Training and Supporting New Pastors for Church Planting
LCIN’s Deputy Bishop Reverend Sakarias Ingolfsson (Left) and the Reverend Bishop Torkild Masvie.
Who We Are
The Lutheran Church in Norway (LCIN) is a confessional Lutheran organization that follows the protocol of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS).
Founded in 2005 by Bishop Torkild Masvie, LCIN has developed a church planting model for the post-Christian era that has enjoyed great success. The model enables pastors to form new congregations with as few as two people and successfully minister to them as membership increases. This unique approach to church planting has helped the organization grow from one congregation to ten in the past 20 years.
Why is LCIN’s church planting model so successful? College-aged men are recruited for ministry, given in-depth theological training, and then attend and graduate from one of LCMS’ seminaries in the United States. Following graduation, they then return to Norway for their ordination as new pastors.
The LCIN headquarters provides new pastors with a salary that is 40% of the full salary. The remaining 60% of the full salary must be earned by each pastor through part-time jobs.
These brave new pastors then move to an area where they begin their congregations. The pastors are supported in their work by other nearby pastors and from the LCIN headquarters in Oslo, Norway. The LCIN headquarters provides new pastors with a salary that is 40% of the full salary. The remaining 60% of the full salary must be earned by each pastor through part-time jobs.
As their own congregations grow and are more able to financially support their new pastor, less money is needed from LCIN for their salaries. LCIN can then redirect the support to another new pastor. Generous donors provide the initial 40% start-up salaries. This is how LCIN has been so successful in planting new and growing congregations.
The first congregation was in Oslo, and now LCIN conducts worship services in the following towns and locations:
Harstad, Kautokeino, Lofoten, Oslo, Molde, Ofoten OG Sor-Troms (Hergot), Stavenger, Trondheim, Alesund and Reykjavík, Iceland.
In the near future, LCIN plans to bring a new confessional Lutheran church to the Faroe Islands! LCIN is also exploring opportunities to establish churches in Greenland!
