Church Church of Norway Nationality Norwegian Occupation Priest Name Per Lonning Alma mater University of Oslo | In office 1969-1978, 1987-1994 Denomination Christian Education Doctor of Theology Role Politician | |
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Born 24 February 1928 ( 1928-02-24 ) Books Is Christ a Christian: On Inter-religious Dialogue and Intra-religious Horizon Diocese Diocese of Borg, Diocese of Bjorgvin | ||
Trond Kirkvaag - Per Lønning snakker ut
Per Lonning (born 24 February 1928) is a Norwegian bishop, theologian, professor, and politician. Lonning received his Doctor of theology degree from the University of Oslo in 1955 and a Doctor of philosophy degree in 1958.
Lonning began his career as a priest in Oslo in 1951. He also taught in a school in Oslo in 1954. From 1958 to 1965 he was elected as a member of the Norwegian Parliament for the Conservative Party of Norway. In 1964, Lonning was named the priest for the parish of Bergen. In 1969, he was named the bishop of the Diocese of Borg, a diocese that had just been created by splitting off from the large Diocese of Oslo. He was the first Bishop to lead this diocese and he served for 9 years until he resigned in 1978 in protest against the passing of a law that allowed abortion on demand in Norway. After resigning, he taught at the University of Oslo for four years and then from 1981 to 1987 he was professor at the University of Strasbourg. In 1987 he was named bishop of the Diocese of Bjorgvin in Bergen. He held this post until 1994, when he retired.
Per Lonning is the brother of the late theologian, professor, university rector, and politician Inge Lonning.
He is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.