Faithful no more: Norway church suffers 1-click exodus

Long criticised for having its records in disarray, the Lutheran Church, which is the official religion of state in Norway, on Monday put up a web page allowing people to verify their status but also giving them an easy way to sign up — or deregister.

 

Since then, 15,053 of the flock have chosen to veer off the path in an exodus which the church said it had been expecting.

 

“We will continue to be the people's church, open and welcoming,” church spokesman Kristin Gunleiksrud said in a statement.

 

“But no-one should be a member against his will and so I'm happy that this self-service option is available.”

 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church, which claims to have some 3.8 million members, or around 73 percent of the population, is currently in the process of separating from the state.

 

But there was also a little balm for the soul too, with the church saying some 549 people had gone online to actually sign up to join its ranks.