Church leaders join forces
Church leaders from all over the Barents Region this week assembled in Bodø, Norway, to discuss the churches’ response to challenges in the High North.
It is important to participate in each other’s church services and discuss the joint challenges we are facing in the High North, Bishop of the Norwegian South Hålogaland diocese Tor B. Jørgensen told Kirken.no. He added that issus of settlement, culture, indigenous peoples and climate issues are high on the church agenda. The church cooperation in the Barents Region has developed positively since it was formalized in 1996. The church leaders of nine Lutheran and four Orthodox dioceses regularly meet within the frames of a joint Barents church council. Cross-border friendship agreements between local church communities, exchange agreements, youth camps and visits are currently among priority fields for the cooperation.