wfn.org | Norwegian pastor becomes bishop for Northern Europe, Baltics

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

March 9, 2001 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
10-21-71BP{121}

NOTE: A photograph of Bishop Oystein Olsen is available.

By United Methodist News Service

The Rev. Oystein Olsen of Norway was elected March 9 as the new United
Methodist bishop for Northern Europe and the Baltics.

He succeeds Bishop Hans Vaxby, based in Helsinki, Finland, who has completed
12 years in that position. Nominated by the Sweden Annual Conference, he was
elected on the 11th ballot.

The election occurred during the United Methodist Northern Europe Central
Conference, meeting March 7-11 in Karis, Finland. Conference delegates also
unanimously re-elected Bishop Ruediger Minor to serve in the Eurasia area,
which includes Russia.

Other countries that are part of the central conference include Estonia,
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania.

Born in Narvik, Norway, the 56-year-old Olsen was ordained an elder in 1973.
He has served as a pastor in both Norway and Sweden and has served at Oslo
Immanuel Church since 1996. He has been a member of the denomination-wide
General Council on Ministries since 1996. He also was a delegate to the
Northern Europe Central Conference from 1985 to 1997.

Within the Norway Annual Conference, Olsen served on the conference
administrative board from 1981 to 1989; on the board of ordained ministry
from 1980 to 1996, including seven years as chairman; and on the committee
on episcopacy since 1989, where he also served as chairman. He was the
conference representative to the Nordic Ecumenical Council for four years.

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United Methodist News Service
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