Ole Christian Kvarme

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Ole Christian Mælen Kvarme is bishop in the diocese of Oslo since 2005. As bishop of the diocese of Oslo Kvarme is the Royal family's personal prelate.

[edit] Becoming the Bishop of Oslo

There was a considerable turmoil around the election of Kvarme as the new Bishop of Oslo. The Diocese of Oslo had three candidates in the final election process. The diocese of Oslo favoured and elected Helen Bjørnøy as their candidate. The Norwegian council of Bishops favoured Kvarme. There was therefore no obvious candidate for the position. The election process therefore became a political issue in the hands of the government and the former minister for Church and cultural affairs Valgerd Svarstad Haugland.

Valgerd Svarstad Haugland of the Christian Democratic Party, controversially went against Diocese of Oslo choice of Helen Bjørnøy. There was also clear opinion amongst the general public that Kvarme was not the right man for the position. It was said that Kvarme, with his conservative stand would be a step backwards in the work that his predecessor Bishop Gunnar Stålsett had started. It was said that Oslo as a multicultural city, needs someone with a more "broadminded" view. Gunnar Stålsett was renowned for his work of being a unifying and inclusive bishop, he had for instance acknowledged and ordained several gay priests in his diocese. Kvarme is outspoken against this practice and he has halted the process of ordaining more gay priests. The whole debate centered around his conservative views on homosexuality and gay priests.

The debate around Bishop Ole Christian Kvarme, has made the issue of a separation of state and church a current topic in the Norwegian media.

[edit] Curriculum vitae

Ole Christian Mælen Kvarme

Born: November 11th. 1948 in Molde

Education

Graduate (cand.theol.) from the MF Norwegian School of Theology 1974.

Practical-Theological Seminary at MF Norwegian School of Theology 1974.

Hebrew subsidiary subject (major), The University of Oslo, 1970.

Studies in rabbism and judaistics, Göttingen and Jerusalem 1975-76.

Ordained to priest for mission service abroad, in Bodø 1975.

Work experience

Scientific assistant, MF Norwegian School of Theology 1972-74.

Bible translator, the Norwegian Bible Society, 1973.

Liable for military service as military chaplain, 1975

Missionary priest, Den Norske Israelsmisjon, Haifa 1976-81.

Executive secretary of the Norwegian Bible Society in Israel and for the Norwegian Bible Society on the West Bank - for the United Bible Socities, 1976-81.

Manager, the Caspari Center for Biblical and Jewish Studies, 1982-86.

Secretary-general in the Norwegian Bible Society , 1986-96.

Dean in Oslo Cathedral, 1996-98

Bishop in the Diocese of Borg, 1998-2005

Bishop in the Diocese of Oslo 2005-

Positions of trust

Leader of Israels Forente Kristne Råd, 1976-86.

Member of World Council of Churches Consultation on the Church and the Jewish People.

Vice President, General Assembly of MF Norwegian School of Theology.

Member of Vårt Lands Forstanderskap.

President in Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism.

Member of dialgue group for Lutheran World association and Syvendedagsadventistenes General meeting.