I. Historical Background

In the year 960 Denmark was declared a Christian country with the baptism of King Harold Bluetooth. The Danish Church belonged to the Catholic Church until 1536. In the year 1536 the coronation of Christian III as a Lutheran king took place and Denmark became a protestant country. It was a State Church which meant that the king and his council had the legislative power. The Constitution of 1849 was the first democratic constitution for Denmark. It guaranteed the freedom of religion. The Danish Church was not anymore a State Church but became a Folk Church called “Folkekirke”.
Today Denmark consists of twelve dioceses.

II. Social Facts

The Danish population amounts to 5.5 million people. 84 % are members of the Folk Church. There are quite a number of other religious groups but due to the prohibition of registering information about religious conviction there do not exist figures about the size of these groups.

III. Basic Categories of the System

In Denmark State and Church are not institutionally separated. The Folk Church is not a private association in contrast to the other smaller religious groups and not autonomous. All decisions concerning legislation must be taken by Parliament or the Government with the responsible Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs. The status of the Folk Church can be compared to those of state agencies. The local churches fulfil different administrative functions and civil legal activities.

IV. Cultural and social exercise of functions

About 100 private organisations linked with the Folk Church or other religious communities are founded on Christian principles. Their aim is to support the social welfare system by schools, kindergartens, welfare institutions and commercial enterprises. In cooperating with the state they can get public subsidies.
In Denmark exists the “freedom of school” (Art. 76 of the Constitution), which guarantees the parents the free choice. The parents can even decide to teach their children at home. Although there are no private schools founded by the Folk Church other religious groups have decided to found such private schools. Cooperation with groups, for example, trying to influence the pupils by indoctrination is forbidden.
Primarily there are two theological faculties (University of Copenhagen and Aarhus). To become a priest, dean or bishop it is normally necessary to graduate in theology but the Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs can determine exemptions.
In Denmark radio and television are separated into two units. There are the “DR” (Danish Radio and Television), a public agency, and “TV 2/Danmark”, a private foundation. The part of religious topics of the programme time is not specifically regulated. Nevertheless many religious programmes are broadcasted and they seem to be very popular. Some religious groups even have their own local TV stations.

V. Legal foundations

To determine the legal sources it is necessary to differentiate between the Folk Church and the other religious communities. The legal source for the other religious communities is the ecclesiastical law in contrast to the legal sources for the Folk Church which are the Constitution, general laws, statutes, government notices and court decisions.
Art. 4 of the Danish Constitution can be seen as some kind of general clause concerning the legal status of the Folk Church. It determines the support of the Folk Church by the State.
Art. 67 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion.
The State differentiates between three groups of religious bodies: acknowledged communities, communities with authorization for weddings, and other religious communities without any formal recognition. There are 90 communities with authorization for weddings, including 50 different Christian communities, 18 different Islamic and 4 Buddhist communities. To get this authorization it is necessary that the community has a clear organisational structure and representatives. The religious community also needs to have a certain amount of members and a cult or doctrine conform to the public order.
The income of the Folk Church amounts to about 4.5 milliard. 75 % of this amount is paid by the members as church taxes, 12 % is financial support by the State and 13 % comes from funds and real property. About 50 % of the 4.5 milliard is spent for wages.
In Denmark you have the choice between a religious or civil wedding ceremony.