Paneeraq Siegstad Munk

Paneeraq Siegstad Munk (born 30 January 1977) is the current Bishop of Greenland for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. She was elected as bishop in 2020, and officially sworn in the next year.

The Right Reverend

Paneeraq Siegstad Munk
Bishop of Greenland
ChurchChurch of Denmark
DioceseGreenland
ElectedOctober 2020
Installed1 December 2020
PredecessorSofie Petersen
Orders
Ordination22 February 2004
by Sofie Petersen
Consecration10 October 2021
by Sofie Petersen
Personal details
Born
Paneeraq Hansine Judithe Karen Siegstad

(1977-01-30) 30 January 1977 (age 47)
Attu, Greenland
NationalityGreenlandic
DenominationLutheranism
Spouse
Arne Frigaard Munk
(m. 2007)
Children2
EducationTheology
Alma mater

Early life

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Paneeraq Siegstad Munk was born on 30 January 1977 in Attu.[1]

Career

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In 2001, Munk earned a bachelor's degree in theology from the University of Greenland.[2] Three years later, she was ordained as a priest for the Evangelical Lutheran Church (Church of Denmark).[2] As a priest, she served the towns of Ittoqqortoormiit and Aasiaat.[2] She also oversaw the Greenland Clergy Association.[2] In 2017, she completed her master's degree in theology, and became a provost in Kujataa.[3]

In 2020, she defeated three other candidates to become the bishop of Greenland, taking office on 1 December 2021.[4] Allegations arose after her election that she had committed academic misconduct in relation to her bachelor's thesis—specifically that she cheated—but she and personnel from the university denied this.[3] She replaced Sofie Petersen, who had served as bishop for the previous 25 years (1995–2020), and is the third bishop of Greenland overall.[2] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her official swearing in was delayed until 2021, which coincided with the 300th anniversary of Hans Egede bringing Lutheranism to the island.[5] She took her oath in October, and Queen Margrethe II and other bishops (including Marianne Gaarden, Jogvan Fridriksson, and Henrik Stubkjær) attended the ceremony.[6] Her predecessor ordained her, and she took office on 1 December 2021.[6]

She said that the Greenlandic language is an important element of the church, and that the interest of Margrethe II in the religious participation of the island was meaningful to its members.[6]

References

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Citations

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Bibliography

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  • Dall, Anders (11 October 2020). "Nyvalgt biskop: Det er en stor ære" [Newly elected bishop: It is a great honor]. KNR (in Danish). Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  • Hansen, Nukappiaaluk (7 October 2020). "Paneeraq Siegstad Munk valgt som ny biskop" [Paneeraq Siegstad Munk elected new bishop]. Sermitsiaq.AG (in Danish). Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  • Hyldal, Christine (10 October 2021). "Bispevielse: Tredje gang blev lykkens gang for Paneeraq Siegstad Munk" [Bishop engagement: The third time was a stroke of luck for Paneeraq Siegstad Munk]. KNR (in Danish). Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  • Veirum, Thomas Munk (10 October 2021). "Grønland har fået ny biskop" [Greenland has a new bishop]. Sermitsiaq.AG (in Danish). Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  • Wenger, Michael (12 October 2021). "New bishop for Greenland inaugurated". Polar Journal. Retrieved 14 December 2021.