Controversial priest Einar Gelius retires after 40 years

Einar Gelius, Norway’s most controversial priest, held his final service on Sunday at Strøm Church in Sør-Odal, marking the end of a 40-year career.

Crowds filled the pews for the occasion, surprising the 67-year-old, who prepared in a back room, donning liturgical vestments typically reserved for high holidays and communion. “I have to dress up a little extra today,” he told Dagbladet.

Among the attendees were former parishioners from Vålerenga in Oslo, where Gelius served before moving to Sør-Odal. Jenny Jenssen, who sang at his farewell service in Oslo and again on Sunday, described him as a “family priest” who had renewed her marriage vows and baptised her daughter. “He has a unique way of reaching people,” she said.

Gelius reflected on his 16 years in Oslo as the most dramatic period of his career, particularly after the 2010 publication of his book Sex in the Bible. The work, which explored biblical depictions of sexuality alongside personal reflections, sparked widespread debate. It included claims that Jesus may have had sex, that pornography could be acceptable, and that premarital sex was unproblematic. The controversy ultimately cost him his position.

His career began with early controversy in the late 1980s when he opened his church to lesbian and gay congregants. Later, he criticised the Church of Norway for lacking gender-neutral wedding rituals for same-sex couples. While he acknowledges progress in inclusion, he laments the growing bureaucratisation of the church, arguing that excessive paperwork and political alignment alienate many.

Harald Hegstad, head of the Church Council, acknowledged the challenge of keeping the church relevant in an increasingly secular society. “We thank Gelius for his decades of service in making faith accessible,” Hegstad said.

Now retiring, Gelius looks forward to a quieter life. “Being a priest is a lifestyle—you never really clock out,” he said.