Per Voksø
Encyclopedia
Per Voksø is a Norwegian newspaper editor and Christian leader.
He was born in Bergen
as the son of Julius Peder Voksø (1888–1937) and Gudrun Larssen (1891–1972). He took commerce school in 1941 and examen artium
in 1944. In 1945 he started as a journalist in Bergen's Christian newspaper, Dagen
. He participated at the foundation congress of the World Council of Churches
in 1948. In the same year he married shipmaster's daughter Doris Paulsen.
He was hired as subeditor of Vår Kirke in 1954, and Morgenposten
in 1957. In late 1966 he was promoted to editor-in-chief. He succeeded Asbjørn Engen
. However, shortly after the newspaper was bought by industrialist Sverre Munck
. The previous owner was Libertas, a semi-secret libertarian organization. Voksø ran afoul with the new owner, and resigned after only three months in the editor's chair. He was succeeded by acting editor Gunnar Kristiansen. Until his retirement in 1986, Voksø worked as editor of publishing in Det Beste, the Norwegian version of the Reader's Digest
.
Voksø chaired YMCA Norway
from 1955 to 1964 and was a member of the executive committee of the international YMCA from 1955 to 1961 and 1968 to 1974. In the World Council of Churches he was a member of the central committee and executive committee from 1983 to 1991. He was also active in the Lutheran World Federation
. He chaired Kirkerådet from 1970 to 1978 and Mellomkirkelig råd from 1986 to 1990, and had ecumenical concerns. In 1998 he received the Norwegian Ecumenical Prize.
He was also a board member of the Church City Mission
and Norwegian Church Aid
, and chaired the latter organization from 1980 to 1986. All in all, he has been called "one of the most influential leaders within the Church of Norway
" and "the most central layman
in Norwegian post-war
church life". In 1992 he was decorated as Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He died in December 2002 in Oslo.
He was born in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
as the son of Julius Peder Voksø (1888–1937) and Gudrun Larssen (1891–1972). He took commerce school in 1941 and examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1944. In 1945 he started as a journalist in Bergen's Christian newspaper, Dagen
Dagen
Dagen may refer to a number of newspapers:* Dagen , or a historical Danish newspaper by that name:** Dagen * Dagen...
. He participated at the foundation congress of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
in 1948. In the same year he married shipmaster's daughter Doris Paulsen.
He was hired as subeditor of Vår Kirke in 1954, and Morgenposten
Morgenposten
Morgenposten is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1861 to 1971. It was the largest newspaper in Norway from the 1870s until the early 1900s, when its name was Christiania Nyheds- og Avertissements-Blad, also nicknamed Sværta....
in 1957. In late 1966 he was promoted to editor-in-chief. He succeeded Asbjørn Engen
Asbjørn Engen
Asbjørn Engen was a Norwegian newspaper editor and organizational leader.In 1948 he was hired as secretary general in Landsforeningen mot kreft. It was newly founded at the time, and is since a 1998 merger known as the Norwegian Cancer Association. In 1950 Engen moved on to become a journalist in...
. However, shortly after the newspaper was bought by industrialist Sverre Munck
Sverre Munck
-Early life and career:He was born in Høvik as the son of dean Oskar Albert Munck og Mathilde Munthe-Kaas . He was also a great-grandson of Johan Storm Munch. He grew up in Øygarden, took his examen artium at Frogner School in 1916 and a degree in electrical engineering at the Norwegian Institute...
. The previous owner was Libertas, a semi-secret libertarian organization. Voksø ran afoul with the new owner, and resigned after only three months in the editor's chair. He was succeeded by acting editor Gunnar Kristiansen. Until his retirement in 1986, Voksø worked as editor of publishing in Det Beste, the Norwegian version of the Reader's Digest
The Reader's Digest Association
The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. is a global media and direct marketing company, best known for its flagship publication founded in 1922, Reader's Digest...
.
Voksø chaired YMCA Norway
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
from 1955 to 1964 and was a member of the executive committee of the international YMCA from 1955 to 1961 and 1968 to 1974. In the World Council of Churches he was a member of the central committee and executive committee from 1983 to 1991. He was also active in the Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Federation
The Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the...
. He chaired Kirkerådet from 1970 to 1978 and Mellomkirkelig råd from 1986 to 1990, and had ecumenical concerns. In 1998 he received the Norwegian Ecumenical Prize.
He was also a board member of the Church City Mission
Church City Mission
Church City Mission is a diaconal foundation in Norway doing social work within alcohol care, elderly care, child welfare, mental health care and among prostitutes - as well as religious activities with pastoral care, preaching and church work.Church City Mission was founded on January 22, 1855 by...
and Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian Church Aid , "Kirkens Nødhjelp" in Norwegian, is an independent humanitarian and ecumenical organisation with headquarters in Oslo, Norway. The organisation also has offices in 65 countries worldwide and receives funding from the Norwegian Protestant church, their institutions and...
, and chaired the latter organization from 1980 to 1986. All in all, he has been called "one of the most influential leaders within the Church of Norway
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
" and "the most central layman
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
in Norwegian post-war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
church life". In 1992 he was decorated as Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He died in December 2002 in Oslo.