Background
Stein Reinertsen was born and grew up in Oslo, with parents originally from Lista in Southern Norway. His father died when he was 14.
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Stein Reinertsen
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Career
Reinertsen obtained a candidate.theol. degree from the MF Norwegian School of Theology in Oslo in 1986. In 1988, Reinertsen worked as a military chaplain in Hans Majestet Kongens Garde (the Royal guards). From 1989 to February 1992, he worked for the Norwegian Christian Student and School Association.
Then he worked as a student pastor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences from 1992 to 1995.
In 1995, he was head of Credo Forlag, a publishing house owned by the Norwegian Christian Student and School Association. He served as parish priest in Farsund from 1996 to 2012.
Between 2010 to 2012 he also worked as a hospital pastor at the Flekkefjord department of the Hospital of Southern Norway. In March 2012 he became dean of Mandal deanery.
Stein Reinertsen was one of five nominated candidates to become bishop after Olav Skjevesland.
After a round of input from various church bodies, Reinertsen remained as a candidate together with Anne-May Grosaas and Ludvig Bjerkreim. In the second round, he obtained the most votes among local parishes and priests. Eight bishops preferred Anne-May Grasaas, while four preferred Reinertsen.
The Church"s National Council, having the final say, voted ten for Reinertsen and five for Grasaas.
His appointment was announced in December 2012. This was a result of changes to the Constitution of Norway in 2012.
He was consecrated bishop in Kristiansand Cathedral on 27 January 2013. King Harald attended the ceremony, which was the first time he attended a bispevigsling without being head of the Church.
Minister of Church affairs Rigmor Aasrud also attended the event which was led by bishop Helga Haugland Byfuglien.
Stein Reinertsen is considered a conservative theologian, but refuses the label of theological conservative. He was in his early career opposed to ordination of women to priesthood, but changed his view as a result of further studies of bible texts and conversations with former bishop Odd Bondevik. After he was elected bishop, Aftenposten featured a story about Reinertsen being opposed to marrying people who are divorced.
This stance was criticised by politicians and others, with leader of Vest-Agder Labour Party Linda Verdal leaving the church in protest.
In subsequent interviews, Reinertsen underlined that sub-ordinate priests in the diocese were free to follow their own conscience on the issue and he would not discourage them from marrying divorced persons. The church"s national council has the final say on the issue.
