Gunnar Stålsett

The Right Reverend Gunnar Stålsett
Bishop Emeritus of Oslo
Church	Church of Norway
Diocese	Oslo
Appointed	1998
In office	1998-2005
Predecessor	Andreas Aarflot
Successor	Ole Christian Kvarme
Orders
Consecration	1998
Personal details
Born	Gunnar Sirkka (1935-02-10) 10 February 1935 Nordkapp, Norway
Nationality	Norwegian
Parents	Johan Emil Stålsett Alma Elisabeth Joki
Spouse	Married
Children	2

Gunnar Johan Stålsett (born 10 February 1935 in Nordkapp) is a Norwegian theologican and politician. He was leader of the Centre Party 1977–1979, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation 1985–1993 and bishop of Oslo, in the Church of Norway 1998–2005.

Early life

Gunnar Stålsett was born in Repvåg to principal Johan Emil Stålsett and Alma Elisabeth Joki. He was one of eight children. When he was seven the family moved to Gildeskål. His parents were inspired by the Laestadian movement in Finnmark. After having completed school in Leknes he went to high school in Nordfjordeid where he graduated in 1953.

Theological career

Stålsett is a graduate from MF Norwegian School of Theology in Oslo, and was awarded the qualification cand.theol. in 1961. He has worked as a minister and taught at the University of Oslo. He has also been a General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation and a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee until he was appointed to bishop in 1998. He stepped down from office on 28 February 2005. His predecessor was Andreas Aarflot, and he was succeeded in Office by Ole Christian Kvarme.

Stålsett has also had a political career. From 1972 to 1973, during the cabinet Korvald, he was appointed state secretary in the Ministry of Church Affairs and Education. He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Oslo in during the term 1977–1981, and chaired the Centre Party from 1977 to 1979.

Awards

• 2013: Niwano Peace Prize

External links

• "Gunnar Stålsett" (in Norwegian). Storting.
• Gunnar Stålsett, (in Norwegian) Norsk Biografisk Leksikon