Norwegian Lutheran Mission

The Norwegian Lutheran Mission (Norsk Luthersk Misjonssamband in Norwegian; NLM) is one of several independent Lutheran organisations working within the Lutheran Church of Norway.

Norwegian Lutheran Mission
Norwegian Lutheran Mission
Norsk Luthersk Misjonssamband
AbbreviationNLM
Formation1891
TypeMissionary organisation
Parent organization
Church of Norway
AffiliationsLutheranism
Websitehttps://www.nlm.no
Formerly called
Det Norske Lutherske Kinamisjonsforbund (Norwegian Lutheran Federation for Mission in China)

History

The organization was founded in 1891 as Det Norske Lutherske Kinamisjonsforbund (in English: the Norwegian Lutheran Federation for Mission in China). The organisation's international mission was focused on China until that work came to an end in 1949.[1] In 1966 the NLM, in cooperation with several other missional and denominational bodies, was involved in the establishment of the China Lutheran Seminary in Hsinchu City, Taiwan.[2]

The organisation has later worked in countries such as Japan, Ethiopia, Bolivia, Peru, Taiwan, the Ivory Coast, and Mongolia, in addition to the work in Norway. It has been headquartered in Oslo since 1913.[3]

Doctrine

The NLM adheres to the confessional documents of the Church of Norway (the Bible, the Apostolic, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds, the Augsburg Confession, and Luther's Small Catechism).

The organisation can be described as broadly evangelical with a focus on lay involvement. It has about 50,000 members.[4] As inheritors of the pietist revival they are considered a conservative voice in the Norwegian context. Notably they have become known for their conservative views on same-sex marriage and female clergy (disputed among some members).[5]

Organisation

The work in Norway is focused on traditional local prayer-houses ('bedehus') and homegroups. Outside of Norway NLM is engaged in various forms of traditional missional activities (preaching and teaching) and development projects (education, community development etc.). NLM owns several of the country's Christian boarding schools and colleges.[6]

References
  1. Engelsviken, Tormod; Harbakk, Ernst; Olsen, Rolv; et al., eds. (2008). Mission to the World: Communicating the Gospel in the 21st Century. Regnum Books International. p. 47. ISBN 9781870345644. Retrieved January 15, 2013. On 18th-19th May 1891 the Norwegian Lutheran Federation for Mission in China (popularly called The China-federation) was constituted in Bergen. [...] The China-federation started work in other countries (as Japan and Ethiopia) and therefore changed its name to Norwegian Lutheran Mission (NLM).
  2. "Historical Sketch of CLS". China Lutheran Seminary.
  3. Norsk Luthersk Misjonssamband Store Norske Leksikon, retrieved 22 February 2012
  4. Ystebø, Bjarte (November 30, 2007). "Flukten fra hønsegården - Sambandet og statskirken" (in Norwegian). Norge IDAG. Retrieved January 15, 2013. Generalsekretær Ola Tulluan sier at landets største misjonsorganisasjon, NLM, (med 50 000 medlemmer) kan komme til å gå ut av Den norske kirke.
  5. Døvik, Olav; Helljesen, Vilde (November 30, 2007). "Bryter med Kirken" (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  6. "Skoler" (in Norwegian). NLM. Retrieved January 15, 2013. Norsk Luthersk Misjonssamband eier mange skoler, dette er grunnskoler, videregående skoler, folkehøgskoler, bibelskoler og høyskoler.
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