Theological education in the Church of Norway : a historic outline and a present outlook

Are the theological faculties to be a part of the universities or put directly under the leadership of the Church? What about free scholarship under ecclesiastical subordination? This article discusses a possible model, in addition to a historic outline and a present survey of theological education i Norway. Norwegian Lutheran School of Theology (NLST), founded on an autonomous basis in 1908, has the same academic level and almost the same level of governmental grants subsidies as the Theological Faculty at Oslo University. NLST is allowed to maintain its academic freedom (Lehrfreiheit) vs. the Church and its doctrinal integrity vs. the state. During the past 50 years it has educated more than 75 per cent of the clergy in the Church of Norway. Thisarticle looks into the school's fundamental idea and governing structure: being independent of both the state and the Church.