Anne Hege Grung

Anne Hege Grung serves as Dean of Research at the University of Oslo's Faculty of Theology, where she leads pioneering work in interreligious studies with specialized focus on Christian-Muslim relations, gender justice, and hermeneutical theory within Nordic religious pluralism contexts. Her academic profile bridges practical theology, sociology of religion, and feminist scholarship through extensive fieldwork in Oslo's multicultural communities.

Education:

• Cand. Theol., University of Oslo, 1991
• Practical Theological Seminary, 1992
• Ordained Priest, Church of Norway, 1992
• PhD in Theology, University of Oslo, 2011

Grung's research examines how religious communities negotiate identity in plural societies, with particular attention to gender dynamics in interfaith dialogue and sacred text interpretation. She investigates spiritual care practices in healthcare and community settings, analyzes religious responses to violence against women, and explores pedagogical approaches for religious leadership in diverse contexts. Her work consistently applies intersectional feminist frameworks to challenge power structures within and between religious traditions.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) gender politics in Baltic-Nordic religious contexts examining state-religion-NGO dynamics; (2) spiritual care complexities in plural societies addressing pandemic-era challenges; and (3) hermeneutical studies of Muslim-Christian feminist scriptural engagement. These threads converge in her critical examination of how religious communities balance tradition with contemporary social justice imperatives.

Scientific Awards:

• Female Theologian of the Year 2002, Norwegian Association of Women Theologians
• The Bridge Builder Award 2003, Norwegian Church Academies
• UiO Communication Award 2010 (CULCOM research program)

Grung has secured significant research funding including multiple NFR (Research Council of Norway) grants for projects such as 'Inclusion and Exclusion in the Suburb' and the current comparative study on violence against women in religious communities across Norway and Lebanon. She has supervised doctoral candidates and developed specialized training programs for religious leaders from immigrant backgrounds, emphasizing dialogue competence in pluralistic settings.

Her scholarly leadership extends to the Interreligious Studies and Islamic Theology research group at UiO, the European research network ESITIS (European Society for Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies), and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE), where she contributes to international theological discourse on religious pluralism through ongoing committee work and collaborative projects.