Nature and Mission

1. The Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau is part of the entire Christian church, in particular a member of the Evangelical Reformed Churches of Switzerland.

2. It promotes the proclamation of the Gospel, the cultivation of the evangelical faith, diaconal action, community, and commitment to justice, peace, and the preservation of creation.

**1. The Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau is a public law corporation. It independently regulates its affairs within the framework of federal and cantonal law.**

1. The Protestant Church of the Canton of Thurgau is a member of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches.

1. Member of the Protestant Cantonal Church is every Protestant resident of the canton who has not declared their withdrawal in writing.

2. Details are regulated by the church constitution.

1. The voting and election rights in matters of the regional church and the parish are granted to members of the Protestant Regional Church who have reached the age of 16.

2. The Church Council issues a regulation regarding the church's voting and election rights. In other respects, the relevant cantonal provisions apply to the voting and election rights as well as the procedures for elections and referenda of the regional church.

1. The Protestant Regional Church fulfills its functions through

1. the entirety of its voting members;

2. the parishes, their leadership bodies, and other organs;

3. the pastors, deacons, and other male or female staff members;

4. the Synod and the Church Council;

5. the Appeals and Complaints Commission.

1. Subject to the Evangelical-Confessional Referendum at the Polls

1. the provisions of the constitution;

2. decisions and decrees submitted to the referendum by the synod on its own initiative or based on an official referendum;

3. changes in the tax rate of the regional church exceeding 0.8% of the basic state tax.

1. With an initiative, 2500 eligible voters can submit a request for the enactment, amendment, or repeal of provisions of the constitution or church order.

2. The request can be submitted as a simple suggestion or as a detailed draft.

3. The procedure is analogously governed by cantonal law.

1. The following are subject to the optional referendum

1. The enactment, amendment, or repeal of the church order or provisions thereof;

2. Agreements and contracts approved by the Synod, which are concluded by the Church Council as a representative of the regional church with other churches, with the state, or with institutions of public interest;

3. Changes in the tax rate of the regional church of more than 0.4% to 0.8% of the basic state tax;

4. One-time expenditures of more than 20% and new annually recurring expenditures of more than 2% of the previous year's regional church tax revenue.

2. A resolution or enactment subject to the optional referendum must be submitted to the evangelical-confessional popular vote if 1,500 eligible voters demand it within three months of its publication in the official gazette.

3. The procedure is to be conducted mutatis mutandis according to cantonal law.

1. Enactment, amendment, or repeal of the church constitution or its provisions are subject to a referendum if 30 members of the Synod express support for it.

1. The members of the regional church are united in parishes.

2. A parish encompasses all members of the Evangelical Regional Church residing within its territory. Special arrangements at the cantonal border are reserved.

1. The church municipality is a public corporation under cantonal law.

1. The following church parishes exist

1. Aadorf-Aawangen

2. Affeltrangen

3. Alterswilen-Hugelshofen

4. Altnau

5. Amriswil-Sommeri

6. Andwil

7. Arbon

8. Basadingen

9. Berg

10. Berlingen

11. Bichelsee

12. Birwinken

13. Bischofszell-Hauptwil

14. Braunau

15. Bürglen

16. Burg

17. Bussnang

18. Diessenhofen

19. Dussnang

20. Egnach

21. Erlen

22. Ermatingen

23. Felben

24. Frauenfeld

25. Gachnang

26. Gottlieben

27. Güttingen

28. Horn

29. Hüttlingen

30. Hüttwilen

31. Illighausen

32. Kesswil-Dozwil

33. Kreuzlingen

34. Langrickenbach

35. Leutmerken

36. Lipperswil

37. Lommis

38. Lustdorf

39. Mammern

40. Märstetten

41. Märwil

42. Matzingen

43. Müllheim

44. Münchwilen-Eschlikon

45. Neukirch an der Thur

46. Neunforn

47. Nussbaumen

48. Oberhofen-Lengwil

49. Pfyn

50. Roggwil

51. Romanshorn-Salmsach

52. Scherzingen-Bottighofen

53. Schlatt

54. Schlattingen

55. Schönholzerswilen

56. Sirnach

57. Sitterdorf-Zihlschlacht

58. Steckborn

59. Stettfurt

60. Sulgen

61. Tägerwilen

62. Thundorf-Kirchberg

63. Uesslingen

64. Uttwil

65. Wagenhausen

66. Wäldi

67. Wängi

68. Weinfelden

69. Weiningen

70. Wigoltingen-Raperswilen

2. The church council decides on changes to the composition of the church parishes or the area of a church parish at the request of the involved parishes.

1. Parishes can be connected through a joint parish office.

2. The establishment or dissolution of such a connection is decided by the church council after consultation with the involved parishes.

1. The church congregation is responsible for the care of church life. It has the following duties and powers, in particular

1. Election of the church council and its president;

2. Election of parish ministers;

3. Election of ordained deacons or deaconesses;

4. Election of the warden;

5. Election of representatives to the synod;

6. Election of members of the audit committee and election office;

7. Enactment of a community organization regulation;

8. Creation of new positions and abolition of existing positions for employees;

9. Construction and maintenance of church buildings and facilities;

10. Approval of the budget and determination of the tax rate;

11. Approval of the property and administrative accounts of the church congregation;

12. Proposal for changes in the composition or area of the church congregation;

13. Proposal to create, change the scope of, or abolish a parish office, part-time parish office, or deaconate of the congregation;

14. Proposal for merging with another church congregation through a shared parish office or dissolution of such a merger;

15. Sale of immovable property;

16. Sale of religious and artistic objects;

17. Taking out loans for extraordinary communal needs;

18. Decision on conducting legal proceedings in the name of the church congregation;

19. Execution of national church elections and referendums;

20. Proposals in church matters to the synod or church council;

21. Fulfillment of the diaconal and missionary mandate, alone or in conjunction with other public bodies.

1. The church congregation makes its decisions in the church congregation assembly or at the ballot box.

2. The elections pursuant to § 15 Nos. 1 to 5 are to be conducted by secret ballot. Elections and resolutions pursuant to § 15 Nos. 1 to 5, No. 11, and Nos. 15 to 17 are subject to approval by the church council.

3. The procedures for municipal assemblies as well as elections and votes of the church congregation are governed by the relevant cantonal provisions.

1. If, due to different religious denominations, a minority of the congregation forms a church community without wishing to leave the regional church, they have the right to use the church and other church facilities free of charge, provided they comprise at least one-fifth of the eligible voters.

2. This right is conditional upon the members of this community arranging for religious services at their own expense by clergy eligible to be elected within the regional church, fulfilling church tax obligations, and submitting to the regional church's laws and the supervision of the church council. The ecclesiastical unity of the congregation is to be pursued.

1. With the consent of the respective church congregations and the church council, pastors, deacons, church authorities, and church employees may undertake a division of labor within a region.

1. The church council administers the parish with the joint responsibility of its members.

1. The church congregation elects a church council with a minimum of five members. The number of members is determined by the congregation. The term of office is four years.

2. Ordained officials elected by the congregation are members of the church council but cannot preside over it. They possess at most one-third of the voting power of the church council members elected by the church congregation. If their voting power exceeds this, the latterly appointed officials participate in meetings with the right to make motions and an advisory vote. Administrators and full-time diaconal staff take part in meetings with the right to make motions and an advisory vote.

3. Additional staff members of the church congregation may be consulted for advice.

1. The church council elects from among its members the vice president and the secretary and may designate individuals responsible for specific areas of responsibility.

1. The Church Board has the following tasks and authorities in particular

1. Responsibility for church life and the diaconal and missionary mission of the congregation;

2. Execution of church resolutions and decrees;

3. Ensuring dignified worship services;

4. Participation in worship services;

5. Responsibility for religious education;

6. Employment of additional staff and supervision of their activities;

7. Inclusion and support of volunteer workers;

8. Ensuring appropriate recognition of the work of all church employees and promoting their training and development;

9. Election of the Protestant members of a parity care commission in parity relationships;

10. Management of the parish's assets;

11. Maintenance of church buildings, equipment, and art objects;

12. Responsibility for maintaining the voting register and collecting church taxes in collaboration with the relevant municipal authorities;

13. Preliminary discussion of parish matters;

14. Responsibility for the parish archive.

1. The members of the church council elected by the congregation as church wardens form the supervisory commission.

2. The supervisory commission is responsible for overseeing the official duties of the pastors, deacons, or deaconesses.

1. Where there are separate church foundations within a parish, it must elect special administrative bodies for them.

1. For the administration of their foundations, the parish shall elect a manager.

2. Separate managers are to be elected for the administration of distinct foundations.

3. The term of office coincides with that of the church council.

1. The guardian cannot simultaneously be the chairman, and the female guardian cannot simultaneously be the chairwoman of the authority.

2. A guardian, who is not a member of the church board, is entitled to a seat and an advisory voice in the church board.

1. The Office of the Pastor encompasses, within the meaning of ordination, particularly the following duties

1. Preaching of the Gospel;

2. Leading worship services;

3. Performing sacred and ecclesiastical acts;

4. Providing confirmation instruction;

5. Providing religious education;

6. Pastoral care;

7. Shaping the rest of the community life;

8. Promoting the diaconal and missionary mandate of the congregation;

9. Maintaining church registers.

2. The Pastor performs the office in collaboration with the church council and other staff members.

1. Both men and women are eligible for the pastoral office if they possess the certificate of eligibility from the Concordat Examination Authority and are ordained for church service.

2. Exceptionally, the church council may also grant eligibility based on another equivalent certificate of eligibility or on several years of pastoral activity in Switzerland. The council reports such cases to the synod.

1. The election of a parish pastor occurs for a term of office of four years each. The term coincides with that of the church board.

2. Upon the expiration of the term, the pastor is considered re-elected for a further four years, unless the supervisory commission decides on a confirmation election after consultation with the church council or one-fifth of the voting members of the church community demands such an election.

3. A confirmation election for a parish pastor must also be arranged during the term of office if one-fifth of the voting members of the church community demands it.

4. The procedure is governed by a regulation of the church council.

1. Parish Elections require prior verification of eligibility and subsequent approval by the Church Council. For this purpose, the necessary documentation must be submitted to the Council before the election, and the election protocol must be presented after the election.

1. Pastors elected by the congregation are inducted into office by the responsible Dean on behalf of the Church Council, according to the form prescribed in the liturgy.

2. In doing so, they take the oath of office.

1. Pastors are obligated to diligently devote their time and energy to their office.

2. Pastors elected by the congregation generally reside in a community within their area of activity. The congregation typically provides them with official housing.

1. Where two or more pastors serve in a congregation, or where a diaconate exists alongside the pastoral office, the church council regulates the allocation of duties in a procedural order.

1. Each parish shall generally establish a pastorate. Smaller parishes may, by mutual agreement, establish a joint pastorate. The cooperation must be regulated in writing.

2. In larger parishes, a pastorate may be established for every 2000 members.

3. In parishes with fewer than 1000 members, the pastorate may be conducted on a part-time basis.

4. Where the circumstances justify it, the church council may approve a deviation from these standard figures in agreement with the parish.

5. The church council decides on the establishment, modification of scope, or abolition of pastorates or part-time pastorates after consultation with the parties involved.

1. For specific tasks, congregations may establish a regional pastorate by mutual agreement and with the consent of the church council.

2. The election to a regional pastorate is conducted by the involved church councils. The requirements set forth in §§ 28 and 30 apply for this purpose. Rights and duties are regulated in a contract, which is subject to approval by the church council.

1. For tasks within the framework of the regional church, the synod may establish regional church pastorates.

2. The election of office holders, for whom the requirements of § 28 apply, as well as the regulation of the employment relationship and the supervision of the official activities and conduct, are the responsibility of the church council.

1. The pastor has the right at any time to accept a call to another congregation or to resign from the pastoral office. A notice period of six months must be observed in this case.

2. The letter of resignation must be addressed to the church council. Simultaneously, the church board must be informed of the resignation.

3. The church board can, upon request from the resigning individual and after consulting the church council, agree to an early termination of the service relationship. The church board arranges for a substitute.

1. A deacon or deaconess may be assigned the following duties

1. Welfare work;

2. Religious instruction;

3. Leading youth and children's services;

4. Youth work, work with groups facing specific circumstances and age groups;

5. Pastoral care;

6. Participation in church services and substituting in preaching within their own congregation.

2. The deacon or deaconess performs the office in collaboration with the church council and other staff members.

1. Both men and women are eligible for the diaconate, provided they demonstrate the necessary professional qualifications and are ordained for church service.

2. The church council establishes further conditions for eligibility based on regional or Swiss criteria.

1. Elections are conducted for a term of office of four years. The term aligns with that of the church council.

2. The election requires prior ascertainment of eligibility and subsequent approval by the church council.

3. Upon the expiration of the term, the deacon is considered re-elected for another four years, unless the supervisory commission resolves to hold a confirmation election after consulting with the church council, or one-fifth of the parish's eligible voters request such an election.

4. A confirmation election for a deacon may also be arranged during the term of office if one-fifth of the parish's eligible voters request it.

5. The procedure is governed by a regulation of the church council.

1. The installation into office is performed by the Dean on behalf of the Church Council during a service following a liturgy approved by the Synod.

1. Deacons or Deaconesses are obligated to conscientiously dedicate their time and effort to their office.

1. The church council regulates the assignment of tasks in a procedural ordinance, while the oversight commission governs the employment relationship.

1. The deacon or deaconess has the right at any time to accept a calling to another congregation or to resign from office. A six-month notice period must be observed in this regard.

2. The resignation letter must be addressed to the church council. At the same time, the church board must be informed.

3. The church board may, upon request from the resigning party and after consulting the church council, agree to an early termination of the service relationship.

1. In a parish, additional employees may be employed, assigned, or invited to volunteer, particularly for the following tasks

1. Diaconal services;

2. Youth work;

3. Religious education;

4. Leading youth services;

5. Leading children's services;

6. Participation in worship services;

7. Work with the elderly;

8. Pastoral care;

9. Adult education;

10. Church music;

11. Sexton services;

12. Administrative tasks.

1. For professional activity in the diaconal service and for religious instruction, women or men who have the appropriate training can be employed.

2. The Church Council decides on the recognition of the ability to be employed.

1. For the promotion of community life, women or men who are personally suitable and possess the necessary qualifications may be appointed for certain tasks.

2. The involvement of volunteers is to be encouraged in all areas of community life and explicitly recognized as such.

1. Two or more church communities may, by mutual agreement, establish a joint office for specific tasks in accordance with § 45.

1. The parishes of the canton are assigned to four deanery circles. The assignment is regulated by an ordinance of the synod.

1. The pastors, both male and female, and deacons, both male and female, who hold office within a deanery circle, form the chapter. Its organization is regulated by an ordinance of the synod.

1. The Chapter has the following tasks in particular

1. it addresses theological and ecclesiastical questions;

2. it promotes the further education and practical ministry activities of its members;

3. it fosters community;

4. it can be invited by the Synod, Church Council, or Deanery Assembly to provide evaluation and feedback on ecclesiastical matters.

1. The chapter is led by a dean. The election is conducted by the members.

2. The dean undertakes pastoral care duties among the members of the chapter and can be consulted in cases of conflict resolution.

3. He or she appoints the pastors, deacons, and deaconesses of the deanery district to their offices and represents the regional church in tasks delegated by the church council.

1. The church council may invite the members of the chapter, and if necessary, other staff members to a general chapter meeting.

1. The members of the church councils and the synod from a deanery district are invited to the deanery conference upon the request of the church council, the dean, or at least three church councils.

2. The dean invites to the conference and presides over it.

1. The Deanery Conference addresses supra-congregational matters. It can express its position to the parishes and the regional church on regional and whole-church issues.

1. The Synod is the highest authority of the Protestant Regional Church.

1. Each church parish is entitled to at least one seat in the synod. For every additional 700 eligible voters, or any fraction thereof over 350 eligible voters, an additional representative must be elected.

2. The number of eligible voting members of the community in the first half of the year preceding the renewal election is decisive.

1. A parish can delegate only one of its pastors or deacons to the synod.

1. The term of office of the Synod and its bodies is four years. It begins on June 1st of each respective year. The total number of members remains unchanged during the term of office.

1. The synod shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

1. The Synod elects the Bureau. This includes the Presidency, the Vice Presidency, the Secretariat with two members, and four vote counters. Persons who have held the Presidency or Vice Presidency are not immediately eligible for re-election to the same office after the end of their term.

1. The synod elects an auditing committee. The synod's rules of procedure regulate its organization and duties.

1. The Synod convenes twice a year.

2. It is convened extraordinarily

1. by its own resolution;

2. upon a request submitted to the presidency by at least one quarter of the members;

3. upon the request of the Synod's bureau;

4. upon the request of the Church Council.

1. The Synod is responsible for the life of the regional church. It has, in particular, the following duties and powers

1. Drafting the constitution for the referendum;

2. Enacting the church order and the regulations stipulated therein;

3. Enacting a regulation on benefits from the central fund in favor of financially weak church communities;

4. Enacting regulations on the remuneration of priests, deacons, or deaconesses serving in the offices of the church communities or the regional church, and the personnel of the regional church, as well as on their further education, sabbatical leaves, and on occupational retirement provisions for employees of the church communities and the regional church;

5. Enacting a regulation on the connection between the church and mission;

6. Enacting regulations on the granting of daily allowances and compensations as well as church training contributions;

7. Enacting a regulation on the replacement of pastoral offices;

8. Approval of agreements and contracts concluded by the church council as a representative of the regional church with other churches, the state, or institutions of public interest;

9. Creating and supporting offices and positions to fulfill the pastoral, diaconal, and missionary mandate of the regional church, as well as their dissolution;

10. Election of the members of the church council and the appointment of the presidency;

11. Election of the members of the appeals and complaints commission;

12. Creating the necessary positions for the registry and secretariat of the church council and the management of the central fund of the regional church (treasury);

13. Election of a representative to the Theological Concord Examination Authority and their deputy;

14. Election of delegates to the Diaconate Conference;

15. Election of delegates to the Assembly of Delegates of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, of which at least one member must belong to the church council;

16. Approval of the church council's report;

17. Approval of the accounts and the budget of the regional church, as well as setting the tax rate of the regional church;

18. Approval of one-time expenditures of more than 2% up to 20% and of new recurring expenditures of more than 0.2% up to 2% of the tax share of the regional church projected for the relevant year.

1. The Church Council administers the Protestant Regional Church as the supervisory, executive, and administrative authority. It is responsible for maintaining the unity of the church both internally and externally.

1. The Church Council consists of at least five members. Ordained office holders receive at least two, but not more than half of the seats. They are elected by the Synod from the members of the Protestant Regional Church.

1. The church council is capable of making decisions with the majority of its members.

1. The Church Council elects the Vice President from among its members.

1. The Church Council fills the positions approved by the Synod for the actuary, treasurer, and secretary, as well as for the other employees of the regional church.

1. The term of office of the members of the church council is four years.

2. It begins on June 1 of the third year following the renewal election of the synod.

1. The Church Council shall establish its own rules of procedure. These shall also regulate the duties of the Secretariat and the Treasury.

1. The Church Council has the following duties and powers

1. It drafts the church constitution, church regulations, and other decrees for the Synod;

2. It organizes the evangelical-confessional referendums and the elections for the Synod;

3. It publishes the decrees and resolutions that come into force and ensures their execution;

4. It issues regulations that fall within its jurisdiction according to the constitution and church regulations;

5. It issues regulations concerning administration, accounting, and archives, as well as the visitation of congregations;

6. It represents the national church externally and seeks to promote the unity of the church in diversity when in dialogue with other Christian churches;

7. It appoints the officeholders of the national church offices and oversees their activities and conduct;

8. It elects two members of the Joint Administrative Commission;

9. It reports annually to the Synod on its activities and those of the church authorities and appointees, as well as on the administration of church foundations and institutions;

10. It may engage specialists and appoint committees for specific tasks;

11. It organizes the election of pastors, deacons, or church authority and office members and decides on the validity of the elections held;

12. It grants ordination for church office and ensures the installation of newly elected officials into their offices;

13. It collaborates with the responsible church governance bodies and deaneries in refilling vacant pastorates;

14. It approves the regulation of long-term pastoral substitutions;

15. It can assign special tasks to community pastors in collaboration with the respective church governance;

16. It initiates and supervises examinations for eligibility for the pastoral office in special cases;

17. It ensures the training and examination of catechists and decides on the recognition of certificates of competence;

18. It may grant permission to preach and delegate the conduct of services exceptionally to a suitable member of the national church by request of a church council or on its initiative;

19. It promotes and supports the work of pastors and deacons and supervises their activities in a spiritual-theological regard;

20. It can order partial or complete suspension from office upon request of the relevant supervisory commission or on its initiative;

21. It promotes and supports the work of church governance bodies and supervises their official activities. In cases of severe mismanagement or persistent non-compliance with ordered measures, it can order new elections;

22. It manages the assets and properties of the national church;

23. It drafts the budget of the national church and arranges for the collection of the national church central tax;

24. It is authorized to decide on one-time expenditures of up to 2% and new annual recurrent expenditures of up to 0.2% of the national church's estimated tax share for the relevant year;

25. It decides, upon request of the parties involved, on the union or separation of existing congregations or parts thereof;

26. It decides, after consultation with the parties involved, on

26.1. the affiliation of congregations through a shared pastoral office,

26.2. the creation, change in scope, or abolition of pastoral or part-time pastoral offices and deaconates;

27. It decides in disputes

27.1. between majorities and minorities according to § 17 of this constitution, concerning the use of church buildings and, subject to state legislation, of bells and cemeteries,

27.2. between congregations,

27.3. regarding voting rights,

27.4. concerning taxes, contributions, salaries, and the use of communal assets,

27.5. during transfers of office.

1. The Church Council may call upon the state enforcement agencies to execute its resolutions.

1. The Appeal and Complaint Commission consists of seven members. It includes three clergy members and at least one legal expert. It can make decisions when five members are present.

2. The commission members are elected by the Synod from among the members of the Evangelical Reformed Church. Members of the Synod and the Church Council are not eligible for election.

3. The Synod elects the President of the Commission. The Commission elects from among its members the Vice President and the Secretary.

4. The term of office of the Commission coincides with that of the Church Council.

1. Decisions of the Church Board or the Supervisory Commission, as well as resolutions of the Church Congregation and first-instance decisions of the Church Council, can be appealed.

1. Appeal Instances are

1. The Church Council for decisions of the Church Executive Boards and for resolutions of the Church Congregations;

2. The Appeals and Complaints Commission for first-instance decisions of the Church Council and supervisory complaint decisions of the Supervisory Commission.

1. The right to appeal is granted to any person who is affected by a decision and has a legitimate interest in its annulment or modification.

1. Decisions of the appellate instances can be appealed in cases of suspected legal violations or incorrect or incomplete determination of the facts.

1. Appeals Instances, subject to the provisions of § 80, are

1. The Appeal and Complaint Commission of the Regional Church for complaints against appeal decisions of the Church Council;

2. the Administrative Court for complaints against appeal decisions of the Appeal and Complaint Commission of the Regional Church.

1. Complaints concerning the official duties of pastors, deacons in organizational and administrative regards, or those tasked with regional church offices, as well as the activities of church councils or individual members thereof, are to be directed to the supervisory authority.

2. Complaints against the conduct of pastors or deacons in spiritual-theological regards are to be directed to the church council.

1. The appeal and complaint procedures, as well as the duties of the Appeal and Complaint Commission, are regulated by the Synod in an ordinance. The relevant provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act shall apply mutatis mutandis.

1. The Regional Church procures the means to fulfill its tasks

1. From the regional church's share of the church tax;

2. from the assets of the Regional Church;

3. from collections and voluntary donations.

1. For the administration of joint foundations designated for church purposes, as well as for the handling of administrative disputes concerning joint church community relations and for the continuation of joint corporations, the relevant cantonal laws are decisive.

1. The Liability of Church Communities and Their Officials is Governed by the Cantonal Liability Act.

1. The exercise of recusal is governed by cantonal law.

1. Where neither a provision can be derived from the Constitution for a case requiring a decision, nor can state law be applied, the decision shall be made according to established practice and taking into account the legislation of other Christian churches, particularly those of Reformation origin.

1. The constitution and any amendments and additions thereto shall be submitted to a referendum of the Protestant denomination. They shall come into force following approval by the eligible voters of the Protestant Church of the Canton of Thurgau and after approval by the Grand Council of the Canton of Thurgau, at a time to be determined by the Church Council.

1. Upon the entry into force of this Constitution, all provisions contrary to it shall be repealed, in particular the Constitution of the Protestant Church of the Canton of Thurgau dated December 10, 1984.