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Merete Thomassen

Associate Professor - Fagseksjonen
Image of Merete Thomassen
Phone +47 22 85 03 16
Mobile phone +47 92 23 69 18 +47 92236918
Username
Visiting address Blindernveien 9 Domus Theologica 0371 Oslo
Postal address Postboks 1023 Blindern 0315 Oslo

Academic interests

My main scholarly interests are studies of worship, liturgy and rites of passage. I am especially interested in the study of the use of language in services, called prayer language or liturgical language. I study the services from several theoretical perspectives: Systematic theological, philological and linguistical, modernity critical, feminist theological, liturgy historical and ritual theoretical. My doctoral thesis was an analysis of Norwegian liturgies with gender inclusive liturgical language. Lately I have studied contemporary Lutheran prayer language. My ongoing research project is on theological anthropology in contemporary liturgical prayers in different denominations, “Prayers in a New Culture. Theological Anthropology in Contemporary Liturgical Intercessions”.

Courses taught

Background

I was a parish minister and institution chaplain in the Diocese of Oslo from 1995 to 2000. After that, I returned to the Practical Theological Seminar at the University of Oslo as a doctoral student. From 2005 to 2014 I was partly in ecclesiastical positions as a student chaplain, chaplain at the Church of Norway`s Resource Center against Violence and Sexual Abuse and minister in Eastern Romerike Deanery, and partly in teaching positions at the Practical Theological Seminar and Faculty of Theology. My teaching has mainly been in liturgical studies. From 2014 I have been in a full time position as Associate Professor in liturgical studies. In addition to teaching and research, I am concerned with public scholarly conveying.

Awards

  • 2014: Honorary Member of Norwegian Association of Women Theologians

Memberships

Appointments

  • 2013- td: Member of The National Comittee for Worship and Liturgy, Church of Norway
  • 2009- 2013: Vice Chair of The National Comittee for Worship and Liturgy, Church of Norway
  • 2010 -2012: Member of the national Church Council Committee for Social Ethics and Gender Equality
  • 2005- 2009: Chair of The National Church Council Comittee for Gender Equality
Tags: Liturgical Studies, Practical Theology, Ritual studies, Liturgical Langugae, Feminist Theology, Gender Inclusive Language, Gender and Religion, Systematic Theology

Publications

Monographs

  • Doctoral Thesis: Thomassen, Merete: Kjønnsinkluderende liturgisk språk. En analyse av norske gudstjenester under Det økumeniske tiåret 1988-1998. Avhandling innlevert for graden doctor theologiae ved Det teologiske fakultet, UiO 2008
    • English: Gender Inclusive Liturgical Language. An Analysis of Norwegian Services During “The Ecumenical Decade Churches in Solidarity with Women 1988-1998. Thesis for the degree Doctor Theologiae at the Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo 2008
  • Thomassen, Merete & Lomheim, Sylfest (2013). Når dere ber. Om liturgisk språk og utforming av bønner til gudstjenesten. Oslo: Verbum
    • English: When you Pray. On Liturgical Language and the Art of Writing Prayers for the Service.
  • Thomassen, Merete: Gud til hverdags. Oslo: Verbum 2018
    • English: God for every day.

Articles

  • Thomassen, Merete (2017). Frelse fra dommen eller frelse for selvet? : om teologiske endringer i kristent gudstjenestespråk. Arr. Idéhistorisk tidsskrift.   29(2/2017),
    • English: «Salvation from the Final Jugdement or Salvation for the Self?: on Theological Changes in Christian Liturgical Language” in the journal Arr. Idea Historical Journal.
  • Thomassen, Merete (2017). Konfirmanter som ministranter i gudstjenesten, I: Elisabeth Tveito Johnsen (red.),  Gudstjenester med konfirmanter. En praktisk-teologisk dybdestudie med teoretisk bredde.Oslo: IKO
    • English: «Confirmands as Ministrants in the Service» in the publication: «Services with Confirmands. A Practical- Theoretical Depth Study with Theoretical Width”.
  • Thomassen, Merete (2014). Den liturgiske bønnen: Dogmatikk, poesi og erfaring., I: Geir Tryggve Hellemo (red.): Gudstjeneste på ny.  Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.  
    • English: «The Liturgical Prayer: Dogmatics, Poetry and Experiences» in the publication: New Service.”
  • Thomassen, Merete (2012). Construction of Gender, Liturgies and Dichotomies from a Norwegian Perspective., In Anne-Louise Eriksson; Göran Gunner & Niclas Blåder (ed.):  Exploring a heritage : Evangelical Lutheran churches in the north.  Pickwick Publications
  • Thomassen, Merete (2011). Kvinnelige prester, kvinnelige gudsbilder og kampen om vranglæren., I: Bjørg Kjersti Myren & Hanne Beate Stenvaag (red.): Hun våget å gå foran: Ingrid Bjerkås og kvinners prestetjeneste i Norge.  Oslo: Verbum.  
    • English: «Women Priests, Female Images of God and the Fight Against Heresy» in the publication: She Dared to Go in Front. Ingrid Bjerkås and Women`s Ministry in Norway.
  • Thomassen, Merete (2008). «Gudstjenesten som speiling av det individuelle eller kollektive subjekt? Om gjenkjennelseskriteriet i liturgisk reformarbeid». Kirke og kultur.  06/2008
    • English: “The Service as a Mirroring of the Individual or Collective Subject? On the Recognition Criteria in Liturgical Reforms.” in the journal Church and Culture.
  • Thomassen, Merete (2008). Mødres kirkegang i et kjønnsanalytisk og liturgihistorisk perspektiv.. St. Sunniva: Forum for Norsk Kvinnelig Teologforening.  3-4/2008
    • English: «Mother`s Birth Church Rite in a Gender Analytical and Liturgy Historical Perspective» in the journal St. Sunniva. Journal for Norwegian Women Theologians Association.
  • Thomassen, Merete (2008). Liturgi nedenfra. Om Kirkens ressursenters liturgiske praksis., I: Stig Lægdene (red.),  Praktisk kirkelig årbok 2008: Praktisk-kirkelig teologi nedenfra.  KUN: Kirkelig Utdanningssenter i Nord.  
    • English: Liturgy from Below. On the Liturgical Praxis at The Church` Resource Center against Violence and Sexual Abuse” in the publication Practical Theology from below.
  • Thomassen, Merete (2005). Kjønnsinkluderende språk som kritisk og konstruktivt prosjekt. St. Sunniva: Forum for Norsk Kvinnelig Teologforening.   3-4/2005
    • English: “Gender Inclusive Language as a Critical and Constructive Project.” in the journal St. Sunniva. Journal for Norwegian Women Theologians Association
  • Thomassen, Merete (2025). Gender Inclusive Language in the Church of Norway. A Story of Silence, Resistance and Silence Again. The Scottish Episcopal Institute Journal (SEI Journal). 9.1(Spring 2025), p. 64–81. doi: https:/sei.scot/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-9-1.pdf. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2022). Responding to the Sacred. International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church. ISSN 1474-225X. 21 (3-4), p. 301–306. doi: 10.1080/1474225X.2022.2024965. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2020). "Jeg brenner jo for involvering."Involvering og delaktighet i gudstjenester med økt oppslutning. Teologisk tidsskrift. ISSN 1893-0263. 2, p. 38–54. doi: 10.18261/issn.1893-0271-2020-02-03. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2020). @Coronaworship. Material and Digital Liturgies. The Scottish Episcopal Institute Journal (SEI Journal). 4.2, p. 88–98. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2020). <<Der barna er størst, de små kommer først>> Teologisk antropologi i et utvalg salmer i Den norske kirkes trosopplæring. In Strauman, Ragnhild & Krupka, Bernd (Ed.), Sang for livet! Salmene og sangen i Den norske kirkes trosopplæring. IKO-forlaget A/S. ISSN 9788282494199. p. 131–166. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2017). Konfirmanter som ministranter i gudstjenesten. In Johnsen, Elisabeth Tveito (Eds.), Gudstjenester med konfirmanter. En praktisk-teologisk dybdestudie med teoretisk bredde. IKO Verlags-GmbH. ISSN 9788282493185. p. 119–156. Full text in Research Archive
  • Johnsen, Elisabeth Tveito; Angel, Sivert; Thomassen, Merete; Johannessen, Halvard & Øierud, Gunnfrid Ljones (2017). Feltbesøk i tre menigheter. In Johnsen, Elisabeth Tveito (Eds.), Gudstjenester med konfirmanter. En praktisk-teologisk dybdestudie med teoretisk bredde. IKO Verlags-GmbH. ISSN 9788282493185. p. 25–38. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2017). Frelse fra dommen eller frelse for selvet? : om teologiske endringer i kristent gudstjenestespråk. Arr - Idéhistorisk tidsskrift. ISSN 0802-7005. 29(2/2017), p. 91–104. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2014). Den liturgiske bønnen: Dogmatikk, poesi og erfaring. In Hellemo, Geir Tryggve (Eds.), Gudstjeneste på ny. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215023076. p. 32–49. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2012). Construction of Gender, Liturgies and Dichotomies from a Norwegian Perspective. In Eriksson, Anne-Louise; Gunner, Göran & Blåder, Niclas (Ed.), Exploring a heritage : Evangelical Lutheran churches in the north. Pickwick Publications. ISSN 9781620321027. p. 191–206. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2011). Kvinnelige prester, kvinnelige gudsbilder og kampen om vranglæren. In Myren, Bjørg Kjersti & Stenvaag, Hanne Beate (Ed.), Hun våget å gå foran: Ingrid Bjerkås og kvinners prestetjeneste i Norge. Verbum Forlag. ISSN 9788254311820. p. 284–301. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2008). «Gudstjenesten som speiling av det individuelle eller kollektive subjekt? Om gjenkjennelseskriteriet i liturgisk reformarbeid». Kirke og kultur. ISSN 0023-186X. 112(06/2008), p. 522–533. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2008). Mødres kirkegang i et kjønnsanalytisk og liturgihistorisk perspektiv. St. Sunniva: Forum for Norsk Kvinnelig Teologforening. ISSN 0808-2901. 16(3-4), p. 91–101. Full text in Research Archive
  • Thomassen, Merete (2005). Kjønnsinkluderende språk som kritisk og konstruktivt prosjekt. St. Sunniva: Forum for Norsk Kvinnelig Teologforening. ISSN 0808-2901. 13(3-4), p. 202–215. Full text in Research Archive

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  • Thomassen, Merete & Lomheim, Sylfest (2013). Når dere ber. Om liturgisk språk og utforming av bønner til gudstjenesten. Verbum Forlag. ISBN 9788254312605. 195 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engen, Dagrun Astrid Aarø; Eriksen, Eli-Anne Vongraven; Iversen, Ragnhild; Næss, Even; Therkelsen, Maria & Thomassen, Merete (2011). Inn i livet 7 - religion, livssyn og etikk : ressursbok for læreren. Det Norske Samlaget. ISBN 9788252177985. 168 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Engen, Dagrun Astrid Aarø; Eriksen, Eli-Anne Vongraven; Iversen, Ragnhild; Næss, Even; Therkelsen, Maria & Thomassen, Merete (2011). Inn i livet 7 - religion, livssyn og etikk : elevbok. Det Norske Samlaget. ISBN 9788252178005. 192 p. Full text in Research Archive
  • Eriksen, Eli-Anne Vongraven; Engen, Dagrun Astrid Aare; Næss, Even; Iversen, Ragnhild; Thomassen, Merete & Therkelsen, Maria (2011). Inn i livet 4 - religion, livssyn og etikk. Ressursbok for læreren. Det Norske Samlaget. ISBN 9788252177985. 141 p. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

View all works in NVA

Published June 19, 2017 12:29 PM - Last modified June 22, 2023 11:12 AM

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