In November 2021, we asked all 12 bishops seven questions: How many priests do you estimate that it is in your diocese who do not wish to serve together with women? What is the bishop doing to be sure that these (if any) actually and practically cooperate with women and comply with the decision last autumn? If a male priest still insists that he cannot minister together with a woman, can he still be an ordinary 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, which equated women and men? We know that local priests in Sunnmøre say that they “arrange the rosters” so that the opponents of women priests “don’t” work with women. Does the bishop know that it is happening in your diocese? What do you think of 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 for following the decision, but I cannot force anyone. 3. We didn’t see anyone who doesn’t want to have full service communion with women. Anyone who was already appointed before the decision last autumn can continue as a priest. But I say that they must be absent from a church 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. It is not a relevant topic in Bjørgvin (see question 5). Nord-Hålogaland diocese, acting bishop Stig Lægdene: 1. Estimated 2-3, but this may also apply to substitutes who are widely used here in Nord-Hålogaland. 2. I assume those in debt are asked to take it up with the bishop. 3. I don’t know, but I would like to believe that they will not be taken out of service. 4. No 5. I don’t know. 6. If the duty lists are changed to accommodate opponents of women priests, it is illegal and a practice that legitimizes discrimination against women. 7. If I were a bishop, I would end this type of practice. I would also take the initiative for the Synod to make rules which meant that future priests who wished to be ordained, but who did not want to work with women, could not be ordained. The Church of Sweden has had such rules for a long time. Borg diocese, Bishop Atle Sommerfeldt: – I do not rule out that some priests may be opposed to women in the priesthood. But I am not aware that anyone now or in my time has reserved himself against participating in church services and celebrating communion 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 discussions with relevant priests about this during the past year. 3. There is no longer room for this. The bishop’s meeting’s decision from October 2020 applies fully in Møre diocese. 4. No one has lost their job, and I am not aware of anyone having resigned because of this. I don’t know if anyone has changed their view on female priesthood, but I have seen a change in practice. 5. I have heard that this has happened before. I have no knowledge of that happening now. 6. There is no room for this. 7. The bishop has had conversations with relevant priests about this during the past year. Stavanger Diocese, Bishop Anne Lise Ådnøy: – With us, male priests must be able to work with female priests. (Does not wish to answer the question) Agder and Telemark diocese, Bishop Stein Reinertsen on vacation. 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 together with female priests. We are also not aware of anyone having quit because of this. Sør-Hålogaland diocese, Bishop Ann-Helen Fjeldstad Jusnes: 1. I don’t know anyone in Sør-Hålogaland. 2. Not applicable in Sør-Hålogaland. 3. If he cannot comply with the arrangements that apply to priestly service in the Church of Norway, it is not possible. 4. No. 5. No. 6. 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 applicable framework. Nor can we have local arrangements that undermine this. 7. Yes, be clear when making appointments, both permanent and temporary, on the regulations that apply in the Church of Norway. It would be completely inadvisable for me to help ordain a priest who cannot accept me as a bishop and who 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 relevant. 4. No. 5. No. 6. It is a practice that is unsustainable in that it accepts a double standard in everyday church life. I think that it is stretching the work planning too far in terms of facilitation and is not in line with the Diocese’s decision that there is no right of reservation against collaboration with women in the priesthood. 7. Yes, here a common culture must be created and anchored in the community of colleagues that you can say what you want, but not have different practices. Nidaros diocese, Bishop Herborg Finnset: 1. There are none of the priests in Nidaros who do not wish to serve together with women. In the case of new hires, the question of colleague community and cooperation is the topic of all interviews. A person who cannot worship together with his colleagues will not be appointed to Nidaros. 4. No one knows, but after the decision in the Bishops’ Conference last autumn, we have had an internal focus on our own routines for appointments. 5th, 6th and 7th: Not applicable. Tunsberg diocese, Bishop Jan Otto Myrseth: 1. None. 2. Not a current issue. 3. Not a current issue. It is not relevant to appoint priests who cannot cooperate with all their colleagues. 4. No. 5. No. 6. I firmly stand by the Bishop’s meeting’s decision that all priests must be able to cooperate with all their colleagues. 7. Not a current issue in Tunsberg. Oslo Diocese, Acting Bishop Anne-May Grasaas: – There are no male priests in the Oslo Diocese who reserve against cooperation with female priests. The other questions are therefore not relevant for Oslo’s bishop. Answer from President Olav Fykse Tveit, the leader of the Bishops’ Meeting: 1. There is no general overview of this, but each bishop has a good knowledge of priests in his own diocese. 2. We take it up equally together, and each bishop follows this up in his diocese. A coordination group for equality has been appointed. The protection ombudsman and shop stewards are also actively involved in the work for equality, diversity and inclusion. 3. The decision in the Bishop’s meeting last autumn establishes that such a reservation is not a right one has as a priest in the Church of Norway. 4. No. 5. I am not aware of concrete examples of this. But the bishop in each diocese must address such specific questions if they arise. 6. All priests must cooperate with each other. The decision in the Bishops’ Conference is a clear expression that they want to move away from such a practice. 7. There is ongoing work for equality and to create good working conditions for all employees in the church.
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Supporters surround vicar Benjamin Anda in Giske – begging him not to quit – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
