Principle and Task

1. The Evangelical Reformed Church of Nidwalden is part of the worldwide Christian community. It is subject to the Word of God and sees its mission as bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ closer to the people.

1. It ensures the biblical proclamation of the Word of God in preaching and teaching, baptism and the Lord's Supper, pastoral care and diakonia. It stands for the application of the Gospel in daily life. It supports works of interchurch aid and promotes ecumenical cooperation with the Christian churches.

1. The Evangelical Reformed Church of Nidwalden is a public-law recognized body pursuant to the Cantonal Constitution.

2. It organizes its affairs freely and independently within the framework of the state constitution and laws as well as in accordance with its church constitution.

1. The Evangelical Reformed Church of Nidwalden is a member of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Switzerland and, through this connection, affiliated with the churches of the Leuenberg Church Fellowship, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and the World Council of Churches.

1. The Evangelical Reformed Church of Nidwalden constitutes a single church congregation divided into several districts, encompassing the entire territory of the canton. The delineation of these districts is conducted in the church order.

1. Members of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Nidwalden are

a. The evangelical reformed residents of the parish's territory who have not expressly declared their resignation;

b. Persons who have reached the age of 16 and have been admitted to the parish upon their application;

c. Children who have not yet reached the age of 16, if at least one parent belongs to the state church and the holders of parental authority have not expressly declared otherwise;

d. Persons who have moved their residence to the parish and are members of a church of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE), provided they have not expressly declared their non-affiliation with the state church.

1. The resignation from the church must be declared in writing to the church council.

1. Church members who have reached the age of 16 are eligible to vote in matters of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Nidwalden and have both active and passive voting rights.

1. The Parish exercises its powers through

1. the Parish Assembly;

2. the Church Council;

3. the Clergy Conference;

4. the Finance Commission.

1. The church congregation assembly consists of the eligible voting members and generally convenes twice a year. Additionally, it can be convened at any time by the church council.

2. If one-twentieth of the eligible voting members request in writing a church congregation assembly, specifying the items to be addressed, it must take place within three months.

1. The Parish Assembly has the following powers and duties

1. Addressing all matters of church life in the parish, insofar as these are not assigned to another body according to the church constitution or church regulations;

2. Issuance and amendment of the church constitution and church regulations;

3. Making decisions on membership in church associations as well as approval of agreements or resolutions regarding participation in inter-church agreements;

4. Election of the members of the Church Council as well as its President and its Vice President;

5. Election of the members of the Finance Commission;

6. Acknowledgment of the annual report of the Church Council, approval of the annual financial statement and the budget, as well as determining the tax rate;

7. Resolution on one-time expenditures exceeding CHF 50,000 and annually recurring expenditures exceeding CHF 10,000;

8. Issuance and amendment of regulations.

2. Decisions can only be made on matters listed on the agenda.

3. The invitation to the Parish Assembly must be published at least 20 days prior to the scheduled date, indicating the agenda, through a one-time publication in the cantonal official gazette.

1. In voting, a simple majority of the present eligible voters decides. A tie vote is considered a rejection.

2. For elections, Articles 58 et seq. of the Municipal Act apply.

1. Decrees, administrative measures, and elections are to be submitted to a ballot vote in the assembly if ordered by the church council or if requested in writing by one-twentieth of the eligible voters at least 8 days before the parish assembly in which the agenda includes the subject to be addressed.

2. The ballot vote is otherwise governed by Articles 74 et seq. of the Municipal Act.

1. The Church Council is composed of

1. the President;

2. the Vice President;

3. a representative of the clergy convention ex officio;

4. and two additional members.

2. The composition of the Church Council must ensure appropriate representation of the community districts.

1. The Church Council is the executive body of the church community. It has the following duties in particular

1. Representation of the church community internally and externally;

2. Preparation of the church community assembly and the matters to be addressed by it;

3. Conclusion and termination of all employment contracts;

4. Employment of clergy as well as all employees of the Evangelical Reformed Church and the community circles;

5. Execution of ecclesiastical decrees and resolutions;

6. Assurance of religious education;

7. Execution of the tasks assigned to it by the church order;

8. Decision-making regarding one-time expenditures up to CHF 50,000 and annually recurring expenditures of less than CHF 10,000.

2. For the execution of tasks, the Church Council may involve the office.

1. The Church Council adopts its own rules of procedure.

2. For specific matters, it may involve experts and appoint committees. In the committees, a member of the Church Council presides as chair.

1. The Parish Assembly consists of the clergy members serving in the parish community.

2. The Parish Assembly constitutes itself, elects a chairperson, and adopts its own rules of procedure, which require the approval of the Church Council.

3. The Parish Assembly elects its representative to the Church Council.

1. The Pastoral Convention serves the parish through theological work, particularly by discussing ecclesiastical issues. Furthermore, it promotes and coordinates the practical official duties of the clergy and addresses questions of public life.

2. The Church Council submits religious, ecclesiastical or theological questions to the Pastoral Convention for examination and for an opinion.

1. The Finance Commission consists of three members and constitutes itself. It elects a chairperson and adopts its own rules of procedure.

2. Membership in the Finance Commission is incompatible with membership in the Church Council or in a parish team. Employees of the parish are also not permitted to be members of the Finance Commission.

1. The Rights and Duties of the Finance Commission are governed by Articles 105 et seq. of the Law on the Organization and Administration of Municipalities (Municipality Law, GemG).

1. Each parish district has a parish district team.

2. The parish district teams are not subject to the Act on Cantonal and Municipal Authorities (Authorities Act, BehG). The election, composition, organization, and duties of the parish district teams are regulated in the Church Order.

1. The term of office for members of authorities is four years.

1. Members of church authorities, commissions, and church employees are obliged to maintain confidentiality regarding observations made in the course of their duties, which relate to official and professional obligations.

2. The duty of confidentiality remains in effect even after the termination of the official and employment relationship.

1. The financial budget shall be managed according to the principles of legality, urgency, efficiency, and economy.

1. The parish imposes a church tax on its members, which is collected according to the principles of the state tax procedure by the cantonal tax office. Furthermore, it possesses the surcharge it is entitled to according to cantonal legislation on the income and capital taxes of legal entities.

1. The funds of the church community shall be utilized in accordance with their designated purpose for the fulfillment of their duties within the canton, as well as for the obligations arising from membership in regional and supra-regional church institutions.

2. Furthermore, the church council is authorized, within the scope of the credits approved at the church community assembly, to support additional works of pastoral care, charitable activities, and Christian education and culture with contributions, even if these tasks exceed the scope of local or cantonal church services and facilities.

1. The Church Constitution of May 22, 2002, is repealed.

1. This Church Constitution shall come into effect on January 1, 2023, following its adoption by the Church Congregation Assembly and approval by the Cantonal Parliament.

1. The first general renewal elections of the Church Council and the Finance Commission pursuant to this constitution shall take place at the Spring Assembly 2023. The term of office shall commence on July 1, 2023.

2. The term of office of the members of the Church Council, the Finance Commission, and the Church Boards elected under the constitution of May 22, 2002, and the Church Order of September 1, 2011, shall end on June 30, 2023.

3. The clergy elected under the previous law shall be employed by contract as of January 1, 2023.

1. Any complete or partial amendment of this church constitution requires the approval of the church congregation assembly and the ratification by the district council.