Ragnhild Jepsen became first woman Priest to take position in Nidares Cathedral and has been serving as a Priest there sense 2011. Ragnhild Jepsen was born in 1969 in Ål, Hallingdal and graduated Menighetsfakultet in 1995 in general theology and practical theology in 1997. From 1997 to 2003 she was Kapellan in Åmot Østerdalen. From 2003 to 2006, she was Kapellan in Nidaros Cathedral and Our Lady and social priest from 2006 at the same place.
“I became a priest because I had felt the call to iy. It was nothing dramatic, just an inner recognition that God will use me as I am using my abilities for that.” — said Ragnhild Jepsen in the interview to with Ole-Einar Andersen. The interview was reproduced on the methodists website before she was about to preach in their church service.
– My first priesthood I took was in Rena, Østerdalen. There I have learned to be excited about the church as an important factor in the local community, says Jepsen. When the rural community was put to the test, both through the bankruptcy of Rena Kartong and after Åstaulka, we saw how unifying church is for the community and what we manage to do together.
– It is the same with Nidaros Cathedral, only that it is also a church for all Norwegian people, also for those who belong to other denominations or even in other religions, Jepsen said.
Foto: Titt Melhus