Chapter 1: Membership and Entitlement to Church Services - Membership

1. Member of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau is any evangelical individual who resides within the parish area of an Evangelical Thurgauer church congregation and has not declared their withdrawal in writing to the church council.

1. The Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau considers itself as part of the one worldwide Christian church. It emerged from the Reformation and professes its faith in connection with the ancient church and Reformation confessions. The denominational designation of the Church and its parishes is Evangelical.

2. The Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau is characterized by a liturgical and organizational reformation influence and understands its faith according to the common understanding of the Gospel as per the Leuenberg Concord of 1973.

3. The Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau is committed to the ecumenical mission of promoting unity among Christians.

1. Church membership for children of church members begins at birth and with the registration as Protestant in the resident control of the municipality of residence.

2. Anyone moving into the territory of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau becomes a member through their declaration and registration in the resident control of their municipality of residence.

1. Regarding church membership and the submission of declarations of withdrawal or joining by persons under 16 years of age, the holders of parental authority or the guardian decide in accordance with the Civil Code.

2. In the event of the holders of parental authority leaving the Evangelical Reformed Church, the membership of the religiously non-adult children and adolescents remains, provided that the holders of custody do not explicitly declare the child's withdrawal.

3. The holders of parental authority or the guardian must grant competent children a right to be heard regarding church membership and take their wishes into account.

1. Persons residing in the area of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau who are not members of the Evangelical Reformed Church may apply for admission to the church by submitting a written request to the church council or the parish office of their place of residence.

2. Admission is granted following an appropriate introduction to the evangelical faith and based on a decision by the church council.

3. Retaining membership in another church or religious community is permitted, provided that the goals and beliefs of such a church or community do not conflict with the principles of the Evangelical Reformed Church.

4. Children who have not yet reached the age of seven and whose guardians are not members of the Evangelical Reformed Church can only be admitted if it is ensured that other adult members of a Christian church involved in their upbringing are willing to assume responsibility for their education in the Christian faith.

5. Confirmands who were not members of the Evangelical Reformed Church prior to their confirmation will be admitted through the act of confirmation. They and their guardians must be informed of this before the confirmation ceremony.

6. The church council shall inform the resident registration office of the municipality of residence about admissions.

1. Members who wish to leave the Protestant Regional Church are required to submit a personal, written, and dated declaration of resignation to the church council.

2. The church council acknowledges the resignation and confirms it after the individual intending to resign has been informed, either in writing or verbally, about the function and nature of the church and the consequences of resignation.

3. The rights and obligations of the member cease as of the date of receipt of the resignation letter or a later date specified by the resigning member. The cessation of tax obligations is governed by state law.

1. Entries and withdrawals must be continuously reported with the names provided to the responsible resident control and be summarized in the annual report to the church council.

1. Members of the Protestant Regional Church are subject to church tax liability. The existence and scope of the tax obligation, as well as the due date of the taxes, are determined by state law. The determination of the tax rate is the responsibility of the parish.

1. The members of the Protestant Regional Church are fundamentally entitled to the usual church services.

1. For events organized by the church congregation that do not have a worship-service character, and for special services, admission fees or charges may be required in accordance with the relevant regulations.

1. Participation in religious and confirmation classes is fundamentally free of charge.

2. If children and adolescents are not instructed in the parish of their residence, the parish of residence shall reimburse the costs to the parish providing the instruction.

3. For attending religious and confirmation classes by children and adolescents whose parents are not members of the Protestant regional church, the parishes have the right to demand a contribution to the costs.

4. The right to demand a contribution to the costs lies with the parish of residence.

1. Non-members have no entitlement to a church funeral service.

2. If a church funeral service is desired for deceased persons who did not belong to the Evangelical Regional Church, the decision is made by the responsible parish office, taking into account the wishes of the deceased and the pastoral concerns of the bereaved, and after consultation with at least one member of the church council or a designated representative. The church council may establish framework conditions for this.

3. If a church funeral service is granted for deceased persons who did not belong to the Evangelical Regional Church or if church facilities and personnel are used for this purpose, a fee will be charged. In justified cases, the church council may waive this.

1. For church services within the territory of the cantonal church of Thurgau, but outside the parish of residence, the costs incurred for members of the Protestant Cantonal Church of Thurgau are generally settled among the parishes.

2. A regulation governs the details.

1. Ordained and non-ordained members of the church council lead the church congregation with joint responsibility.

2. Church authorities and commissions exercise their leadership responsibility within the framework of the self-conception of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau.

3. The supervision of the church council lies with the church board.

1. The church council holds responsibility for both the organizational and administrative matters as well as the spiritual life within the church community.

2. It takes into account the existing resources and the diverse needs of the congregation members in the design of church life.

3. Decisions regarding the substantive direction in preaching and the execution of the pastoral care mandate do not fall under the jurisdiction of the church council. The pastors and ordained deacons are free in these matters within the framework of the creed and the ordination vows.

1. The members of the church council are bound by the majority decision. Minority opinions or majority ratios may only be communicated externally with the consent of the church council.

1. Official Duties that a Pastor, whether male or female, or a Deacon, whether male or female, cannot harmonize with their ordination vow, may be refused by him or her after consultation with the responsible Dean. The presidency of the church council must be informed of this.

1. Where multiple ordained ministers are active within a congregation, the church council regulates the division of duties among the ordained ministers in an office ordinance.

2. The church council may designate parish districts to foster a clearer organization of congregational work. It may establish specific regulations for the assumption of official duties.

3. Where there is a convent of pastors, deacons, or other staff members, the church council assigns tasks and competencies to it.

1. Departments may be established for the assumption of specific tasks by individual members of the church council. The tasks and competencies associated with the management of departments are determined by the church council.

1. In the church congregation, all members are called upon to cultivate fellowship according to the Gospel, to contribute with their gifts, and to equip themselves for service in the world.

2. The church congregation is reliant on volunteers to fulfill its tasks. They are entrusted with this responsibility by the church council.

3. They are to be properly introduced to and supported in their tasks. Their work is to be recognized in an appropriate manner.

1. For questions of a financial, administrative, and organizational nature, the supervisory commission is responsible towards the ordained and elected officers.

2. For questions of a spiritual-theological nature, the church council is responsible towards the ordained and elected officers.

3. The jurisdiction regarding personnel matters for pastoral offices and deaconates filled by appointment is determined by the provisions of a regulation concerning the legal status of ordained officers, to be issued by the synod.

4. For all other employees employed by the parish, the jurisdiction regarding personnel matters lies with the church administration.

1. The Church Council promotes and supports the education and training of employed and volunteer staff, as well as members of authorities, commissions, and working groups.

1. During the service, the congregation gathers for the worship of God, for the mutual hearing of His Word, for the fostering of fellowship, and for the strengthening and commissioning for service in the world.

1. Participation in worship services is open to all, regardless of church membership.

1. The service is celebrated according to the Evangelical Reformed tradition. It consists of the parts Gathering, Worship, Proclamation, Intercession, Blessing, and Collection, as well as, if applicable, Confession.

1. The service is led by an ordained pastor.

2. Congregation members should, if possible, undertake certain liturgical parts.

3. Ordained deacons or deaconesses may assume service representation within their own congregation.

4. The church council may grant suitable individuals the permission to lead services based on appropriate training. The details are governed by a regulation of the church council.

1. Pastors shall wear the black robe or other attire appropriate to the occasion for leading worship services in the church.

2. For special services, the church council may decide that pastors wear the black robe.

3. Other individuals leading or participating in the service shall wear attire appropriate to the occasion.

1. A worship service shall be held every Sunday in each parish. The church council may approve different arrangements in justified cases.

2. In addition to the regular worship services, the church leadership may schedule services on a regular basis or on special occasions.

3. The scheduling of services is determined by the circumstances of the parish and is conducted by the church leadership.

1. Recognized holidays are: Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Pentecost Sunday, Pentecost Monday, the Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance, and Prayer, Reformation Sunday, and Eternity Sunday.

2. On holidays that do not fall on a Sunday, church services shall be conducted in any case on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Ascension Day.

3. From December 24th to 26th, at least two church services shall be held per parish; from December 31st to January 1st, at least one, and from Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday, at least three. In dual parishes, Christmas services or Easter services may be divided between the two parishes.

1. The liturgical seasons of the church year are taken into account in the organization of church services.

1. In principle, church services take place in the church.

2. Decisions regarding deviations from this rule for an extended period are made by the church congregation.

1. Sunday and holiday worship services shall be oriented according to the liturgical and hymn books recognized by the Synod.

2. The leader of the respective worship service is responsible for the liturgical order.

3. Essential innovations in the liturgy must be discussed with the church council.

1. In the worship service, the sermon, as a contemporary interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, holds special significance.

1. Music is an essential component of the church service. It serves the worship of God and is intended to prepare, support, and deepen the hearing of the Word.

2. Congregational singing is the central focus of church music in the church service.

3. Both traditional and popular musical songs are cultivated in the church service.

1. Announcements concerning church life and ecclesiastical actions, as well as the use of the collection, shall be communicated to the congregation during the service.

1. All worship services are public. Accordingly, church bells are used to invite people to the service, and similarly, the end of the service is indicated by the ringing of the bells.

1. During the service, a collection is taken. The collection is specifically intended to support works and projects related to diaconia, mission, development cooperation, interchurch solidarity, and community building.

2. The church council determines the purpose of the collections in agreement with the local parish office.

3. The church council can recommend or mandate collections.

1. In consultation with the church council, regularly scheduled alternative services may be held.

2. With the consent of the church council, joint services with other state church congregations or with additional Christian congregations or communities may be held.

3. The church council may declare a Sunday in the church year as Lay Sunday.

1. Image and Sound Recordings during Church Services require the Consent of the Responsible Pastor. For Image and Sound Recordings intended for Publication in Media, the Approval of the Church Board and the individuals concerned is required.

1. On extraordinary occasions, the Church Council may invite people to worship services or commemorative events.

1. The church council determines whether and under what conditions church buildings and facilities may also be used for services, including funerals and weddings, by representatives of other Christian churches.

2. For shared-use churches, the decision in this regard must be made in agreement with the responsible authorities of the Catholic parish.

1. Baptism is performed in the name of the Triune God based on the baptismal command of Jesus Christ. It represents God’s acceptance of the person being baptized and God’s claim on their life. It is a sign of God’s covenant with humanity in Jesus Christ and the incorporation into His worldwide community.

1. Baptism is performed only once. Therefore, when converting from another denomination, the baptism already received is recognized.

1. Baptism is typically performed by a pastor in a congregational service.

2. The church leadership may designate baptism Sundays or additional baptismal services.

3. The baptism is confirmed with a baptismal certificate.

1. For the baptism of a child who is incapable of judgment, at least one parent must belong to the Evangelical Church.

1. At the baptism of a child, the parents appoint religiously mature individuals as godparents, of whom at least one belongs to a Christian church.

1. Before the baptism, the pastor engages in a conversation with the parents about the significance of baptism, the role of godparents, and the arrangement of the baptismal celebration.

1. The parents undertake to raise the child in the Christian faith.

2. The godparents promise to support the parents in this task and to accompany the child on this path.

1. Adults and adolescents from the age of 16 are baptized upon their own request.

2. Children capable of judgment are baptized before their 16th birthday at their own request, provided the parents consent.

3. At the request of the baptismal candidate, the church council assists in finding suitable godparents.

4. Baptism upon one's own request is preceded by preparation appropriate to the age of the baptismal candidate.

1. The Lord's Supper is celebrated in the service based on the institution by Jesus Christ. It is a visible sign of divine forgiveness and the connection with the crucified, risen, present, and coming Lord and His congregation.

1. Invited are all who seek this community.

1. The centerpiece of the Holy Communion service is the Words of Institution, as well as the distribution and reception of bread and wine.

2. Questions such as the use of a shared or individual chalice, wafer or bread, fermented or unfermented wine, and the form of distribution are decided by the church congregation.

3. In specific cases, deviations from the customary form of Holy Communion are decided by the church council.

4. For the distribution, the church council can involve additional members of the congregation alongside church elders and sextons.

1. On Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost, and generally on the Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance, and Prayer, as well as on at least three other annually recurring days determined by the church community, each congregation celebrates the Lord's Supper.

2. The church council may establish additional celebrations of the Lord's Supper on special occasions.

1. The Lord's Supper may be celebrated with individuals and groups within the context of pastoral care or church events, even outside of the congregational worship service.

1. The celebration of the Lord's Supper is conducted by an ordained pastor (male or female).

2. The church council may grant permission to appropriately trained individuals to conduct celebrations of the Lord's Supper, specifically for services in care homes.

3. The church leadership may grant permission to deacons or appropriately trained laypersons to conduct non-public celebrations of the Lord's Supper.

1. The Church Wedding Ceremony is a religious service (§ 23 ff.). In it, the marital union is affirmed before God, and the matrimonial community is placed under His Word and blessing.

2. The spouses acknowledge that they accept one another from God's hand and promise to conduct their marriage with His help, in Christian love and fidelity.

1. The pastor or minister is responsible for officiating and conducting the wedding ceremony. Other participants must respect the religious nature of the service.

2. Ordained deacons may perform and conduct wedding ceremonies in a representative capacity.

3. The completed wedding ceremony is confirmed to the spouses in writing.

1. The marriage ceremony is preceded by a marriage conversation with the pastor.

2. The marriage ceremony requires a prior civil legal marriage.

1. The marriage ceremony requires that the husband or the wife is a member of the Protestant Regional Church.

2. In the case of interdenominational couples, the marriage ceremony can be conducted with the participation of an official from the other church.

1. The marriage ceremony takes place in a church. The marriage ceremony at other locations is permitted in justifiable exceptional cases and with the consent of the pastor.

1. The registration for the wedding service is to be made with the pastor conducting the wedding ceremony.

2. The reservation of the church is to be made with the office designated by the competent authority of the wedding location.

3. The parish office of the parish in which the bridal couple resides is obligated, upon the couple's request, to conduct the wedding ceremony elsewhere, provided it takes place within the territory of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau.

1. The ecclesiastical funeral service is a worship service (§ 23 ff.) in which, in the face of death and suffering, the redemption through Jesus Christ and the resurrection are proclaimed. It offers comfort to the bereaved and assures them of the closeness of the church community. The life and character of the deceased should be appropriately honored.

1. The pastor is responsible for the leadership and arrangement of the funeral service.

2. Ordained deacons may lead and arrange funeral services as substitutes.

3. Other participants in the funeral service must respect the religious character of the ceremony.

4. The forms and customs to be observed in connection with funeral services are determined by the church congregation, possibly in agreement with the relevant authorities of the political community.

1. Where circumstances suggest it, a simplified form of the funeral can take place either in the church and at the cemetery or solely at the cemetery.

1. Funeral services are generally public and are announced with the ringing of bells. If the relatives forgo a public announcement and the funeral is held within the circle of close family members, the bell ringing will be omitted at their request.

1. The names of the congregation members who passed away in the previous church year shall be read aloud during the worship service on Eternity Sunday.

1. At the request of the bereaved, the pastor shall participate in the separate urn interment.

1. The parish office responsible for the ecclesiastical funeral service is the one in whose parish or jurisdiction the deceased last had their legal residence.

2. If relatives wish for an ecclesiastical funeral service to be conducted not by the responsible parish office but by a pastor of their choice, both the requested pastor and the competent authority of the local parish must give their consent. Unless otherwise designated by the church council, this authority is the church council presidency. This authority notifies the responsible parish office.

3. If the grave site is located in an external cemetery, the responsible parish office, in whose parish or jurisdiction the deceased last had their legal residence, is generally obliged, upon request by the relatives, to conduct the funeral service or urn burial at the location of the grave site, as long as it is within the territory of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau.

1. Pastors cannot be obligated to perform rituals that are to take place outside of a cemetery or church.

1. Ordination Constitutes a Calling to the Ministry of the Gospel

Ordination constitutes a calling to the ministry of the Gospel. It entitles one to serve as a pastor or deacon within the congregation and obligates one to commit to the Kingdom of God through a lifestyle and proclamation consistent with the Holy Scriptures and to uphold the unity of the Church.

1. The ordination takes place in a public worship service conducted by an ordained member of the church council according to the form prescribed in the liturgy.

1. Ordination to the Pastoral Office is conducted based on a decision by the Church Council. The prerequisites for admission to ordination to the pastoral office for candidates who do not possess the certificate of eligibility of the concordat, are determined by the Church Council.

2. Ordination to the Diaconate occurs no earlier than two years after the completion of practical work in social-diaconal service, based on a decision by the Church Council. The requirements are determined by the Church Council.

3. Ordination takes place independently of the subsequent assumption of an office in a parish or a cantonal church assignment.

1. The Installation of Office constitutes the public induction of an ordained and elected pastor or deacon, or an ordained and elected female pastor or deaconess, into a parish ministry or parish diaconate.

1. Clergymen, Clergywomen, Deacons, and Deaconesses elected by the congregation shall be appointed to office by the responsible Dean on behalf of the Church Council, according to the form prescribed in the liturgy.

1. For stewards or stewardesses, employed pastors, employed deacons, other employees of the church community, newly elected members of the church board and church council, as well as cantonal church appointees, an induction may take place in a worship service on the occasion of assuming their duties. During the induction, those entrusted with a new task express their commitment to perceive it as a church assignment.

1. Upon the commencement of duty by pastoral administrators or clergy, employed pastors or ministers, deacons, or other employees, the responsibility for the delegation of duties lies jointly with the parish office and the church council.

2. Upon the beginning of a new term or assumption of office by members of the authorities during the term, the responsibility for the delegation of duties lies jointly with the parish office and the members of the church council.

3. At the beginning of a new term or assumption of office by members of the church council during the term, the responsibility for the delegation of duties lies jointly with one or more deans and the synod presidency.

4. Upon the assumption of duty by cantonal church appointees, the responsibility for the delegation of duties lies with the church council.

1. The Blessing of Children is the assurance of God's benevolent presence for the child. The gesture of laying on of hands reinforces the blessing word.

1. The Blessing of Children is typically performed during a congregational service for unbaptized children upon the request of the parents. It does not replace baptism.

1. The pastor conducts a conversation with the parents about the significance and arrangement of the blessing ceremony.

1. The Remembrance of Baptism reminds the assembled congregation of the promise and commitment of baptism and makes these considerations aware to the baptized.

2. The act of Remembrance of Baptism may be accompanied by a profession of faith, the declaration of the commitment to a Christian life, and a symbolic act that must be distinctly different from the act of baptism.

1. The Celebration of the Remembrance of Baptism is Observed in a Worship Service.

1. During the confirmation of baptism, individual church members are affirmed of the promises associated with their baptism.

2. The church member may profess their faith before the congregation and reaffirm the commitment to a Christian life associated with baptism. This can be accompanied by a symbolic act, which must be distinctly different from a baptismal act.

**1. The Confirmation of Baptism is conducted at the request of a church member and takes place during a church service following a preparatory conversation with the pastor.**

1. On the occasion of significant life events, worship services or blessing ceremonies may be conducted upon the request of the individuals concerned. There is no entitlement to this.

2. The pastor informs the church council of such requests made to him or her and provides justification for his or her decision. If the ceremony has a public character, the consent of the church council is required.

1. On the occasion of significant events in the life of congregations, special liturgical acts and blessing services may be performed.

1. Responsibility for the religious education of children and adolescents lies with the parents or legal guardians.

2. The Church supports the parents or legal guardians in fulfilling the obligation undertaken at baptism to raise the children in the Christian faith. It also offers its services in this regard to parents or legal guardians of unbaptized children and adolescents.

3. The Church encourages children and adolescents on their path to becoming mature, responsible Christians. They should learn about the faith and grow into church life. In the church community, they should experience guidance, life support, and strengthening of their faith.

3bis. The Church takes into account the concerns and specific needs of young adults from the age of confirmation. It allows them to experience community and share their faith.

4. To this end, the Synod enacts regulations in three areas

a) Religious and confirmation instruction;

b) Church celebrations with children and adolescents;

c) Church recreational activities.

d) Young adults from the age of confirmation.

1. The church council issues a congregation-specific regulation within the framework of the synodal ordinance and is responsible for its implementation.

1. The Church Council promotes participation within the community, as well as collaboration and contacts between parents and staff in all three areas.

1. The church board maintains and promotes cooperation, particularly in the area of religious education, with the responsible parties of the schools, the responsible parties of the Catholic church communities, and if applicable, other churches.

1. In religious education, children and young people learn about the message and use of the Bible, important figures and events in church history, as well as church hymns. They engage with questions of life and faith and are introduced to the significance of baptism and communion.

2. Religious education is provided both in primary school and at the secondary level I.

1. The Church Council and the Church Administration advocate for the retention of the integration of church religious education within the school.

1. The church board is responsible for the organization and implementation of religious education at all school locations within its jurisdiction.

2. The church council assists the local parish in the organization and implementation of religious education at private, special, and sports schools.

1. Religious instruction is generally provided weekly or biweekly as part of the school schedule.

2. Part of the religious instruction may be conducted in block lessons, on project days, and in camps. These forms of instruction are to be coordinated with the schools, the bodies of the participating Protestant church communities, and ecumenical partners.

1. Attendance at religious education is, in principle, compulsory for children and adolescents who belong to the Evangelical Church of the Canton of Thurgau.

1. Pupils who do not belong to the Protestant Regional Church have the opportunity, with the consent of their parents or guardians, to attend religious instruction, unless the church council decides otherwise upon the teacher's request.

1. Religious instruction shall be provided at all levels by appropriately trained teachers.

1. Religious instruction is content-wise based on the curriculum set by the Church Council.

1. In matters of technical supervision, the church board is supported by a specialized department designated by the church council.

1. By celebrating, children and adolescents are granted access to liturgical life, and essential aspects of the Christian faith are conveyed.

2. Participation is open to everyone, regardless of their church affiliation.

1. For preschool-age children, the church community offers events, whenever possible, that adults can accompany the children to.

1. For children aged four and above, the parish offers children's church services whenever possible.

1. The parish invites children and adolescents at the middle and secondary level I to age-appropriate church services and events.

1. The parish regularly offers intergenerational church services.

1. The conduct of celebrations for infants and children's church services is the responsibility of individuals appointed by the church council, who possess the necessary qualifications.

2. The conduct of celebrations and events for youth is the responsibility of pastors, deacons, or other qualified individuals appointed by the church council.

1. The church council regulates the scheduling of activities. It ensures that there are sufficient and diverse activities available throughout the year. An appropriate portion of these activities should be scheduled for Sundays.

1. The purpose and objective of the confirmation year is to provide young people with an overview of the essential contents of the Christian faith, familiarize them with the life of the church community and church hymns, encourage them in their faith, and promote the ability to live as Christians. In doing so, the young people should be given the opportunity to actively participate in shaping church life.

1. The provision of instruction and the further organization of the confirmation year is the responsibility of the pastor.

2. The church council may also appoint other suitably qualified individuals to lead.

1. Confirmation instruction consists of a minimum of 40 lessons and includes community-building activities and events. Additionally, the instruction is supplemented with a camp or weekend retreat.

2. Confirmation instruction typically begins in the third year of secondary education (lower secondary level).

1. **Prerequisite for Admission to the Confirmation Year**

The prerequisite for admission to the confirmation year is the fulfillment of the regulation issued by the church council based on the Church, Child, and Youth Ordinance.

2. **Adjusted Solutions for Individuals with Impairments**

For children and adolescents who cannot fulfill the regulations in accordance with paragraph 1 due to an impairment or special situation, an adapted solution for confirmation instruction and confirmation must be sought to enable their participation.

3. **Decisions on Additional Exceptions**

The church council decides on further exceptions.

1. In the case of persistent and severely disruptive behavior, the church leadership may, after verbal contact with the parents and a written warning, defer a confirmand for one year.

1. Attendance at the confirmation class of the residential parish is required.

2. Applications for assignment to a different group within one's own parish fall under the jurisdiction of the church council.

3. Parents who wish to have their youth instructed or confirmed in another parish must submit a substantiated application to the church council of the parish where the instruction or confirmation is to take place. This council makes its decision in agreement with the pastorate where the instruction is to be attended or the confirmation is to be conducted, and after consulting with the church council of the residential parish.

1. In the confirmation year, the pastor or minister or the responsible person visits the parents of the confirmands.

1. During confirmation, young people are given the opportunity to affirm the invitation to a Christian life associated with baptism.

2. Confirmation includes a blessing and intercessory prayers for the young people and marks the completion of church instruction as well as membership in the Protestant Regional Church.

3. A Bible verse is personally bestowed upon the confirmands.

1. Confirmation takes place after participation in instruction before the assembled congregation during a church service.

2. If the conduct of the confirmation instruction is undertaken by a person other than an ordained minister, the confirmation ceremony may be jointly organized with the minister. Involvement of additional persons who contribute to the confirmation instruction is to be encouraged.

3. If the confirmation instruction is conducted together with another church congregation, the confirmation may take place jointly in one congregation or in the respective congregations of the youth.

1. Regular participation in confirmation classes, as well as in other activities, events, and church services within the framework of the congregation's own regulations, is a prerequisite for confirmation.

2. If a confirmand is to be excluded from confirmation pursuant to section 1, a resolution of the church council is necessary.

1. The completed confirmation is certified to the confirmands with a certificate.

1. The Confirmation takes place on a Sunday or public holiday determined by the church council, no earlier than the 4th Sunday after Easter and no later than Trinity Sunday.

1. Church Leisure Activities for Children and Youth promote social skills and community experiences while providing opportunities to grow in the Christian faith.

1. The church community promotes and supports suitable church recreational activities and projects for children and young people of all age groups.

2. The responsible parties maintain regional cooperation and contact with the relevant youth associations.

3. The church community may share and support offerings of open youth work from the school community, the political community, or other institutions.

1. Employees entrusted with leadership tasks are those who meet the necessary qualifications.

2. The church community promotes the voluntary participation of young adults.

1. Special Needs and Talents of Young Adults from Confirmation Age Onwards Shall Be Accommodated in Community Life.

1. The parish supports young adults in discovering their personal faith and integrating it into their daily lives. The parish offers opportunities for participation and encourages active involvement.

2. If this is not possible within the parish, it can be undertaken in a regional collaboration, at the cantonal level, or interdenominationally.

1. Pastoral Care is Support for Life and Faith in the Encounter from Person to Person on the Basis of the Gospel and is Fundamentally Entrusted to All Church Members.

1. The regional church and congregations ensure that especially individuals who are in spiritual or physical distress receive pastoral care, including in homes, hospitals, and prisons.

2. Pastoral care is provided through attentiveness, empathy, compassion, encouragement, forgiveness, consolation, or admonition, and in supporting the discovery of viable paths for the future. This may be accompanied by scripture reading, prayer, communion, and blessing.

1. Pastoral care is an essential duty of the pastor, or according to the job description, the deacon or deaconess, as well as any additional staff in the social-diaconal service.

2. In pastoral care, with the consent of the church council, the pastor may appoint trained congregation members as pastoral care commissioners. He or she is responsible for their supervision.

1. Pastoral Action Requires Confidentiality.

2. Pastors and Deacons must uphold secrets that are entrusted to them due to their profession or that they become aware of during its execution. If they are assisted by other persons, those persons are subject to the same confidentiality obligation.

3. Individuals obligated to maintain professional secrecy may only disclose such secrets with the written consent of the person confiding in them or the church council. The church council can grant consent if overriding ecclesiastical, public, or private interests necessitate it.

1. All those engaged in pastoral care maintain the necessary distance for free and uninhibited interaction with the individuals they accompany.

2. They take into account their own professional and personal limitations and, where necessary, assist the individuals they accompany in seeking an appropriate professional.

1. Diakonia is the mandate from the Gospel to the Christian community to advocate for those who find themselves in difficult life situations and who require continuous or temporary assistance, companionship, or comfort.

2. Diaconal action is guided by the message, life, and actions of Jesus Christ and the New Testament community.

1. All members of the congregation are called to engage in diaconal action.

2. The services of the Diakonie are open to all individuals, regardless of origin, biography, denomination, and religion.

1. To fulfill the diaconal mandate, the church congregation may apply to the church council for the creation of deaconry positions.

2. The church congregation may itself create positions for appropriately trained staff in social-diaconal service.

1. To promote diaconal activities within the congregation, groups may be formed, specifically groups for visiting services and transportation services, as well as destiny and self-help groups.

1. The church council promotes and supports diaconal and social services and works.

2. For this purpose, it may collaborate with other institutions and engage in the development of regional projects.

1. Mission is intrinsic to the nature and mandate of the Church of Jesus Christ. It is the proclamation of the Gospel in word and deed, as well as an invitation to follow Jesus Christ. This takes place within the church and beyond. All mission is conducted with respect towards Christian partners and other religions and cultures.

2. Ecumenism is the endeavor to promote a common understanding of faith and solidarity among Christians and Christian churches worldwide.

3. Development cooperation is global diaconal engagement. It particularly includes partnership-based assistance to enable self-help.

1. The regional church and parish communities recognize the concerns of mission, ecumenism, and development cooperation.

2. They raise awareness for the cross-border dimension of the Christian faith and for development policy issues.

3. They seek ways to engage in dialogue with people who are distant from the church and to witness to them about the Gospel, and they encourage the members of the congregation to do the same.

1. Where it serves the fulfillment of this mandate, the church council and the church board collaborate with other churches and missions, as well as with suitable ecclesiastical and non-ecclesiastical institutions, organizations, and communities.

1. Where church decisions impact matters of global justice, those responsible shall take these into account.

1. The regional church and parish congregations address the concerns of mission and development cooperation throughout the entire church year, particularly during the Advent and Passion periods.

1. Faith in God the Creator invites joy in creation and praise of the Creator and obliges us to the sustainable use of resources, careful treatment of fellow creatures, and commitment to the preservation of life's foundations.

1. Where matters concerning the preservation of creation are involved in ecclesiastical decisions, the responsible parties shall take these into account, particularly with regard to issues concerning energy use in the operation of church buildings.

1. Regional Church and Parishes address the concerns of creation praise and the preservation of creation throughout the entire church year, particularly during the ecumenical Season of Creation in the fall.

1. Regional Church and Church Congregations enable their adult members, as well as other groups in the population, to learn and understand the Christian faith and the culture shaped by Christianity more deeply.

1. Church Adult Education is Guided by the Christian Conception of God, Humanity, and Society. It perceives adult individuals holistically, considering their unique life and experiential background.

1. Regional Church and Congregations Conduct Events and Courses for Adults

The regional church and congregations conduct events and courses for adults, which enable a deepening of their faith, an understanding of the history, present, and future of the church, as well as an engagement with current issues and challenges.

1. Regional Churches and Parishes promote music as an essential expression of Christian faith and life, particularly instrumental, choral, and solo music of various styles, as well as dance.

1. The church congregation offers generation-specific and intergenerational events and promotes related self-initiatives.

1. Regional Church and Church Congregations Actively Participate in Interreligious Dialogue and Support Their Members in It.

1. The church board assumes responsibility for the maintenance and, in particular, the preservation of valuable structures of churches and other buildings owned by the parish.

2. It considers liturgical, ecological, practical, aesthetic, monument preservation, and financial aspects in renovations, new constructions, and additions.

3. It enables access and participation in services and events for people with disabilities.

1. The church council provides generous access even outside of worship services and events to allow personal experiences of silence and reflection, as well as the opportunity to learn about the religious proclamation and cultural history evident in the church building.

2. The church council shall take appropriate measures to ensure that the character of the churches as places of silence and contemplation is preserved.

1. Church-related events have priority in the use of the premises.

2. The church council decides to what extent the premises of the parish are made available for events that are not organized by the parish. The objectives of the events and the respective sponsoring organizations must not conflict with the goals of the Protestant Regional Church.

3. If the church is made available, the nature of the space must be taken into account.

4. The church council may issue regulations regarding the use of its premises by third parties.

1. Regional Church and Congregations engage in public relations and make their activities and the Gospel known in this way as well.

1. The Church Council and Church Boards ensure proper and timely communication both internally and externally.

1. The Church Council represents the regional church in public. It may express its position on important issues through public statements.

2. The Church Board represents the parish in public.

1. Where church officials speak on social and political issues in the name of the church, they are obligated to argue with expertise and from a specifically biblical-ecclesiastical perspective.

1. The Church Council establishes the framework conditions for a unified appearance of the regional church and congregations.

1. The official publication organ of the regional church is the Official Gazette of the Canton of Thurgau.

2. The regional church may participate in the publication of church newspapers or produce such newspapers itself. The synod is responsible for such a decision.

3. The church council can agree to collaborate with the sponsoring body of the church messenger.

4. The regional church and the church congregations ensure media presence.

1. The Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau promotes innovation efforts through initiatives, support, exchange, and financial contributions.

1. All baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials performed within the parish area of a church congregation must be recorded by the parish office with the necessary personal details in their register.

1. On the occasion of handovers of office during changes in the parish ministry, presidency, or caretaker position, a protocol is created and filed in the archive.

2. Handovers of office during parish changes take place in the presence of a representative of the church council, who also co-signs the protocol.

1. The church council shall store registers, documents, minutes, contracts, and other important records, as well as baptismal and communion items not in use, in a secured archive.

2. Records of the supervisory and pastoral election commission shall be kept separately and under lock and key in the archive. Access is limited to the presidency and the secretariat.

1. The Church Council issues a regulation on the management of registers and records, the transfer of office, and archive administration.

2. The Church Council examines the management of the archive within the context of visitations and transfers of office.

1. Members of authorities and commissions, as well as employees of the church parishes and the national church, are obliged to observe confidentiality in official and service matters, even after the termination of the office or service relationship.

2. The church council is responsible for releasing individuals from the obligation of official secrecy in all cases.

1. The collection and processing of personal data are governed by the cantonal data protection law.

2. Church administrations, parish offices, and the church council are authorized to exchange data among themselves to fulfill their duties.

1. Every Sunday and public holiday is announced the evening before by the ringing of bells.

1. The parish community decides on the ringing schedule, which regulates the liturgical ringing for church services, the announcement of prayer times, as well as the chime of the hours.

1. On extraordinary occasions, the church council may order the ringing of the bells for churches within the parish area, and the church council may do so for churches within the regional church area.

1. Where cantonal or municipal ecclesiastical law contradicts the provisions of this Church Order, it must be conformed to this order within a period of five years from the date this Church Order comes into effect.

1. This Church Order shall enter into force on a date to be determined by the Church Council.

2. In accordance with § 9 of the Constitution of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau dated November 27, 2000, this Church Order is subject to an optional referendum.