Oslo, Norway - Norway opened a series of hearings Monday on a separation of church and state after 469 years of Lutheranism as the Nordic nation's official religion.
The government asked 2,500 people and groups, including every congregation and city in Norway, to comment by Dec. 1 on a special panel's recommendation that church and state be split.
"I would encourage those asked to comment to organize information and discussion sessions, in local communities as well as on the regional and national level," said Minister of Culture and Churches Trond Giske in launching the hearings.
In January, the majority of a 20-member government panel recommended the separation. However, no change could be made until at least 2014 because it would require a constitutional amendment approved by two successive parliaments.
About 86 percent of Norway's 4.6 million people are registered members of the Church of Norway. However, registration is automatic at birth -- a far smaller number are active.
The current church is funded by the central government, which also employs its staff, including bishops and other clergy.
The religious and secular members of the State-Church Panel spent nearly three years working on the issue. Eighteen members recommended ending the state church system. Of those, 14 said the church should have a special legal status, while four said it should be treated the same as all other beliefs.
Lutheranism became Norway's official religion in 1537 by royal decree.
Denmark has a similar Lutheran state church, while Sweden ended its state church system on Jan. 1, 2000.