Bishop Torkild Masvie Archives - International Lutheran Council

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Bishop Torkild Masvie

Lutheran Church in Norway and Iceland identifies candidates for next bishop

by Mathew Block | Jan 28, 2026

*Rev. Sakarias Ingolfsson and Rev. Markus Snellman.*

NORWAY – The Lutheran Church in Norway and Iceland (Den Lutherske Kirke i Norge og Island / Lúterska kirkjan í Noregi og á Íslandi – LKNI) has identified two pastors as possible candidates for the church’s new bishop: Rev. Sakarias Ingolfsson and Rev. Markus Snellman. An election will take place during the LKNI’s church council on March 14, and the consecration of the new bishop will take place in October.

Rev. Sakarias Ingolfsson, an Icelander by birth, serves as parish pastor in Messiah Church (Oslo) as well as in Rejkjavik, Iceland. He also leads the LKNI’s pastoral study program AdFontes. Rev. Ingolfsson holds a master’s degree from Fjellhaug International University College (Oslo) as well as an S.T.M degree from Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, Indiana).

Rev. Markus Snellman, a Swedish-speaking Finn, is parish pastor in Narvik and Svolvær. He is also leading a church building project in Narvik. He holds master’s degrees from both Fjellhaug International University College (Oslo) as well as from Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, Indiana).

*Bishop Torkild Masvie speaks at the ILC’s 2018 World Conference in Antwerp, Belgium.*

The new bishop will succeed Bishop Torkild Masvie who turns 70 years old this October, at which time he will reach the age limit for service as bishop under the LKNI’s bylaws. The episcopal consecration of the new bishop will therefore take place on October 24 in Oslo.

Bishop Masvie was consecrated as bishop of the LKNI in 2017, after having previously served the young church as provisional bishop for many years. Bishop Masvie led the LKNI into membership in the International Lutheran Council (ILC) in 2015.

The International Lutheran Council is a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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Norwegian Lutherans consecrate bishop

by Mathew Block | Jun 16, 2017

NORWAY – On May 25, 2017, The Lutheran Church in Norway (Den lutherske kirke i Norge – LKN) consecrated Rev. Torkild Masvie as its Bishop.

Bishop Masvie was installed into his office by Archbishop Jānis Vanags of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (ELCL), assisted by Bishop Arri Kugappi of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR), Bishop Hanss Jensons of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, , and President Dan Gilbert of the Northern Illinois District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The LKN’s Deputy Bishop Rev. Alf Danbolt led the Norwegian part of the consecration.

Bishop Masvie is installed. (Photo: Sondre Masvie.)

Prior to his consecration, Bishop Masvie had previously served the LKN as provisional bishop. The LKN is a young church with five congregations and 90 baptized members. It dates back to the 2005 founding of the Church of the Messiah. The church has four pastors in active duty and one retired pastor. It was accepted into membership in the International Lutheran Council during the 2015 World Conference in Argentina.

The LCMS and the ELCIR are fellow members of the International Lutheran Council with the Lutheran Church in Norway. The ELCL is a member church of the Lutheran World Federation, but is in fellowship with the LCMS.

Russian and Norwegian Lutherans declare fellowship

by Mathew Block | Mar 16, 2017

ELCIR Bishop Arri Kugappi and LKN Provisional Bishop Torkild Masvie.

RUSSIA – On January 18, 2017 the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR) and The Lutheran Church in Norway (LKN) entered into church fellowship.

The decision came following talks in St. Petersburg between ELCIR Bishop Arri Kugappi and LKN Provisional Bishop Torkild Masvie. Also participating in the talks were senior advisors from both church bodies.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia and The Lutheran Church in Norway are both members of the International Lutheran Council, a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies.

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