Norwegian Baptist Union
Encyclopedia
The Norwegian Baptist Union (NBU) (Det Norske Baptistsamfunn) is a national organization of Baptists in Norway
for promoting cooperation in missions, benevolence, and education; also called the Baptist Union of Norway.
Enoch Richard Haftorsen Svee, a young Norwegian supported by American Baptists, returned to Norway in 1842 and ministered there, but died before any churches were established. The first Baptist church in Norway
was founded at Skien
in 1862 by Frederick Ludvig Rymker, a former Danish sailor turned missionary. The Baptists formed regional associations. The first (South) was formed in 1872, and North & West in 1877. 13 representatives from 8 churches met and formed the Norwegian Baptist Union (NBU) in 1878, with Janne M. Sjödahl
being elected its first general secretary in 1879. The Baptist Missionary Society of England
supported the work in Norway, beginning with Rymker, until 1892. When this support was discontinued, the Norwegians requested and received support from the American Baptist Missionary Union. Baptists of Norway established a theological seminary in 1910, a youth association in 1922, and a high school in 1958.
The NBU is a member of the European Baptist Federation
and the Baptist World Alliance
. According to the official Union web site, current membership (2003) includes 4971 members in 69 congregations. Two non-Union churches, numbering about 75 members, cooperate with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
for promoting cooperation in missions, benevolence, and education; also called the Baptist Union of Norway.
Enoch Richard Haftorsen Svee, a young Norwegian supported by American Baptists, returned to Norway in 1842 and ministered there, but died before any churches were established. The first Baptist church in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
was founded at Skien
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
in 1862 by Frederick Ludvig Rymker, a former Danish sailor turned missionary. The Baptists formed regional associations. The first (South) was formed in 1872, and North & West in 1877. 13 representatives from 8 churches met and formed the Norwegian Baptist Union (NBU) in 1878, with Janne M. Sjödahl
Janne M. Sjödahl
Janne Mattson Sjödahl was a Swedish convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was the author of influential commentaries on LDS Church scriptures...
being elected its first general secretary in 1879. The Baptist Missionary Society of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
supported the work in Norway, beginning with Rymker, until 1892. When this support was discontinued, the Norwegians requested and received support from the American Baptist Missionary Union. Baptists of Norway established a theological seminary in 1910, a youth association in 1922, and a high school in 1958.
The NBU is a member of the European Baptist Federation
European Baptist Federation
The European Baptist Federation is a federation of 51 Baptist associations and is one of six regional fellowships in the Baptist World Alliance. The EBF was founded in Ruschlikon, Switzerland, in 1949. It lays a great deal of emphasis on human rights, religious liberty and aid programs. The...
and the Baptist World Alliance
Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance is a worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations, formed in 1905 at Exeter Hall in London during the first Baptist World Congress.-History:...
. According to the official Union web site, current membership (2003) includes 4971 members in 69 congregations. Two non-Union churches, numbering about 75 members, cooperate with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism.
External links
- Web Site - in Norwegian
- Det Norske Baptistsamfunn Web Site - in Norwegian
- A Short History of Norwegian Baptists - in English