he minored in english at the university of oslo in 1953 and took the cand.theol. degree at the mf norwegian school of theology in 1957. after a period as leader of "norsk kristelig studieråd" from to 1957 to 1960 he began a long career in the norwegian church abroad. he was stationed as a seamen's priest in rotterdam from 1960 to 1962, curacao from 1962 to 1966 and antwerp from 1966 to 1971. he then served as a curate in nedre stjørdal in norway from 1971 to 1976.