Andreas Aarflot

Andreas Aarflot (born 1 July 1928) is a Norwegian theologian and bishop emeritus in the Church of Norway. He was bishop of Oslo from 1977 to 1998.

Aarflot was born in Yiyang, China where his mother and father served the Norwegian Missionary Company in the Hunan province.

He earned his cand.theol. from MF Norwegian School of Theology (1951) and dr.theol. from University of Oslo (1970). Furthermore, he has studied in Heidelberg, England and United States, has an honorary doctor's degree from St. Olaf College (1987) and is an honorary member of Finska kyrkohistoriska sälllskapet (1978).

Aarflot has among other things worked for the Norwegian Seamen's Mission and the Norwegian Lutheran Inner Mission Society, and served as a priest in Røyken. He was connected with the MF Norwegian School of Theology (1960), faculty lecturer (1968) and docent (1970) before he became a professor in 1976. The same year he was proclaimed bishop in the Diocese of Borg after Per Lønning withdrew as a protest on legalizing abortion.

Aarflot was considered a moderately conservative, holding what are seen as centrist views theologically in the Church of Norway.

He was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav in 1979.