The Community (Norwegian: Menigheten Samfundet) is a Christian denomination with historical and theological roots in the Lutheran tradition.
[3][4] A key figure in the founding of The Community was school teacher and lay preacher, Bernt B. Lomeland (1836–1900).
The theology of The Community can be traced back to the so-called "Strong Believers" (Sterktroende) in the early 19th century.
A dominant figure in the following years was Nicolay Fardal (1883–1960), who was pastor in the congregation in Kristiansand from 1928 to 1960.
This period of growth and theological harmony lasted until the early 1990s, when the church's ban on trousers for women was challenged.
This controversy was solved by allowing the members of the church to follow their conscience when it comes to dressing appropriately and decently.
The church identifies as an Evangelical Lutheran denomination, with its foundation in the Bible, the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, Luther's Small Catechism and the Augsburg Confession.
Most importantly, The Community only recognizes baptisms performed in churches where the Word is rightly preached and the sacraments are properly administered.