Where are we going to worship God?

Essay(2004)

With the present crisis in all the historical churches in mind I would like to encourage all interested bishops, priests, deacons and lay Christians, all faithful to classic Christian faith to rally around The Good Shepherd and march together Forward in Faith in order that people may be saved, we all reach heaven and that the Truth of the Word of God and Life in the Lord Jesus Christ may stand forth.

“I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep. When the hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away; so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. The hired man runs away because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me. And I am willing to die for them. There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them, too; they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock with one shepherd.” (John 10,11-16)

Where are we going to worship God?

This was the question put forward by the Norwegian Free Synod(The old SKG)on its old webpage. And it continued asking: Who is going to teach the children of the sanctuary who praised Christ, "Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21)?

So, where are we going to worship the Lord in the Third Millenium?

The background of this question was a recognition in the 1980s and 90s that a post-Christian spirit regrettably had fastened the grip around the Church of Norway. The very same Church that was once the Mission Church of Sta Sunniva and St Olav, and the Roman Catholic Church until the coup d´etat of the Danish King in 1536- taking both the throne and nationalizing the Church.

Therefore the Free Synod had been established in 1991 with a background in several church groups with much common classic Christian heritage that were united in a zeal for Church Renewal and therefore naturally belonged to the Confession Movement.

The Synod experienced good progress in the early 1990s, but even if there was a common understanding that the church was less open for renewal than what was hoped, conflicting strategies in the leadership emerged.

One has to fully understand that the enormous pressure created by the CoN’s bad strategy choices in the 90s developed into a common trauma for the faithful and became such a heavy burden on many dear fellow fighters that the only possible road was to leave the church and convert to other churches. The close down of the Free Synod in 2004 was also well meant, as the main premise was the answer to the questions above:

”To continue our Lutheran heritage in a Church tradition willing to be renewed by Old Church roots.”

A strategic problem has emerged though, as most of the faithful remained formal members of the State Church. And without the organization of the Free Synod, there is no supplementary or alternative Church structure to cater for these, so the challenge might be expressed with a metaphor:

”To moor the boat at another quay.”

The founder of this website is just a small soldier in the army of the Lord, striving to do God's will in a secular country and difficult church situation. I am in my parish to cater for the flock of the Lord with a faithful stewardship of Word and Sacrament according to my vocation from the Church and Christ himself.

I want to uphold the historic Christian Faith and Order of the Church, Biblical, Apostolic and Catholic, and to resist all efforts to deviate from it.

With confessional roots in the classic Old Church Symbols, the Small Catechism and the Confession of Augsburg, I seek to minister personally and sacramentally to all who are faithful to the Great Tradition of the Church, both within the Church of Norway and outside of it, while working cooperatively for the creation of an orthodox diocese of the Church of Norway.

Internationally I support the efforts of creating a Third Province of the Anglican Church, and an American-Anglo-Nordic Confederation of Christians, Church Bodies and Churches led by orthodox Bishops, to be in eucharistic communion with each other.

I also sincerely hope for unity in truth and a communion of grace together with Roman Catholic brothers and sisters.

I think a new “Faith and Order” is needed!

There is only one Apostolic and Catholic Church of Christ!”

John 17,21

Fr. Svenn

Picture: Odd Normann Thormodsæter

svennam@hotmail.com

Vicar of Øygarden, ”The Islands” Pastorate 2002-2013

Regional Dean, Western District, of the old Free Synod/SKG, 1998-2001