Religious organization serving Scandinavians traveling abroad
The Norwegian Church Abroad or The Norwegian Seamen’s Church (
Norwegian: Sjømannskirken) is a religious organisation serving
Norwegians and other
Scandinavians travelling abroad. Founded in 1864, The Norwegian Seamen's Mission – Sjømannsmisjonen – was established to secure the moral and religious education of Scandinavian seafarers, but also to give them a "breathing room" where a fellow countryman was available to lend an ear and give some attention. The churches and their staff together with travelling pastors around the globe represent a "resource center" for all Norwegians travelling internationally.
Sjømannskirken annually serves around 700 thousand Norwegians through over 30 churches and 16 mobile services in 30 countries around the world. Several churches operate in Scandinavia. The Norwegian Church Abroad is a charitable organization supported by the
Church of Norway and the
Norwegian Government. Sjømannskirken is also a member of the
ICMA and the
Council of Nordic Seamen's Missions. With its main office in
Bergen, it is under episcopal supervision.[1]
For most Norwegians travelling abroad, Sjømannskirken is a nice place to rest: one can read newspapers from home, buy Norwegian food and speak to other Norwegians. Many Norwegians living permanently abroad use the seamen's churches instead of a local church.
Locations
Africa
Africa, Travelling mission in Africa south of Sahara
Miami,
United States[5][6] There has been a Norwegian Seamen's church in Miami since the early 1980s. In November 2011,
Crown Princess Mette-Marit opened a new building for the church. The church was built as a center for the 10,000 Scandinavians that live in Florida. Around 4,000 of them are Norwegian. The church is also an important place for the 150 Norwegians that work at
Disney World.[7]