Kanton Glarus

Mandate

1 The Evangelical-Reformed Church of the Canton, in its faith in the coming Kingdom of God, recognizes its calling to advocate for the message of Christ among our people. Together with its parishes, it serves the people through the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in worship services with word and sacrament, in ecclesiastical acts, pastoral care, instruction, diakonia, and other acts of charity. Guided by the Gospel, it is committed to the ecclesiastical community, mission, the protection of human rights, and responsibility towards creation.

Membership

1 The Evangelical-Reformed Church of the Canton of Zurich understands itself as part of the worldwide Christian Church.

2 It is a member of the Evangelical Reformed Church Switzerland.

1. Evangelisch ist sie, weil sie Grund und Verpflichtung zu ihrem Glauben und Handeln erkennt im Evangelium gemäss Altem und Neuem Testament.

2. Reformiert ist sie dank ihrer Herkunft aus der Reformation Huldrych Zwinglis und seiner Nachfolger, und durch ihren Willen, sich stets der Heiligen Schrift gemäss zu erneuern.

3. Landeskirche ist sie durch ihre Verbindung mit dem Werden und Wachsen des glarnerischen Staatswesens und durch ihre Verankerung in der Verfassung des Kantons Glarus[[1]](#paragraphtext_content_fn_507142_2_1_c).

Ecumenism

1 The Evangelical Reformed Church's binding objective is Christian unity. Therefore, it cooperates with other denominations and Christian communities.

2 In encountering other religious communities, it strives for dialogue and understanding on the basis of freedom of belief and conscience.

Legal Form

¹ The Evangelical Reformed Cantonal Church is a public-law corporation. Within the framework of state law, it autonomously orders its affairs.

Membership

1. The Evangelical-Reformed Regional Church comprises all persons who belong to an

Evangelical-Reformed parish in the Canton of Glarus.

2. The parishes

Fulfillment of the Mandate

1 The church parishes shall ensure the fulfillment of their mandate in accordance with the principles of this Constitution. They shall contribute, within the scope of their possibilities, to the solution of cantonal and overall church tasks.

2 In general matters not regulated by the national church, the decision lies with the church parishes.

1. Bestand und Umfang der Kirchgemeinden werden in der Kirchenordnung[[2]](#paragraphtext_content_fn_507149_2_2_c) festgelegt.

2. Veränderungen in Bestand und Umfang der Kirchgemeinden bedürfen der Zustimmung der betreffenden Kirchgemeindeversammlungen und der Genehmigung durch die Synode.

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1 Every evangelical-reformed person residing in the parish area who has not declared their resignation in writing is a member of a parish.

2 This membership finds its sign and expression in baptism and communion, in instruction and confirmation, in participation in worship services, and in an interest in the life of the community.

Legal Form

1 The parish is a public-law corporation with legal capacity to own assets and the right to levy taxes. Within the framework of state and ecclesiastical legal order, it regulates its own affairs autonomously.

Organs

1 The organs of the parish are

a. the parish assembly;

b. the church council;

c. the delegates for the audit of accounts.

Cooperation

1 Parish churches may cooperate to fulfil their tasks. They are authorised to form special-purpose associations.

2 Agreements between parish churches regarding the permanent joint fulfilment of tasks must be brought to the attention of the Evangelical Church Council of the Canton of Glarus (cantonal Church Council).

3 Statutes of special-purpose associations must be submitted to the cantonal Church Council for approval. Its decision may be forwarded to the Synod within 30 days, which shall make a final decision.

4 If cooperation is imperatively necessary and the parish churches cannot agree within a deadline set by the cantonal Church Council, the Synod shall take the necessary measures.

3. Parish Assembly

Position

1 The Church Assembly is the supreme body of the Church Parish.

It consists of the eligible voters among the Evangelical Reformed inhabitants.

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Voting Rights

1. The right to vote and be elected in ecclesiastical matters is vested in all members of the parish who possess Swiss citizenship and have completed their 16th year of age.

2. All members of the parish who possess Swiss citizenship and have completed their 18th year of age are eligible to be elected as a member of a church authority.

3. Foreigners with a settlement permit who identify with the Evangelical Church are entitled to vote and be elected according to paragraphs 1 and 2.

Convening

1 The Parish Assembly shall be convened by the Church Council as often

as business requires, but at least once a year.

2 It must convene within three months if one-tenth of the eligible voters

request it in writing, stating the subject matter of the deliberation.

Tasks

1 The responsibilities of the Parish Assembly include, in particular

a. Election of the President of the Parish;

b. Election of the Administrator of the Church assets;

c. Election of the other members of the Church Council;

d. Election of the Financial Audit Commissioners;

e. Election of the Synodal Delegates;

f. Election of the Pastors;

g. Election of the other employees of the Parish, insofar as this authority

is not delegated to the Church Council;

h. Election of the Tellers;

i. Approval of the annual financial statements;

k. Decision-making on the budget and the tax rate;

l. Decision on matters of significant importance for life in the Parish;

m. Decision-making on the acquisition, disposal, or encumbrance of

real estate, major construction projects, accumulation or use of

foundations, and the taking out of loans for extraordinary needs;

n. Oversight of the administration of the Parish;

o. Decision on membership in a special-purpose association.

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Appeal

1. Any person asserting a personal, protectable interest against resolutions of parish assemblies may file an appeal with the cantonal Church Council within ten days of the resolution.

2. The provisions of the Administrative Justice Act3) apply mutatis mutandis.

3. In legal matters, any party may appeal the decision of the cantonal Church Council to the Administrative Court within ten days, in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act.

**4. Church Councils**

Tasks

1 The Church Council is the governing and executive body of the church parish. It promotes church life in the community and handles all matters not assigned to other bodies.

Composition

1 The Church Council consists of the President of the Church Parish, the Administrator of the Church Property, and at least three other members.

2 It has a quorum when the majority of its members are present.

3 The pastor(s) shall be invited to the deliberations of the Church Council in an advisory capacity.

4 Other employees of the Church Parish may be invited.

Complaint

1 Any person asserting a protectable interest of their own may lodge a complaint against decisions of the Church Council with the cantonal Church Council within 30 days of their notification.

2 The provisions of the Administrative Justice Act apply mutatis mutandis.

3) GS III G/1

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5. Auditors

Election Process

1 The Parish Assembly elects at least two representatives for the auditing of accounts. They may not be members of the Church Council nor employees of the Parish.

Duty

1 The auditors examine the entire accounting system and report annually to the Church Assembly.

**6. Services**

1 The Evangelical-Reformed Regional Church is dependent on the cooperation and co-

responsibility of its members.

2 Parishes, special-purpose associations, and the Regional Church may commission suitable per-

sons to perform specific services. They shall promote their further training.

7. Pastorate

Mandate and Training

1 The minister (male) and the minister (female) are entrusted with the proclamation of the Gospel.

2 This service requires theological training.

3 Ministers (male) and ministers (female) perform this task according to the principles of this Constitution.

Electability

1. Eligible for election to the pastoral office is whoever meets the following requirements

a. Certificate of eligibility from the Concordat Examination Authority;

b. Ordination to church service.

2. Exceptionally, the cantonal Church Council may declare someone electable based on another, equivalent qualification.

3. If circumstances require, the Synod may issue deviating regulations concerning electability.

Parochial Convention

1 The persons elected according to Article 25 are the voting members of the

Parochial Convention.

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2 The Parochial Convention deals with questions of official duties and other problems

concerning the parish office.

3 The Parochial Convention has the right to submit proposals to the Cantonal Church Council and the Synod.

8. Deanery

Election Procedure

1 The parish convention elects from its midst the Dean for the chairmanship. This election requires confirmation by the synod.

Tasks

1 The following fall within the scope of the Deanery's tasks

a. representing the pastoral convention externally;

b. advising the clergy on ecclesiastical and personal matters;

c. the pastoral installation for induction into office;

d. exercising the right to participate in meetings of the cantonal Church Council in an advisory capacity.

Non-Theological Specialists

¹ The church parishes, the church federations, and the Evangelical Reformed

Regional Church may employ other persons, such as deacons (male and female), catechists (male and female), and congregational helpers (male and female) for

the fulfillment of church tasks.

² The Synod may provide for the ordination to church service for such employees (male and female).

**9. Evangelical Reformed Regional Church**

Duties

1 The Evangelical-Reformed Regional Church fulfils the duties assigned to it by this Constitution.

Funds

1 The financial expenditures of the Evangelical Reformed Cantonal Church

are covered in particular by

a. taxes determined in cantonal legislation;

b. tax contributions based on synodal resolutions;

c. income from assets as well as from foundations and funds;

d. state contributions.

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Organs

1 The organs of the Evangelical-Reformed Regional Church are

a. the Evangelical-Reformed active citizenry;

b. the Synod;

c. the Evangelical Church Council of the Canton of Glarus (cantonal Church

Council);

d. the Business and Financial Audit Commission (BFAC).

10. Active Citizenry

Existence/Constitution

1 The Evangelical-Reformed Active Citizenry consists of the entirety of the voting members of all parish churches of the Evangelical-Reformed Cantonal Church.

Mandatory Referendum

1 Amendments to the Church Constitution are subject to a mandatory referendum by the active citizenry, conducted by secret ballot.

Optional Referendum

1 The optional referendum is subject to

a. laws and generally binding decisions enacted by the Synod;

b. credit decisions of the Synod, insofar as they exceed the minimum amount specified in the Church Order.

2 300 members of the active citizenry or at least two parishes can – within 60 days from the publication in the Official Gazette – demand that a decision subject to the optional referendum be submitted to a secret ballot.

Initiative

1 An initiative request may be submitted by 600 members of the active citizenry

or at least three parish communities, demanding the enactment, amendment, or

repeal of provisions of the Church Constitution, the Church Order,

or a resolution not falling within the exclusive competence of the Synod.

2 The initiative request may be submitted as a simple suggestion or as a fully drafted

proposal. It must be clearly formulated and may only

relate to a single enactment.

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Vorgehen im Falle einer einfachen Anregung

1 Should an initiative in the form of a simple suggestion be submitted, and the Synod agrees to it, then it shall draft a corresponding enactment.

2 If the Synod does not agree to the request, the active citizenry shall decide whether such an enactment should be drafted.

1. Procedure in the Case of a Draft Proposal

1. If the Synod approves an initiative request in the form of a draft proposal, the draft must be submitted to the active citizenry for decision.

2. If the Synod does not approve the initiative request, it may propose the rejection of the initiative and, if necessary, elaborate a counter-proposal.

3. The vote on the initiative and the counter-proposal shall take place simultaneously. A double "yes" is permissible. If both the initiative and the counter-proposal achieve an absolute majority, the proposal that garners more "yes" votes shall be deemed adopted.

Admissibility

1 The Synod decides on the admissibility of an initiative.

2 An appeal against the decision of the Synod declaring an initiative to be unlawful may be filed with the Administrative Court within ten days of its notification, in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act.

11. Synod

Legal Status

1 Subject to the powers of the active evangelical-reformed citizenry, the Synod is the supreme body of the Cantonal Church.

Composition

1 The Synod consists of

a. the delegates elected by the parishes;

b. the Evangelical-Reformed members of the Government Council;

c. the pastors (male and female) elected in accordance with Article 25.

2 The members of the cantonal Church Council participate in the Synod. They have the right to submit motions and to participate in the deliberations, but not in votes and elections.

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Election of Representatives

1 The parish communities delegate 50 members to the Synod.

2 Each parish community is entitled to at least one seat.

3 For the rest, the Church Order regulates the distribution of seats according to the

evangelical-reformed resident population.

Right to Submit Motions

1 The right to submit motions to the Synod is vested in

a.

the members of the Synod;

b.

the commissions of the Synod;

c.

the Cantonal Church Council;

d.

the Pastoral Conference;

e.

the parish churches and the local church authorities.

Tasks

1 The Synod bears responsibility for the order of the Regional Church and

exercises supreme supervision over all ecclesiastical activities.

2 In particular, its responsibilities include

a.

Election of the President, Vice-President, and Actuary of the

Synod; they collectively form the Synod Office;

b.

Election of the President, Financial Administrator, and the other

five members of the Cantonal Church Council;

c.

Election of the President of the GPK, the two Mandated

Auditors for the accounts, as well as the two additional members

of the GPK;

d.

Election of the members of further commissions;

e.

Election of the preacher for the Synod;

f.

Approval of the Church Council's annual report and acknowledgement

of the GPK's report on the activities of the Cantonal Church Council

and its annual report;

g.

Approval of the annual accounts;

h.

Determination of the budget and the amount of the tax contribution

from the parishes;

i.

Approval of the GPK's report;

k.

Enactment of the Church Order, further laws, and generally binding

resolutions;

l.

Resolutions on guidelines and recommendations;

m.

Establishment of regional services;

n.

Approval of agreements and contracts concluded by the Cantonal

Church Council with other churches, with the state, or with institutions

of public interest;

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o. Approval of accessions to intercantonal organizations;

p. Expenditure resolutions that do not fall within the competence of the

Cantonal Church Council;

q. Confirmation of the election to the Deanery made by the Pastoral

Conference.

Rules of Procedure

1 The Synod adopts its own rules of procedure.

2 It has a quorum when an absolute majority of its members are present.

3 The deliberations of the Synod are generally open to the public.

4 For important reasons, the Synod may decide to hold confidential deliberations. The preliminary decision must be made in camera.

Sessions

1 The Synod convenes in ordinary session once a year.

2 Extraordinary sessions may be convened, stating the matters to be

dealt with, by a decision of

a. the Synod;

b. its Bureau;

c. the Cantonal Church Council;

d. as well as upon written request from at least one fifth

of the members of the Synod or from two local church

authorities.

Complaint

1. Anyone who asserts a personal, protectable interest due to resolutions of the Synod may, within ten days of the resolution, lodge a complaint with the Administrative Court for violation of law, in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act.

12. Cantonal Church Council

Composition

1 The Cantonal Ecclesiastical Council consists of the President, the Financial

Administrator, and five other members.

2 No more than three members of the clergy may belong to the Council.

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Constitution

1 Subject to the election authority of the Synod, the Cantonal Church Council constitutes itself.

2 It elects the council's deputations and committees.

1. Der kantonale Kirchenrat leitet die Evangelisch-Reformierte Landeskirche, vollzieht die Gesetze und Beschlüsse der Synode und vertritt die Landeskirche nach aussen. Es stehen ihm insbesondere zu

| | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | a. | Wahl in Ämter, Kommissionen und Abordnungen, deren Bestellung nicht ausdrücklich der Synode vorbehalten ist; | | |

| | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | b. | Ordinationen; | | |

| | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | c. | Prüfung der Wahlfähigkeit der Pfarrer und Pfarrerinnen gemäss Artikel 25 und Validierung der entsprechenden Wahlen; | | |

| | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | d. | Vorbereitung und Antragstellung zu allen Geschäften der Synode; | | |

| | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | e. | Aufsicht über die von ihm gewählten Beauftragten und über das Unterrichtswesen; | | |

| | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | f. | Oberaufsicht über die Kirchgemeinden; | | |

| | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | g. | Entscheid über Beschwerden gegen Wahlen und Beschlüsse von Kirchgemeindeversammlungen und örtlichen Kirchenräten; | | |

| | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | h. | Entscheid bei Streitigkeiten zwischen Kirchgemeinden; | | |

| | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | i. | Vernehmlassungen der Landeskirche. | | |

1. Die Finanzkompetenzen des kantonalen Kirchenrates werden durch die Kirchenordnung geregelt.

Annual Report

1 The Cantonal Church Council annually submits a written report to the Synod.

Complaint

1 Any person who asserts their own legitimate interest against the rulings and decisions of the Cantonal Church Council may file an appeal with the Administrative Court within 30 days of notification, in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act, on grounds of violation of law.

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13. Business and Audit Committee (GPK)

Composition

1 The GPK consists of the President, two delegates for the financial audit, and two other members.

Tasks

1 The GPK examines the conduct of business of the Cantonal Church Council based on its minutes, annual reports, and other documents.

2 The two delegates for the financial audit particularly examine the accounting system of the Cantonal Church.

3 The GPK reports and submits a motion to the Synod annually.

14. Joint Provisions for Parishes and the Cantonal Church

Term of Office and Commencement of Office

1 The term of office for all ecclesiastical authorities, office holders, and employees is four years.

2 The term of office commences on July 1st following the general renewal elections.

3 For those elected by the Synod, the term of office commences with the Synod.

Financial Year

1 The financial year coincides with the calendar year.

Supplemental Law

1 Insofar as no provision can be derived from ecclesiastical law,

state law shall apply mutatis mutandis.

15. Final Provisions

Entry into Force

1 This Church Constitution requires the approval of the active citizenry

and the sanction by the Cantonal Council.

2 It shall enter into force on January 1 of the following year.

Abolition of Existing Law

1 With the entry into force of the present Church Constitution, all ecclesiastical laws, regulations, and ordinances shall cease to be effective, insofar as they contradict this Constitution.

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Transitional Provision

1 The term of office of authorities, representatives and employees in office at the time

this Constitution enters into force shall be governed by previous law.

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