Church of Denmark

The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark, also known as the National Church or Church of Denmark, is the official church supported by the Danish government. It is led by Denmark’s monarch and the country’s Parliament, called the Folketing. As of 2026, about 70% of people in Denmark are members, though anyone can choose whether to join.

Christianity first came to Denmark in the 9th century thanks to a priest named Ansgar. By the 10th century, a king named Harald Bluetooth became Christian and helped set up churches across the land. After a big change called the Reformation in Denmark, the church turned Lutheran but kept many of its old traditions.

In 1849, Denmark’s constitution named the church “the Danish people’s church” and said the government would support it. Today, the church is led by bishops, with the bishop of Copenhagen being the main leader among them.

Organization

The Church of Denmark is split into eleven areas called dioceses, each led by a bishop. One of these dioceses is for Greenland. The most important bishop is the bishop of Copenhagen. Each diocese has smaller groups called deaneries and about 2,200 local church communities called parishes. There are around 2,400 pastors who lead these parishes.

Each local church community has a group of members who help make decisions. This group chooses leaders and workers, like pastors and musicians. The pastor follows the group's decisions except when it comes to special church services or taking care of people’s spiritual needs.

People can also choose to join special groups within the Church called voluntary congregations. These groups pick their own leaders and pay for them, but they still follow the rules of the Church.

Right now, about 70% of people in Denmark are members of the Church of Denmark. Membership is open to anyone who has had a baptism, usually as a baby. People can choose to leave the Church if they want, but it doesn’t happen very often.

Even though not everyone goes to church every week, many people still use the Church for important family events like baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals.

Doctrine

The Church of Denmark tries to welcome people with different beliefs, as long as they follow certain important books. These books include the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, the Augsburg Confession, and Luther's Small Catechism.

The church also uses special versions of the Bible and a Hymn Book that were approved by Queen Margrethe II. There have been discussions about these changes. The church is part of groups that bring together different Christian churches around the world.

Liturgy

During church services, there are usually three readings from the Bible: one from the Gospels, one from the Epistles or another part of the New Testament, and since 1992, one from the Old Testament. The readings change depending on the time of year.

The sermon is an important part of the service. The priest uses a Bible passage to share a message, and sometimes others can also speak. Hymns are also very important. In Danish churches, people sit while singing and stand while listening to the Bible.

The Church of Denmark has special ceremonies for important life events like baptism, weddings, and funerals.

Church and state

The monarch of Denmark must belong to the Church of Denmark, as stated in the country's constitution. This rule also applies to royal princes and princesses, though not to their spouses. Historically, foreign members of the royal family have converted to the Church of Denmark before marrying into the royal family.

When Denmark adopted Lutheran Christianity in 1536, it became the official religion. For many years, people who followed other religions faced harsh treatment. Over time, laws changed to allow more religious freedom. Today, Denmark allows many different religions, though Lutheranism remains the state church.

The Church of Denmark does not have a central leader like an archbishop. Instead, bishops make decisions within their areas, and the king and parliament handle administrative matters. The church helps with important tasks like recording births and deaths, and it receives support from the government. Many people in Denmark belong to the Church of Denmark, but membership is not required. The church works closely with the government but stays out of political issues.

The Church of Denmark keeps records of important life events, such as births and deaths, which is a tradition dating back many years. This helps the government keep track of its citizens. The church also receives financial support from the government, which helps it provide services for everyone, regardless of their religion.

Denmark's system of having a state church is supported by many but has also faced questions about fairness to other religions. Some argue that the state church helps maintain Denmark's history and identity, while others believe all religions should be treated equally. Other Nordic countries, like Sweden and Norway, also have state Lutheran churches.

Controversial issues

Female clergy

The Church of Denmark has allowed women to be priests since 1948. At first, many people did not agree with this, but now most priests are women. In 1995, the first woman became a bishop. Still, a few people do not agree with women being priests.

Same-sex marriage

Denmark allows same-sex marriages in the Church of Denmark. In 2012, the church decided to perform these marriages. Before that, same-sex couples could have special blessings, but not full marriages. Some people in the church did not agree with this change, but many priests choose whether to perform these marriages.

Early position of the church

When Denmark allowed same-sex civil unions in 1989, the church did not perform full marriages. Instead, some churches offered special blessings for these couples. Each priest could decide if they wanted to offer these blessings.

Same-sex marriages accepted

In 2012, the Church of Denmark began performing same-sex marriages. Before this, in 1973, a priest performed what is thought to be the world’s first gay wedding, though it was not legally recognized. Over time, more churches began to bless same-sex partnerships.

Constitutionality

Some people argued that allowing same-sex marriages might go against Denmark’s constitution, which says the Church of Denmark must follow Lutheran teachings. However, the church decided to allow these marriages anyway.

Gay clergy

The Church of Denmark has gay and lesbian priests. This is seen as a personal matter, and each priest is employed by the community they serve. Sometimes, priests face difficulties because of their sexuality, but the church supports them.

Rebuttal to Dominus Iesus

In 2000, the Church of Denmark disagreed with a statement from the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church had used a term that seemed to say Protestant churches, including Lutheran ones, were not real churches. The Church of Denmark said this was harmful to efforts to work together peacefully with other Christian groups.