Church of Iceland - Organisation

Organisation

On 1 January 1998, a new law came into effect defining the status of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland and its relations to the government. The annual Church Assembly (Kirkjuþing) is now the highest legislative authority of the church, making most church law previously enacted by the Alþing. The Kirkjuþing has 29 elected representatives, 12 ordained and 17 lay-people and a lay-person as president. The highest executive authority is the Church Council, Kirkjuráð, with two clergy and two lay-persons elected by the Kirkjuþing, and presided by the bishop of Iceland. Annually the bishop summons all the pastors and theologians of the church to the Pastoral Synod, to discuss the affairs of the church and society. The synod has a say in all matters of theology and liturgy to be decided by the bishop and Kirkjuþing.

Iceland is one diocese under the Bishop of Iceland, based in Reykjavík. Two assistant or suffragan bishops (vígslubiskup) reside at the old episcopal sees of Skálholt and Hólar. They are responsible for the cathedrals of their sees and the building up of these as centres of study and spirituality. They assist the Bishop of Iceland in pastoral matters and with him form the bishops´ meeting.

The Bishop's Office in the Church House in Reykjavík is also same time the office of the Kirkjuráð. Besides dealing with financial matters and personnel, it also has departments of education and diaconia, ecumenical affairs, church and society and communication. The church's publishing house is also situated in the Church House. There are about 300 Lutheran parishes nationwide. Each parish is a financially independent unit, responsible to for the construction and upkeep of its church buildings and all the work of the congregation. Besides worship services, parish work covers wide range of educational and diaconal activities, children and youth work. In rural areas up to several parishes are served by the same priest.

There are about 150 priests and 27 ordained deacons. Fourteen priests work in specialized ministries in hospitals and other institutions. The Church of Iceland also has priests serving Icelandic congregations abroad.

The theological faculty of the University of Iceland, founded in 1911, educates the clergy (priests and deacons) for the Lutheran Church. Many theologians go abroad for further studies in seminaries and universities on both sides of the Atlantic. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland is far from being isolated and is subjected to all contemporary influences and theological trends.