Meet the Bishop

The Rev. Knut Refsdal was elected a United Methodist bishop on April 4, 2025 at the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Bishop Knut, who has been an ordained elder in the Norway Conference since 1994, was consecrated a bishop on April 6. He currently serves as the Resident Bishop of the seven conferences in Denmark, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Ukraine.

Bishop Refsdal has longtime experience in ecumenical work. He has served as a senior executive officer and project leader for the Christian Council of Norway as well as the ecumenical council’s top executive from 2012 to 2018. He also has served on the board of The United Methodist Church’s Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relations and as a member of the Stakeholders’ Forum for the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome. Since 2024, he has served as a pastor in Jeløy in the Church of Norway, the country’s Lutheran denomination. United Methodist clergy are eligible to pastor Lutheran churches.

Bishop Refsdal is a prolific writer who has published sermons and devotions as well as other theological work. He has a Master in Theology from the United Methodist Theological Seminary in Oslo and has continued his education in business, personnel management, conflict management, leadership and religious studies.

He was born in Porsgrunn, Norway, and graduated from the UMC Theological Seminary in Norway in 1992.

 

INTERESTS, SKILLS, PASSIONS and PRIORITIES

  • To follow Jesus by participating in God’s mission for a better world.
  • To explore United Methodist identity through vital theology, preaching and worship.
  • To seek where the Spirit is at work and joining in through fresh expressions of church.
  • To promote inclusiveness, involvement, and collaboration through relationship-oriented leadership.
  • To release resources for ministry through sufficient and effective organization and administration.

APPOINTMENTS

 1992-2002 Pastor, UMC Sarpsborg, Norway.

  • 2002-05 Senior Executive Officer/Project leader, Christian Council of Norway.
  • 2005-09 Assistant to the Bishop, UMC Nordic and Baltic area.
  • 2009-12 Affiliate professor, UMC Theological Seminary, Norway.
  • 2012-18 General Secretary, Christian Council of Norway.
  • 2018-23 District Superintendent, UMC Eastern district, Norway.
  • 2024-25 Parish pastor, Jeløy (Church of Norway).

EDUCATION

  • Master in Theology, UMC Theological Seminary/ MF Norwegian School of Theology, 1989-94/2003-06 (300 ects).
  • Business and Economics, Østfold University College,1994-98 (60 ects).
  • Personnel Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2000 (30 ects).
  • Conflict Management, VID Specialized University, 2007-08 (30 ects).
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2010-13 (60 ects).
  • Experience-Based Master Theology, MF Norwegian School of Theology, 2013-17 (90 ects).
  • Religious Studies, MF Norwegian School of Theology, 2017-18 (30 ects).
  • Value-based Leadership, MF Norwegian School of Theology, 2019-20 (10 ects).
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Education, Østfold University College, 2020-22 (60 ects).

OTHER ROLES and MINISTRIES (excerpt)

 Mentor, Natural Church Development, 2000-07.

  • Department Manager/Coach, Personalpartner (vocational rehabilitation) (full time), 2009-12.
  • Mediator, National Mediation Service, 2009-12.
  • Chair Board, Norwegian Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Stillbirth Society, 2010-12.
  • Member Board of Trustees, Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary, 2011-12.
  • Director Board, UMC Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relations, 2008-16.
  • Member Stakeholders’ Forum, Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, 2015-17.
  • Member Board, Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities, 2012-18.
  • Chief Executive Officer, Mount of Olives Foundation, 2012-18.
  • Member, Central Conference Round Table Conversations, 2019-20.
  • Teacher in Religion and Ethics, Kirkeparken high school (part time), 2020.
  • Secretary, UMC Norway, Liturgy Committee, 2006-09, 2018-23.
  • Chair Board, Moss Athletics, 2019-23.
  • Podcast editor, Fresh Expressions of Church, 2020-23.
  • Member Board, European Methodist Council, 2021-23,
  • Member/Vice Chair Board, Blue Cross Norway, 2016-24.
  • Member/Chair Board, Norwegian Church Academies, 2022-.

Publications (excerpt)

«Ord om tro» (sermons), 1996.

  • «Læreforkynnelse» (in Teologisk Forum), 1996.
  • «Liv i gudstjenesten – gudstjenesten i livet» (in Teologisk Forum), 1996.
  • «Legg ut på dypet» (sermons), 2001.
  • «Feltprestkorpset som økumenisk aktør» (in Pacem, with Lars-Erik Nordby), 2003.
  • «Dere vet hvilken tid det nå er (master thesis), 2006.
  • «Bibelord ved sykeseng» (daily devotions), 2015.
  • «Økumenikk: Å fremme liv i fellesskap og forsoning» (master thesis), 2015.
  • «Bibelen» (i Troshåndboka, Vårt Land forlag), 2020.
  • «God’s role in times of crisis» (UM News), 2020.

 Family

Married to Åshild Skiri Refsdal. Children: Andreas (1991), Fredrik (1997-98), and Astrid (2001).