Ordinance of the Evangelical Synod of the Canton of Thurgau on the Granting of Church Training Grants (Scholarship Regulations) (Stipendienreglement) - Principle

1. The Protestant Church of the Canton of Thurgau provides educational grants to its members who are preparing for a church-related profession and are unable to fully cover the costs of their initial or further education in this regard, or the attendance of part-time vocational schools and courses.

1. Educational grants are provided particularly for the following educational paths after compulsory schooling

1. Studies in Theology and Church Music;

2. Training leading to election or employment in the diaconate, as a social deaconry worker, or in church youth work;

3. Training that qualifies one for employment as a religion teacher.

1. Entitlement to contributions exists during the standard duration of training.

2. Contributions are granted for the first time for the semester or course in which the application has been submitted.

**1. The following types of educational contributions are distinguished:**

1. Support contributions;

2. Scholarships;

3. Loans;

4. Hardship contributions.

1. Support contributions may be granted to individuals undergoing education as defined in § 2, who submit a substantiated application to the Chamberlain's Office of the Church Council.

2. Support contributions may be granted for regular educational expenses, as well as extraordinary educational expenses, particularly for semesters of study abroad.

3. Support contributions may be granted to applicants who either themselves or whose parents have their legal residence in the Canton of Thurgau.

1. Scholarships are awarded to individuals from Thurgau who are pursuing education according to § 2, where their education constitutes a second education and they are excluded from cantonal scholarships. The determining factor is the civil legal residence of the applicant at the beginning of the education.

2. Individuals applying for ecclesiastical scholarships must submit the same documents to the Church Council's Treasury that they would need to submit to the cantonal scholarship office.

1. In justified cases, repayable loans may be granted.

1. Additionally, hardship allowances may be granted, specifically to individuals who are in training according to § 2, but whose parents refuse to contribute to their ecclesiastical education.

1. Support contributions may be granted up to a maximum amount of CHF 1,500 per semester.

1. The assessment of scholarships is based on the personal circumstances of the applicant, primarily their reasonable personal contributions, the financial means of their parents or spouse, the estimated costs of education, and the educational grants promised or received from other sources.

2. The assessment of scholarships is conducted analogous to the cost calculation of the cantonal scholarship office. The upper limit is CHF 5,000 per semester.

1. Loans can be granted up to a maximum amount of CHF 30,000 for the entire duration of the education.

1. Hardship contributions can be awarded up to a maximum amount of CHF 4,000 per semester.

1. Initial applications must be submitted with the necessary documents to the Treasury of the Church Council no later than one month after the start of the relevant semester.

2. Applications for the continuation of educational contributions must be addressed to the Treasury of the Church Council during each study semester, accompanied by a document in which the educational institution confirms the continuation of the education.

1. The church council's finance commission makes the final decision regarding support contributions.

2. The church council decides on the granting of scholarships or hardship contributions, as well as the granting of loans, based on the recommendation of the finance commission.

1. The funding for training contributions and loans is provided from the resources of the Protestant Scholarship Fund.

2. If the fund balance falls below CHF 100,000, it must be replenished through the budgetary process.

1. Training grants, with the exception of loans, are generally not subject to repayment.

2. The conditions for the repayment of loans are determined by the Church Council at the conclusion of the loan agreement.

3. In the case of supporting second training programs that lead to the pastoral profession, the Church Council may agree with the beneficiaries on a full or partial repayment obligation if, after completing the training, they do not hold a pastoral office in one of the Concordat churches for at least 5 years.

4. All types of repayments flow into the scholarship fund.

1. The administration of the scholarship fund and correspondence with applicants fall under the responsibility of the bursar's office of the state church.

1. The provisions of this regulation apply to all applications submitted after its entry into force. The vested rights are preserved.

2. This regulation replaces the regulations of the Evangelical Synod of the Canton of Thurgau regarding the provision of church training grants (Scholarship Regulations) from December 2, 1991.

1. This regulation shall come into effect on a date to be determined by the church council.