Børre Knudsen

Who is Børre Knudsen?

Børre Knudsen is a Norwegian Lutheran minister noted for his pro-life activism.

Knudsen completed his seminary education in 1966 and was ordained in the Church of Norway in 1967. He served as an assistant minister in Balsfjord from 1968 until 1971, when he was made minister of the parish there.

In 1979, when the Norwegian parliament finalized legislation allowing abortion on demand in the first trimester, Knudsen protested by refusing to perform any duties on behalf of the Norwegian state. He modelled his actions from the Norwegian bishops and majority of priests' opposition to the Nazi-friendly regime in Norway during occupation in World War II: He continued his duties as a minister of the church and pastor for his congregation, but did not report statistics to the state, issue birth certificates, open mail addressed to him as a civil servant, etc. He also did not accept his salary from the state.

Minister of Church and Education Einar Førde dismissed Knudsen from his post for neglecting his duties, but Knudsen refused to leave his pastoral duties. His active congregation insisted that he was still their pastor and urged him not to leave. Knudsen was sued by the state, but won the first round. He eventually lost the case on appeal to the Supreme Court of Norway in 1983. The Supreme Court decision held that the state part of the church office could not be separated from the ecclesial or spiritual part of it within a State Church. Knudsen was replaced as minister in Balsfjord, but most of his active congregation followed him in establishing an independent local congregation in the tradition of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He still serves as their pastor. Knudsen was finally defrocked in the Church of Norway in 2001.