Norway: Awareness Raising

Salvation - not for sale

Awareness Raising and Empowering Youth

Young reformers: Andreas A. Fosby and Ingvild B. Lalim

Church: Church of Norway

Implementation period: January 2016 - February 2017

How many people were involved? 100

How many people did you reach? 350

What did you aim at?

To explore what it means to be a Lutheran today in a global and pluralistic context, and how to be a part of a global Christian family. We want to empower the Lutheran youth in Norway, to give them a voice and some basic knowledge of what is happening to our sisters and brothers all over the world. In this way, we hope to give them the tools to speak up against injustice and to inspire others to take action.

What did you achieve?

We presented the project at several meetings:
- Church of Norway’s general church synod in 2016
- Meetings with youth decision makers, the Norwegian LWF national committee, and other ecumenical councils
- Youth church synod of 2016
- Youth gathering for Sami youths

What did you do?

We met with the church youth staff, and planned and implemented the reformation jubilee.
We helped the youth organize, create, and publish the resolution document “Reformer Today,” which gained national media coverage.
The Norwegian Church synod cited and upheld elements from the resolution "Reformer Today" in their general debate in January 2017
We organized social media campaigns to promote our cause

Interview with young reformers

What is the ongoing reformation you want to see in your church?: I want to see an open church where people feel welcome and appreciated, a church that is near to people’s life.
What has been the reaction of the project among the youth?: The youth were very engaged in the discussion on the reformation and what it is to be a reformer today. The youth were really involved and interested to see the church’s role in the communities. It became a discussion in a national level in the church.
How has been the participation of the youth in the reformation project?: The participation was in the biggest event in the Church of Norway’s national youth council and the main youth synod in Norway. Youth came from different parts of Norway, including representatives and council members. We reached out over 300 young adults across Norway.
What has been challenging about creating the project?: It was difficult to bring the international aspect into the meetings and to encourage new Norwegian youth to become global young reformers. It was also difficult to be travelling around Norway and visit the different communities in different regions in the country.
Did everything go as planned?: We couldn’t accomplish all the meetings we have planned. Unfortunately the timetables were difficult for us, the project holders, and we had modified our plans at every time. Despite the difficulties, we were able to accomplish the main goals.
How do you see the continuity of the project?: The discussions continue in the local level. Discussions at the national level have concluded with the youth synod meeting. In every place the discussion continues about how to reform the church and the youth role in it. This can continue without the project itself.