Ordinance of the Evangelical Synod of the Canton of Thurgau on the Support of Institutions - Purpose

1. This regulation governs the support principles of the Evangelical Church, the associated procedure, and the decision-making competencies of the Synod and Church Council.

1. This regulation applies to the allocation of contributions by the Evangelical State Church through the Synod and the Church Council domestically and abroad. It does not apply to the recommendation of collections and donations, the allocation of contributions by the church congregations, state church funds with separately regulated purposes, and for institutions with their own legal personality in which the state church is involved as a sponsor or member.

1. The Protestant Regional Church allocates contributions to both church-related and non-church-related institutions and projects domestically and abroad. It ensures a balanced distribution between cantonal, domestic, and foreign support.

1. Support may be provided through

1. a one-time contribution,

2. recurring annual contributions,

3. assumption of a deficit guarantee,

4. provision of personnel or infrastructure by the Protestant Regional Church.

1. The term "Institution" refers to legal entities of public and private law as well as partnerships registered in the commercial register.

1. The following institutions can be supported in particular

1. those engaged in diaconal, pastoral, or missionary work,

2. those providing inter-church assistance,

3. those cultivating or promoting Christian youth work,

4. those active in the field of education and training,

5. those supporting church employees,

6. those promoting Christian-influenced culture.

2. Institutions that are not supported are those that

1. pursue purely political goals or

2. serve purely commercial purposes.

1. Institutions receiving one-time project contributions or recurring general support contributions must submit a comprehensive annual report and their annual financial statement - including income statement, balance sheet, any notes, and auditor's report - as well as their statutes and mission statement once for one-time contributions or annually for recurring contributions.

2. The contribution of the Protestant Regional Church must generally be specified in publicly accessible documents.

3. The activities of the supported institutions must comply with their statutory provisions.

1. For specific projects, one-time contributions can be granted, or a deficit guarantee can be assumed. The sponsoring institution must submit a project description, information on the project's financing, a detailed budget, and data on its financial situation.

1. In the case of recurring contributions, the beneficiary institution shall report annually on the use of the contributions. The church council periodically reviews the continuation of the contribution payment for the synod. There is no entitlement to continuation.

1. Initial or one-time requests for financial assistance or an increase for the following year must be submitted to the Church Council Office by August 31.

1. The applications must be substantiated and documented with attachments regarding the financial situation and activities of the applicant institution. The church council may request additional documents.

1. The decision on the allocation of one-time and recurring contributions is made by the Synod with the approval of the budget of the Evangelical Central Fund.

1. The church council has at its disposal a provision for extraordinary contributions as a discretionary sum for one-time, non-budgeted contributions.

2. Allocations to the discretionary sum can be made through the regular budget or by decision regarding the use of the financial proposal.

3. The church council accounts for the use of the discretionary sum with the annual financial statement.

1. In the case of a negative decision, there is no entitlement to a justification.

1. This Ordinance shall enter into force on January 1, 2006.