Press release

19 September 2024

At the annual meeting of the European Council of Religious Leaders, held in Oslo September 16-18 2024, the Rev Dr Thomas Wipf passed his Presidency over to Bishop Kari Mangrud Alvsvåg of the Diocese of Borg, Norway.

The European Council of Religious Leaders express their deep gratitude to the Rev. Dr Thomas Wipf for his dedicated service as President (Moderator) for the past twelve years.

During his years of leadership Rev Dr Wipf worked tirelessly to bring together religious leaders from across Europe, for dialogue on some of the most significant challenges faced in Europe over the past decade, and multireligious cooperation on many important areas including migration, countering hate speech and freedom of religion and belief..

The ECRL members voted unanimously in support of Bishop Kari’s appointment and look forward to her leading the ECRL in the next stage of the Council’s work and development. Bishop Kari expressed her gratitude and honour at being chosen as the new President, stating that,

“Whilst this prestigious appointment has come as a surprise to me as a new member of the Council, the Norwegian Church has a long association with the European Council of Religious Leaders. I am delighted and honoured to be asked to lead the ECRL as its new President”.

Bishop Kari was given a very warm welcome by the ECRL members and the ECRL secretariat, who will be supporting her in the coming years.

 

Bishop Kari Mangrud Alvsvåg, was ordained as a priest for the Norwegian Church Abroad in Dubai in 1999. Her ministry there provided a strong encounter with a multicultural society, and this experience is where her commitment to interaction between religious actors was awakened. As well as holding several senior positions within the Church of Norway before becoming Bishop, she also worked for eight years as a teacher and social pedagogical advisor.

 

Image copyright of ECRL. Image features new President Bishop Kari, alongside outgoing President Rev. Dr Thomas Wipf and Vice Presidents Rabbi Izhak Dayan, H.E. Mufti Professor Nedžad Grabus and Ron Eichhorn.

Image copyright of Den norske kirke i Borg (Karianne Hjørnevik Nes). Image features Bishop Kari Mangrud Alvsvåg of the Diocese of Borg, Norway.

For more information, contact:

Executive Secretary Rebecca@rfpeurope.org