This is still the case. Consequently, the diocese has a high number of non-paid coworkers working together with the paid ones. Congregational ministry can be found in any given area throughout the diocese.
However, new times make new challenges: for example, many young people are moving from the countryside into the metropolitan areas. This challenges SD to start new congregations, renew traditional ones and revise liturgy and church order, in order to enable congregations to attract all generations to attend worship. Three key-words in the renewal of the liturgy are: contextualization/local adaption, involvement of laypeople and flexibility. The reform is experience-based, but within the framework of a common liturgy for Church of Norway.
Congregational Life
The diocese and its congregational life have, since the late 18th century, been influenced and blessed by a strong laymen’s movement.