In November 2021, we asked all 12 bishops seven questions: How many priests do you think it is your diocese that does not want to serve with women? What does the bishop do to be sure that these (possibly) actually and practically cooperate with women and comply with the decision last autumn? If a male priest still insists that he cannot serve with a woman, can he still be a regular priest in your diocese? Do you know if there is anyone who has lost their job, resigned or changed their views as a result of the decision last autumn, who equated women and men? We know that local priests in Sunnmøre say that they “arrange the rosters” so that the opponents of women priests “stop” working with women. Does the bishop know that this is happening in your diocese? What do you think about such a practice? Do you want to do something to bring this phenomenon to life? Bjørgvin diocese, bishop Halvor Nordhaug: 1. As far as I know there are three. 2. I have had conversations with them about this, and argued to follow the decision, but I can not force anyone. 3. We hired no one who does not want a full service with women. Anyone who was already employed before the decision last autumn will be allowed to continue as a priest. But I say that they must be absent from a service where they would otherwise have reserved themselves against receiving communion from a woman. 4. No. 5. No. 6. It would not be accepted. 7. There is no current topic in Bjørgvin (see question 5). Nord-Hålogaland diocese, acting bishop Stig Lægdene: 1. Approximately 2-3, but it can also apply to substitutes that are widely used here in Nord-Hålogaland. 2. I suppose those in charge are asked to bring it up with the bishop. I do not know, but I believe that they will not be taken out of service. 4. No 5. I do not know. 6. If the rosters are changed to be adapted to opponents of women priests, it is uncollegial and a practice that legitimizes discrimination against women. 7. If I had our bishop, I would end such a practice. I also wanted to take the initiative for the Church Council to make rules that made future priests who wanted ordination, but who did not want to cooperate with women, not receive ordination. The Swedish Church has had such rules for a long time. Borg diocese, Bishop Atle Sommerfeldt: – I do not rule out that some priests may be opponents of women in the priesthood. But I am not aware that some now or in my time have reserved themselves against participating in worship services and communion celebrations with female priests, or accepting women as pastoral leaders. Møre diocese, acting bishop Olav Gading: 1. I do not know if this now applies to priests in Møre diocese. 2. I am aware that the bishop has had conversations with relevant pastors about this over the past year. 3. There is no longer room for this. The bishops’ meeting’s decision from October 2020 fully applies in the Møre diocese. 4. No one has lost their job, and I do not know that anyone has resigned because of this. I do not know if anyone has changed their view on female ministry, but I have seen different practices. 5. I have heard that this has happened before. I have no knowledge that it is happening now. 6. There is no room for this. 7. The bishop has had conversations with relevant pastors about this over the past year. Diocese of Stavanger, Bishop Anne Lise Ådnøy: – With us, male priests must be able to collaborate with female priests. (Do not want to answer the questions) Diocese of Agder and Telemark, Bishop Stein Reinertsen on holiday. E-mail from the diocesan office: – Based on what we know at the diocesan office, there are no priests in our diocese who reserve the right to serve with female priests. We also do not know that anyone has quit because of this. Sør-Hålogaland diocese, bishop Ann-Helen Fjeldstad Jusnes: 1. I do not know anyone in Sør-Hålogaland. 2. Not relevant in Sør-Hålogaland. 3. If he can not comply with the arrangements that apply to pastoral services in the Church of Norway, it is not possible. 4. No. 5. No. In Sør-Hålogaland, it is in no way acceptable for a male priest to refuse to cooperate with a female priest, and he must follow the framework that applies. Nor can we have local schemes that undermine this. 7. Yes, be clear in the case of appointments, both permanent and temporary, to the regulations that apply in the Church of Norway. It would be completely unwise for me to be involved in appointing a priest who can not accept me as a bishop and can cooperate with me in all areas, because I am a woman. This naturally applies to all female priests. I have rejected a potential substitute on that basis. Diocese of Hamar, Bishop Solveig Fiske: 1. None. 2. Not applicable. 3. No, that would not be the case. 4. No. 5. No. 6. It is a practice that is unsustainable in that it accepts a double standard in church life. I think that it is to stretch the work planning too far in facilitation and is not in line with the Diocese’s decision that there is no right of reservation towards cooperation with women in the ministry. 7. Yes, here a common culture must be created and anchored in the community of colleagues that one can mean what one wants, but not have different practices. Diocese of Nidaros, Bishop Herborg Finnset: 1. None of the priests in Nidaros do not want to serve with women. In the case of new appointments, the question of fellowship and collaboration is a topic in all interviews. One who cannot have communion with his colleagues will not be appointed in Nidaros. 4. No one knows, but after the decision in the Bishops’ meeting last autumn, we have had an internal focus on our own routines for appointments. 5th, 6th and 7th: Not applicable. Diocese of Tunsberg, Bishop Jan Otto Myrseth: 1. None. 2. Not current issue. 3. Not current issue. It is not relevant to appoint priests who cannot cooperate with all their colleagues. 4. No. 5. No. 6. I stand by the Episcopal Conference’s decision that all priests must be able to cooperate with all their colleagues. 7. Not current issue in Tunsberg. Diocese of Oslo, Acting Bishop Anne-May Grasaas: – There are no male priests in the Oslo diocese who reserve themselves for cooperation with female priests. The other questions are therefore not relevant to the Bishop of Oslo. Answer from President Olav Fykse Tveit, leader of the Episcopal Conference: 1. There is no comprehensive overview of this, but every bishop has good knowledge of priests in their own diocese. 2. We take it up regularly together, and each bishop follows this up in his diocese. A co-ordination group for gender equality has been set up. Safety representatives and shop stewards are also actively involved in the work for equality, diversity and inclusion. 3. The decision in the Episcopal Conference last autumn states that such a reservation is not a right one has as a priest in the Church of Norway. 4. No. 5. I have no knowledge of specific examples of this. But in the bishop of a quarter diocese must address such specific questions if they arise. 6. All priests must cooperate with each other. The decision in the Episcopal Conference is a clear indication that one wants to move away from such a practice. 7. There is an ongoing work for equality and to create good working conditions for all employees in the church.
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Nectar to cooperate with female priests – still allowed to continue as parish priest – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
