Børre Knudsen

Børre Knudsen (born December 24, 1937, in Vennesla) is a Norwegian Lutheran minister noted for his pro-life activism.

Knudsen completed his seminary education in 1966 and was ordained in the Church of Norway in 1967. He served as an assistant minister in Balsfjord from 1968 until 1971, when he was made minister of the parish there.

In 1979, when the Norwegian parliament finalized legislation allowing abortion on demand in the first trimester, Knudsen protested by refusing to perform any duties on behalf of the Norwegian state. He did not accept a salary from the state, perform weddings, issue birth certificates, or open mail addressed to him as a civil servant.

Minister of Church and Education Einar Førde dismissed Knudsen from his post for neglecting his duties. Knudsen sued the state and won the first round. He eventually lost his case on appeal to the Supreme Court of Norway in 1983 and was defrocked in the Church of Norway in 2001.

Two other ministers, Ludvig Nessa and Per Kørner, joined him in his protest and were also terminated from their posts and defrocked. In 1987, these three started non-violent protests at abortion clinics, turning up in traditional ministerial robes and singing psalms.

These activists and others established the parish of Strandebarm, proclaiming it the "Old Norwegian church in exile." Knudsen was made bishop of this church on April 5, 1997, and immediately excommunicated Norwegian medical doctors, politicians, and bishops of the state church from it. The congregation consists of seven clergy and focuses on reversing what it considers heresies in the Norwegian state church, including issues related to abortion, homosexuality, and the ordination of women.