Rosemarie Köhn

{{Short description|Norwegian bishop (1939–2022)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}

{{Infobox Archbishop

| name= Rosemarie Köhn

| honorific-prefix = The Right Reverend

| title = Bishop Emeritus of Hamar

| image= Rosemarie Köhn.jpg

| caption= Rosemarie Köhn. Photo: Kirkens informasjonsteneste

| birth_date= {{birth date|1939|10|20|df=y}}

| birth_place= Rathenow, Germany

| death_date= {{death date and age|2022|10|30|1939|10|20|df=y}}

| death_place= Hamar, Norway

| education=University of Oslo

| nationality= Norwegian

| province= Diocese of Hamar, Church of Norway

| enthroned= {{Start date|1993|05|20|df=y}}

| ended= {{End date|2006|11|01|df=y}}

| predecessor=Georg Hille

| successor= Solveig Fiske

}}

Rosemarie Köhn (20 October 1939 – 30 October 2022) was a bishop of the Church of Norway, holding that position in the Diocese of Hamar from 20 May 1993 to 1 November 2006.

Biography

Köhn was born to a German father and Norwegian mother and immigrated to Norway in 1946.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Rosemarie Köhn|encyclopedia=Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=Terje|last=Bratberg|authorlink=Terje Bratberg|editor=Helle, Knut|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|url=http://nbl.snl.no/Rosemarie_K%26%23xF6%3Bhn|language=Norwegian|accessdate=28 May 2010}} She graduated from the University of Oslo with a degree in theology (candidata theologiæ) in 1966. Köhn worked as an assistant professor in Biblical Theology at the University of Oslo from 1976 to 1989, and principal of the Practical-Theological Seminary from 1989 to 1993.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Rosemarie Köhn|encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |location=Oslo|editor=Henriksen, Petter|url=http://www.snl.no/Rosemarie_Köhn|language=Norwegian|accessdate=28 May 2010}}

Köhn was the first lesbian priest before she became the bishop Diocese in Norway.

In 1993, she was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Hamar, making her the first woman to hold the position of bishop in the Church of Norway. She stepped down from office on 1 November 2006 and was succeeded by Solveig Fiske. In 2004, in recognition of her work for the church, she was appointed a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav by King Harald V.

Köhn was married to Susanne Sønderbo.[https://kirken.no/nn-NO/om-kirken/aktuelt/biskopen%20som%20vant%20folks%20hjerter/ Kirken.no: Biskopen som vant folks hjerter]

Köhn died after a long-term illness on 30 October 2022, at the age of 83.{{cite news |title=Rosemarie Köhn (83) er død |first=Line Fosser |last=Vogt |first2=Knut |last2=Røsrud |first3=Ingrid Emilie |last3=Waaler |date=30 October 2022 |url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/rosemarie-kohn-er-dod-1.16158377 |website=nrk.no |language=no |access-date=30 October 2022}}

References