A Christian private school in Nord-Troms has apologized to the parents because their children took part in a service with a female priest.
In an SMS, principal Vilde W. Steinsvik wrote that she was “laying down flat” and would “tighten up the routines”, according to The online newspaper.
“We understand that there are reactions to the fact that it was a female priest who held the service”, can also be read in the message.
Before Christmas, the pupils at Straumfjordnes school attended a Christmas service in the local church. In the pulpit stood the priest Julie Schjøth-Jovik.
The fact that it was precisely her who led must have caused the parents to react.
13 million in grants
The school’s chairman Vidar Viken states that Straumfjordnes is owned and financed, among other things, by the students’ parents.
according to Northern Lights on the other hand, the school is primarily run by public grants.
In 2021, Straumfjordnes received just over NOK 13 million from the Norwegian Directorate of Education. In addition, the school received more than one million kroner from the State Administrator and Nordreisa municipality, according to the newspaper.
The parental allowance was NOK 148,000.
The Minister of Education reacts
Education Minister Tonje Brenna (Ap) reacts strongly to the rector’s actions.
She believes that the values advocated by the principal belong to the past.
– Fortunately, the Church of Norway has come a long way, and today more than one in three priests in Norway are women. It is important that the girls at Straumfjordnes school in particular get to see this, she says in a comment to NTB.
Brenna emphasizes that Norwegian schools must promote tolerance and equality between the sexes, and that this must form the basis of all education given at schools – including private ones.
– No individual school can choose to ignore this, says the Minister of Education.
She adds that the school may risk losing its approval if it is found to be breaking the rules.
REACTS: Education Minister Tonje Brenna (Ap) is strongly critical of the SMS from the rector. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen/NTB.
Refuses to answer
TV 2 has contacted Straumfjordnes school.
They will not comment on the SMS in question and refer to the school’s chairman Vidar Viken.
Viken will not answer TV 2’s questions, but will make a general statement. The statement has also been given to Nettavisen.
Viken says that Straumfjordnes School is a Christian independent school, and that the school’s values are “founded on a classical understanding of the Bible”.
– At Straumfjordnes School, we meet all people with respect, and we learn about the infinite value of all people and the equality of all people. Based on the statutes and our understanding of the Bible, it is the man who must preach. This is not a question of equality, but a question of faith and conviction, says Viken.
He says that the board is elected by the parents, who also own and finance the school.
– If the school’s management, either the principal or the board, receives inquiries from parents regarding school operations and activities, this is answered in line with the school’s statutes. If changes to the statutes are desirable, as parents at the school, they can bring it up at the annual meeting for discussion and voting, writes Viken.
– Neither angry nor hurt
Julie Schjøth-Jovik tells TV 2 that the current Christmas service was a great experience.
– I was very happy that they came to the service. I experienced that they sang along. It was very nice, says the priest.
PRIEST: Julie Schjøth-Jovik does not care about the SMS. Photo: kirken.no
She has received the SMS that was sent out and emphasizes that she does not care about it.
– It is not my task to interfere in the internal conversation at the school, they must take it up with the parents. I can live well with this, I am neither angry nor hurt, says Schjøth-Jovik.
Critical of female priests
It is not the first time that questions have arisen about whether female priests in Nord-Troms have created a head scribe.
In 2019, when Julie Schjøth-Jovik was hired as the region’s first female priest, a preacher in the Lutheran Læstadian congregation in Nord-Troms protested.
– We relate to what we have learned over generations; according to God’s word, a woman cannot be a priest in our congregation, said preacher Nils Einar Samuelsen NRK in 2019.
Julie Schjøth-Jovik emphasizes that she does not care about this.
– I don’t think this is personal. As a priest, I have to respect that some people think it is difficult with women as priests. It’s about understanding the culture and history of the place.
