MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society
MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society (), formerly the Free Faculty of Theology () and MF Norwegian School of Theology, is an accredited Norwegian Specialized University focused on Theology, Religion, Education and Social Studies, located in Oslo, Norway. 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 110 employees, 1300 bachelor and master students and about 60 ph.d. students. Since 1967, MF has offered academic studies in Christianity and religion for use in school  and society. As needs have arisen, MF has developed a broad portfolio of professional degrees for church and school. The religious demography of Norway has changed significantly. There is an increasing need and demand for knowledge and quality in research on, education in and communication about religion and society. MF meets this challenge through interdisciplinary research on religion and society, along with relevant bachelor, master and ph.d. degrees in theology, religion and society. MF has two centers: "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 Center for the Advanced Study of Religion, MF CASR", 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. "Norwegian Philological Institute" (PHI) is affiliated with and located at MF. The cooperation involves offering courses in classical languages connected with major world religions and cultures. MF's areas of activity  are education, research and communication. Beginning as a confessional school, today it is an ecumenical inclusive school offering education specific to a number of denominations (Lutheran, Methodist, Catholic, Salvation Army and Pentecostal). History. MF was founded in 1907 by a body of people (Norwegian academics, politicians, clergy and lay people) wanting to build the education and research on the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. The main reason for the establishing of the School was an appointment to a professoriate at the Faculty of Theology at University of Oslo. The Chair of Systematic Theology was vacant after the death of  Fredrik Petersen in 1903, and in 1906 the liberal theologian Johannes Ording was appointed to the Chair. Ording was appointed after a lengthy debate which almost led to a crisis in the Government of Norway. It was not supported by the other leading professors at the faculty, and Sigurd Odland at the Faculty of Theology and the Minister of Church Affairs Christopher Knudsen in the Government left their positions following the appointment. Notable people in the society and the Church gathering around Odland then took steps to found an independent institution training the clergy. The founding charter was signed October  16, 1907, and the School was opened in the autumn of 1908 with only 8 students (a number that increased to 14 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 the members of academic staff was granted the right to call themselves professors. The school grew steadily, and in 1913 MF was given the right to offer degrees in Theology, and also in Practical Theology from 1925. The school expanded in 1967 and an institute of Christian theology was  founded giving a minor, major and a master's degree in Christian Studies. 1977 the school started to train Christian Educators (catechists). A major step was the right to award the doctoral degree in 1990. The school was the first private school given the right to do this, and in 2005 the school was accredited as a specialized university institution by the Norwegian authorities. In 2018 the school changed its name from "MF Norwegian School of Theology" to "MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society". Academics. MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society awards the following degrees: bachelor , master, candidatus/a theologiae and Ph.D. It offers the following programmes of study that results in the mentioned degrees: Notable alumni and faculty staff. Alumni. Andreas Grasmo Politicians. Kjell Magne Bondevik, Valgerd Svarstad Haugland, Torild Skogsholm, Helen Bjørnøy. Musicians. Bjørn Eidsvåg, Morten Harket Authors. Jan Kjærstad, Ole Hallesby