The State Church

In the Icelandic Constitution it is clearly stated that The Evangelical Lutheran Church is the State Church in Iceland and, as such, it shall be supported and protected by the State. The Evangelical Lutheran Church is in general a liberal religious organization and offers in general a rather secularized teaching concerning salvation and social justice. It belongs to the World Council of Churches and The Lutheran World Federation and has a mutual agreement concerning ordained staff with the Anglican Church in the UK and Lutheran churches in Scandinavia and the Baltic.

All priests in the Evangelical Lutheran Church were considered government officials until 2020 and can officiate at weddings without concerns of religious affiliation. According to laws, priest have a “freedom of conscience” to refuse to officiate, if they consider that their participation in the wedding goes against their religious teaching. This has never happened, to our knowledge.