Inge Lønning

Who was Inge Lønning?

Inge Johan Lønning was a Norwegian theologian, educator, and politician, active in the Conservative Party of Norway.

Lønning was born in Fana, Bergen, Norway. He earned his cand. theol. from the University of Oslo in 1962 and finished the practical-theological seminar in 1963. He continued his academic career with a fellowship from 1963 to 1971, with a year's interruption for military service as a chaplain in the Norwegian Navy. He earned his doctorate in theology, also at the University of Oslo, in 1971 and was appointed professor in systematic theology at the University of Oslo the same year.

In 1971, Lønning also started his political career, when he was elected into the Oslo city council for one term and also the city's board of education for eight years.

In 1985 he was made rector of the University of Oslo, serving in this capacity until 1992, while maintaining his tenure as professor in theology to the present.

Lønning was elected as a member of Norwegian parliament for three terms, from 1997 through 2009. He was the president of Lagtinget, was vice president of Stortinget from 2001 to 2005, and also served as a member of several parliamentary committees.