies at four educational institutions in Norway have as many applicants as this one additional study. The Faculty of Theology at the University of Oslo (UiO) will also start the experience-based master priest course. They are working to get the same thing in place at VID University of Science. Trond Roland is one of many priests who will soon retire. Photo: Privat / news Shortage of priests Many vacant positions as priests are advertised, and there will be more. Because the church knows that many will retire before long. Trond Roland is one of them. – I will be 65 in four months. I could go on, but it depends somewhat on desire, energy and family situation. Roland has two priest colleagues in the same parish in Trondheim who are the same age, but he retires first. – It will not be at the same time, but it is clear that there will be a great shortage of priests. Not just here, but generally in the church. Finding other ways to recruit priests is important, he says. The dream is to become a priest close to people in the village. The picture of Marianne Eiternes was taken in Alstadhaug church in Levanger. Photo: Privat Marianne’s dream Marianne Eiternes will complete her priest training next year. She is one of four taking this additional education in Stiklestad parish, which covers a large area in Nord-Trøndelag. Here, they have struggled with recruitment to the priest positions. She hopes for a job as a priest in the village. That’s where she lives, and she has a clear goal. – I want to become a “proximity priest”. It’s a dream. I want to meet people in everyday life. Hear more about the shortage of priests and the new offer in news Ukeslutt:
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Marianne (50) from Levanger completes her studies in two years – news Trøndelag
