Doctor of Theology Leif Nordenstorm

»One Of My Passions Is To Rediscover The Jewish Roots Of Christianity«

Leif Nordenstorm has been a priest in the Church of Sweden since 1986 and has worked as a parish priest in Överluleå, Sävast, and Gunnarsbyn, as well as in Luleå Cathedral Parish. He has also been employed in the Denmark-Funbo Parish in the Diocese of Uppsala.

Leif earned his doctorate in religious history in 2002. His dissertation focuses on the new Japanese religion, Ômoto, and how new religions can change quickly. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian and Eastern European studies.

Since 2011, he has been the director of the Fjellstedtska School Foundation, a retreat center and theological continuing education institute within the Church of Sweden. In parallel, Leif teaches religious history at Johannelund Theological Seminary and at Scandinavian Theological Seminary. Religious history studies non-Christian religions such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, African religions, and new religions.

Other interests include church order and ecclesiastical law, worship, preaching, and liturgy, the relationship between Christianity and Judaism, and Sami contextual theology and worship. One of his passions is to rediscover the Jewish roots of Christianity and see how this can enrich the church today.

As the director of the Fjellstedtska School Foundation, Leif organizes courses on topics primarily related to the daily work of priests, including theology and the Bible, worship and preaching, pastoral care, intercessory prayer, Diakonia, mission, the environment, and ecclesiastical law. He has also written several children’s books in which the Christian faith plays a central role in the plot.

Leif Nordenstorm’s Publications:

Scientific Works:

  • “Dödandet vid begravningar. Ett inslag i järnålderns gravritualer i komparativ religionshistorisk belysning.” In Fornvännen, 89, 1994.
  • “Ômotos mission på esperanto: en japansk ny religion i förändring från kiliastisk Maitreyaförväntan till religionsdialog.” Esperantoförlaget, 2002.
  • “Mindfulness: kristna reaktioner och tolkningar.” In Ingång, Vol. 18, 2/12, 2012.
  • “Transpiranto: antisemitism, xenophobia, or just a joke.” Esperantologio Esperanto Studies EES, Issue 6, 2013.
  • “Views on Esperanto in the Bahai faith: A revised subchapter in Bhaullah and the new era.” Esperantologio Esperanto Studies EES, Issue 7, 2015.
  • “Mjuk lag i Svenska kyrkan: Codex ethicus och andra dokument.” In Med god ordning och efter Guds vilja. En antologi om kyrkorätt. Skellefteå: Artos, 2019.

Children’s Books with Christian Themes:

  • Arne la ĉefido (Arne the Chief’s Son), a children’s book published in Esperanto, Malagasy, and Czech, 2005.
  • Nybyggarna i Norra botten (The Pioneers of Northern Finland), 2006.
  • Säljägare och kyrkobyggare (Seal Hunters and Church Builders): Bodens kyrkohistoria i berättelser (Boden Church History in Stories), 2008.

Doctor of Theology Leif Nordenstorm

Part-time Teacher in: Religious History

Degrees and Qualifications:

  • Doctor of Ministry, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  • Doctor of Theology in Religious History, Uppsala University
  • Licentiate of Theology in Religious History, Uppsala University
  • Bachelor of Theology, Uppsala University
  • Bachelor of Arts, specializing in Russian and Eastern European Studies, Uppsala University

Publications:

  • Dödandet vid begravningar. Ett inslag i järnålderns gravritualer i komparativ religionshistorisk belysning. In Fornvännen, 89, 1994.
  • Ômotos mission på esperanto: en japansk ny religion i förändring från kiliastisk Maitreyaförväntan till religionsdialog. Esperantoförlaget, 2002.
  • Mindfulness: kristna reaktioner och tolkningar. In Ingång, Vol. 18, 2/12, 2012.
  • Transpiranto: antisemitism, xenophobia, or just a joke. Esperantologio Esperanto Studies EES, Issue 6, 2013.
  • Views on Esperanto in the Bahai faith: A revised subchapter in Bhaullah and the new era. Esperantologio Esperanto Studies EES, Issue 7, 2015.
  • Mjuk lag i Svenska kyrkan: Codex ethicus och andra dokument. In Med god ordning och efter Guds vilja. En antologi om kyrkorätt. Skellefteå: Artos, 2019.

Children’s Books with Christian Themes:

  • Arne la ĉefido (Arne the Chief’s Son), a children’s book published in Esperanto, Malagasy, and Czech, 2005.
  • Nybyggarna i Norra botten (The Pioneers of Northern Finland), 2006.
  • Säljägare och kyrkobyggare (Seal Hunters and Church Builders): Bodens kyrkohistoria i berättelser (Boden Church History in Stories), 2008.

Contact:
leif.nordenstorm@teol.se