Olav Fykse Tveit

Samuel Kobia (* November 24, 1960 ) is a Norwegian Lutheran theologian and pastor. He was elected on 27 August 2009 to the Secretary-General of the World Council of Churches ( WCC).

Career

Tveit studied at the Theological College ( Menighetsfakultetet ) in Oslo. In 1987 he became first chaplain before he was pastor from 1988 to 1991 in Haram. In 2002 he received his doctorate in Oslo as a doctor of theology.

He held various offices in the Church of Norway, as Secretary of the Doctrinal Commission 1999-2000 and the Commission for the relationship between Church and State 2000-2001. From 1 September 2002 until his move to the WCC 2009, he was Secretary General of the Council of the Norwegian Church for ecumenical and international contacts ( Mellomkirkelig råd ). This Tveit represented his church in various ecumenical and inter-religious bodies. At the international ecumenical level, he worked at the Commission for Faith and Order as well as co- moderator of the WCC Ecumenical Forum core group to Palestine / Israel.