Visits

Visit of the Diocese of Norwich, England to the Diocese of Agder, Norway. 

In February 2005 a group of five parish clergy from the Diocese of Norwich in England, and two of their wives, were privileged to be the guests of the clergy of the Deanery of Vest-Nedenes in the Diocese of Agder in Norway. The visit formed part of a continuing exploration of the Porvoo fellowship following exchange visits to their respective parishes by Pastor Leif Moller-Stray of Birkenes and Canon Stuart Nairn of the Nar Valley Group as a result of friendships established at the Porvoo bi-annual Pastoral Conferences since the year 2000.

The visit in February gave the English clergy, most of whom were new visitors to Norway, the opportunity to meet with fellow practioners and to begin to understand the common issues, concerns and frustrations for each of our churches. The English clergy were astounded at the generous resourcing of the Church of Norway through the state tax system which is so very different from the voluntary funding of the English Churches. It was good to see how the clergy of the Vest-Nedenes Deanery co-operated with each other and this was something the English clergy needed to go away and put into practice. Opportunities were provided on the Sunday for the English Clergy to preach in their host's churches and for two of them to conduct baptisms - a living example of the acknowledgement of our respective ministries. Thanks are due to our Norwegian hosts for their generosity and friendship throughout our stay and it is hoped that this may be the beginning of further links between our two areas.