MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society (MF for short) is a Norwegian private specialized university. MF focuses on education, research and dissemination of their fields of expertise. The specialized university is located at Majorstuen in Oslo.
MF was founded in 1907 as an independent theological institution at university level and is Norway's largest provider of theological education and research. MF has around 120 employees, 1000 students and about 50 Ph.D. candidates. MF educates for various church professions and offers a 5-years master in education, as well as various study programs on Ph.D., masters and bachelor level. Students are educated for professions within the church, education and society. MF has from 1967 offered education within Christianity and other religions for use in school and society, in addition to theology.
MF was awarded status as a specialized university in 2005, and is one of three private specialized universities in Norway, along with BI and VID. The institution changed its name from Det teologiske menighetsfakultet to its current name in August 2018.
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History
The Faculty of Theology was founded in 1907 by a body of Norwegian academics, politicians, clergy and lay people wanting to offer a theological education founded on the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. The faculty was founded as an alternative to the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oslo.
The founding charter was signed October 16, 1907, and the school was opened in the autumn of 1908 with only eight students (a number that increased to fourteen before the end of the first term). The earliest teachers were Sigurd Odland (New Testament), Edvard Sverdrup (church history), Peter Hognestad (Old Testament), Ole Hallesby (systematic theology). From 1919, academic staff members were granted the right to call themselves professors.
The institution was granted the right to offer degrees in theology in 1913, as well as in practical theology from 1925 and cand. Philol in 1977. In 1990, the institution was given the right to offer doctoral degrees and in 2005 the school was accredited as a specialized university institution by NOKUT.
In August 2018, the institution changed its name from Det teologiske menighetsfakultet to MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society. MF today offers a large subject portfolio in the areas of theology, religion and society, and focuses particularly in the intersection of religion and society. MF has in addition a 5 year program in education of religion, ethics and society, and a practical, pedagogical education. In addition to offer a priest education, MF educates deacons and catechists for the Church of Norway, as well as leaders for other church- and religious communities.
Academics
MF awards bachelor, masters, candidatus/a theologiae and Ph.D. degrees, as well as dr. philos.
Research centers at MF
Source:
MF KOM – Center for Excellence in Research, Development and Communication for Church and Congregation. This center is an intermediary between scholars at MF and church workers who wish to utilize MF's competency in their own contexts.
MF CASR – Center for the Advanced Study of Religion organizes the research on religion done at MF. It facilitates joint projects between MF and other institutions. MF CASR encompasses areas of research including religious studies, history of religion, philosophy of religion, texts and manuscript research, cultural and art history, along with sociology of religion.
MF has a number of externally financed research projects financed by ERC, The Research Council of Norway and other institutions.
Notable alumni and faculty staff
Alumni
Andreas Grasmo
Kjell Magne Bondevik
Valgerd Svarstad Haugland
Torild Skogsholm
Helen Bjørnøy
Bjørn Eidsvåg
Morten Harket
Jan Kjærstad
Ole Hallesby
Helga Haugland Byfuglien, Presiding Bishop in the Church of Norway
Ole Christian Kvarme, Bishop of Oslo
Gunnar Stålsett, Bishop Emeritus of Oslo
Andreas Aarflot, Bishop Emeritus of Oslo
Stein Reinertsen, Bishop of Agder and Telemark
Olav Skjevesland, Bishop Emeritus of Agder and Telemark
Halvor Bergan, Bishop Emeritus of Agder and Telemark
Per Arne Dahl, Bishop of Tunsberg
Laila Riksaasen Dahl, Bishop Emeritus of Tunsberg
Olav Øygard, Bishop of Nord Hålogaland
Per Oskar Kjølaas, Bishop Emeritus of Nord Hålogaland
Erling Pettersen, Bishop of Stavanger
Ernst Baasland, Bishop Emeritus of Stavanger
Faculty staff
Geir Sigmund Afdal
Trine Anker
Janicke Heldal
Binta-Victoria Jammeh
Claudia Lenz
Ann Midttun
Merethe Skårås
Emil Sætra
Audun Toft
Torbjørg Torp
Munkhnaran Bayarlkhagva
Maria Dumitru
Marielle Stigum Gleiss
Øystein Bjarte Hellevik
Andreas Holmedahl Hvidsten
Bushra Ishaq
Lars Åsmund Laird Iversen
Solvor Mjøberg Lauritzen
Christine Lillethun Norheim
Maren Seehawer
Ingrid Storm
Sturla Johan Stålsett
Robert Emil Berge
Torkel Brekke
Blossom Gordana Champlain
Anita Christensen
Romain Grégory David
Silje Lyngar Einarsen