Ordinance of the Evangelical Synod of the Canton of Thurgau on Visitations - Principle

1. Visitations are a means by which the Church Council exercises its leadership and supervisory duties in accordance with § 65 of the Church Constitution.

1. The Church Council pursues the following objectives with its visitation activities in particular

1. It gains an understanding of the church life in the congregations and the work of elected, employed, volunteer, and voluntary staff.

2. It maintains contacts with individuals who bear responsibility in the congregations. These contacts particularly include the possibility to express recognition, provide encouragement, offer feedback, and point out assistance options and specialist agencies.

3. It accepts suggestions and feedback from the congregations regarding the activities of the cantonal church authorities, commissions, and offices.

4. It provides assistance with impending issues.

5. It prevents developments that threaten the unity of the church both internally and externally.

1. The following types of visitations are distinguished

1. Small Visitation;

2. Subject-Specific Visitation;

3. Large Visitation.

1. **The Minor Visitation** consists of 1 to 3 visits by a delegation of the Church Council to the church leadership. It primarily serves the purposes set out in points 1 to 3 of § 2 of this regulation.

2. The delegation of the Church Council conducts separate discussions with the supervisory commission and the ordained individuals.

3. The Church Council may focus the Minor Visitations on a specific key theme within a rotation.

4. A brief written report is subsequently delivered to the presidium of the church leadership and the supervisory commission, as well as to the ordained individuals, following a Minor Visitation.

1. The Subject-Specific Visitation consists of a series of visits by appointed specialists or the member of the church council responsible for the department. A written report is subsequently delivered to the presidency of the church administration and the employees responsible for the respective department.

1. The Major Visitation is conducted by a delegation of the Church Council, possibly with the assistance of experts or the dean. It primarily serves the objectives outlined in § 2 Nos. 4 and 5 of this regulation.

2. As part of a Major Visitation, the following visits can notably be conducted or documents requested

1. A detailed questionnaire to be completed in advance by the community leaders;

2. Visits of a delegation of the Church Council to church services, church events, and church board meetings;

3. A public discussion event led by the delegation of the Church Council within the framework of a parish event;

4. Visit of a delegation of the Church Council at the parish assembly;

5. Separate meetings of a delegation of the Church Council with the ordained and with the supervisory commission;

6. Visits by catechetical specialists to instructional events;

7. Visit to the archive.

3. Following a Major Visitation, a detailed report is delivered to the presidency of the church board and supervisory commission, as well as to the ordained individuals.

1. The synod ensures the provision of the necessary personnel resources for visitation activities by creating the required position allocations.

1. The Church Council decides, with the order of a visitation, which of its members are responsible for the respective visitation.

2. The Church Council decides with the order of a visitation or during the course of the visitation whether the dean or specialist representatives are to be included in the visitation.

1. Independent of visitations, employees in the parish communities or the regional church, as well as members of the authorities and church members, may avail themselves of the services of an ombuds office designated by the church council in the event of disagreements and fundamental questions.

2. The holders of the ombuds office are elected by the synod.

3. The synod issues a regulation for the work of the ombuds office.

1. The Church Council schedules the Minor Visitation based on a cycle that covers all parish communities within a maximum of 6 years.

2. The Church Council initiates a Specialized Visitation or Major Visitation on its own initiative or based on a request from a parish leadership, a supervisory commission, or ordained staff members of a parish community, provided they have previously consulted the Ombuds Office or the Deanery.

1. The Church Council announces to the Presidium of the Church Leadership before commencing visitation activities in a congregation the intent, specifying the type of forthcoming visitation and the individuals from the Church Council involved.

2. In the case of Major Visitations, the respective church leadership informs the congregation through its official publication medium about the forthcoming visitation and the opportunity for congregation members to present their concerns to the Church Council delegation.

3. During the visitation, an agenda is prepared, which can be supplemented by the church leadership.

4. The visitation is concluded with the presentation of the Church Council report and, if necessary, the implementation of the ordered measures.

1. The church council informs the parish in an appropriate manner and with due regard for personal privacy about the results of the visitation.

1. A summarily prepared report on the findings made during his visitation activities is presented by the Church Council in the annual report.

1. If, during visitations, it becomes apparent that there are significant problems or conflicts that cannot be resolved within the framework of the visitation, the church council may, in particular, order the following measures

1. Recommendation or order of supervision or mediation;

2. Appointment of specialists for long-term support in the area where the problems have arisen;

3. Appointment of the dean or another suitable person to mediate in conflict situations;

4. Obligation to provide periodic reports on further developments in the relevant problem area.

1. If the Church Council intends to order supervisory measures based on findings obtained during the visitation, it shall present these to the affected parties for comment before making a decision and shall announce the decision in a form that allows for appeal.

1. The costs for the activities carried out by the members of the Church Council and the experts consulted by the Church Council in the context of the visitation shall be borne by the regional church.

2. The costs for any further accompaniment by experts recommended or ordered in the context of visitations beyond the visitation period shall be borne by the respective church congregation.

1. This ordinance replaces the ordinance of the Evangelical Church Council of the Canton of Thurgau regarding the visitations in the Evangelical parishes dated December 6, 1972.

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