He was also the Preses (Primus inter pares, "first among equals") and thus presided over the Bishops' Conference of the Church of Norway from 2006 until 2010.

[2][3] During his time as a bishop, he was considered to be theologically conservative and he was opposed to letting gay priests serve in the church.

[4] Olav Skjevesland was born on 31 May 1942 in Drøbak in the Frogn municipality of Akershus county, Norway.

In 1981, he was hired as the rector of the Menighetsfakultet's practical theological seminary, a position he held until 1994.

In 2005, the diocese was renamed "Agder og Telemark" to fully represent the area that it covered.