Council on Ecumenical and International Relations in Norway, CEIR
History
Name of archive: Den norske kirke - Kirkerådet med forløpere, Mellomkirkelig råd med forløpere og Bispedømmerådets fellesmøter (The Church of Norway - the Church council and its predecessors, Council on Ecumenical and International Relations and its predecessors, and the Bishops' council).
The older material is cataloged and organized at the National archives, an extract has been given to NAI. Newer archive material is still in the possession of Mellomkirkelig råds offices. There is no catalog, but a list of relevant material has been translated for NAI.
Type of organization: Mellomkirkelig råd is a council under the Church of Norway, the official Norwegian state church. Mellomkirkelig råd has among its duties the coordination of international church issues.
Secondary reading:
*Berit Hagen Agøy "The Freedom Struggle in Southern Africa: The Role of the Norwegian Churches 1948-1994" published in Eriksen 2000: "Norway and national liberation in Southern Africa".
*Mellomkirkelig råd also published a booklet in Norwegian and English by Trond Bakkevig in 1995 ("The Church of Norway and the struggle against apartheid"), which can be ordered from Mellomkirkelig råd.
*According to the booklet, (attachment 1), a compilation of 20-30 statements regarding Apartheid and South Africa can be obtained from Mellomkirkelig råd.
Historical outline: The Church of Norway has a long history of involvement in Southern Africa. Norwegian missionaries have been active in South Africa since 1847 and a St. Olav church for Norwegians and their descendants was established in Durban as early as 1880.
From 1948 on, the Church became gradually more involved with churches in South Africa and the struggle against apartheid, working with various church groups and associations in South Africa, like the Christian Institute and SACC.
The Church became one of the key actors in the Norwegian support for the liberation of Southern Africa, and vice versa - South Africa became an important part of the activities of the church: "For decades South Africa was central for the Church of Norway's international work. The official racism in a country far away produced a deep reaction in Norway." (1)
According to Berit Hagen Agøy (2), approximately USD 35 million passed from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Church, which transferred the money to anti-Apartheid organizations and individuals in Namibia and South Africa. The churches in South Africa were also increasingly important for the liberation struggle within the country, as many anti-apartheid organizations were banned.
1. Translated from the Norwegian edition of T. Bakkevig: "The Church of Norway and the Struggle against Apartheid".
2. Agøy: "The Freedom Struggle in Southern Africa: The Role of the Norwegian Churches 1948-1994" in Eriksen 2000: "Norway and national liberation in Southern Africa".
Access
Material from 1919 to 1984 is located at the National Archives (Riksarkivet) in Oslo. For details and opening hours, see https://www.arkivverket.no/en
External link, opens in new window..
Material from 1984 to the present (around 6 boxes) is located at the offices of Mellomkirkelig råd, CEIR.
Address
Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations [Mellomkirkelig råd - Den norske kirke]
Rådhusgata 1-3,
Pb 799 Sentrum,
N-0106 Oslo
NORWAY
Telephone: +47 23 08 12 00,
Fax 23 08 12 01,
E-mail: post.kirkeradet@kirken.no
Web site: http://www.kirken.no
External link.
| Extent: | Unknown. |
|---|---|
| Ref. code: | 1251.8/11 at Riksarkivet (National archives) |
| Country: | Norway |
| Period: | 1970-1995 |
| Keywords: | Council on Ecumenical and International Relations in Norway CEIR Church of Norway Southern Africa Christian Institute SACC South Africa Namibia History Anti-apartheid movements Solidarity movements Liberation organizations Anti-racism movements Religious organizations Religious missions Christianity Financial support |