Ordinance of the Synod on Compensations in the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau (Compensation Ordinance) (Entschädigungsverordnung) - Scope of Application

1. This regulation governs the allocation of costs between parish communities and the regional church authority for study leaves or continuing education courses, the rates for pastoral substitutes, the entitlement to compensation and expenses for elected or appointed individuals acting on behalf of the regional church authority, as well as the regional church authority's contribution to compensation for interns.

1. Full-time or principal employees of the regional church shall only be entitled to the compensations stipulated in this regulation if and to the extent that their work is performed outside of regular working hours, cannot be compensated, or results in an additional burden.

2. A maximum of CHF 2,000 in compensation will be paid to individuals who already hold a 100% position within parishes or the regional church for activities that exceed their 100% position. Any compensation beyond this amount will be payable to the employer.

1. Right to Compensation for On-Call Duty pursuant to § 7(1)(5) does not exist if the person performing the on-call duty is already obligated to perform on-call duty elsewhere under a permanent employment contract during the same period.

2. Church congregations that regularly collaborate concerning parish office deputization can, provided the workload of those affected allows it, agree on mutual deputization and waive the payment of compensation. This is arranged at the level of the supervisory commission.

1. The recognized costs for substitutes approved by the Supervisory Commission and Church Council during a study leave of a pastor, female pastor, deacon, or female deacon shall be reimbursed by the regional church to the respective parish by 80%.

2. Recognized costs, including social costs, shall amount to a maximum of CHF 9,500 per month for a 100% pastorate and a maximum of CHF 7,500 per month for a 100% deaconship.

1. The regional church contributes 30% to the recognized course costs during the study leave.

2. Recognized course costs amount to a maximum of CHF 7,500 for a 6-month study leave and CHF 5,000 for a 4-month study leave.

1. Pastors, pastoral workers, deacons, social deacons, catechists, and catechetical workers are eligible, upon application, for the following contributions and compensations for attending courses that have been approved by the competent authority

1. Contribution towards pure course costs

a. for mandatory cantonal courses declared by the church council: National Church 100%

b. for voluntary cantonal courses and supervision recommended by the church council: National Church 50%, Parish 50%

c. for other courses and supervision: National Church 30%, Parish 50 - 70%

d. for overhead costs invoiced by official Swiss national church providers: National Church 100%

2. The maximum recognized net costs for course fees, meals, and accommodation are CHF 2,500 per week or CHF 500 per course day, including any invoiced overhead costs.

3. Instead of courses, a maximum of 10 hours of individual supervision per year can be claimed. The maximum recognized cost for individual supervision is CHF 160 per hour.

4. Meals and accommodation: Course participants contribute 25% towards the costs of meals and accommodation. The remaining amount, but no more than CHF 135 per day for full board, is shared in the same manner as the pure course costs.

2. Employees of the cantonal church and members of the church council will be reimbursed 100% for approved further training course costs and costs for accommodation and meals after deducting the personal contribution.

3. No contributions are made towards the costs of travel and course materials.

1. Compensation for the Substitute Performance of the Services Listed Below

1. Worship Service: CHF 300

- Each additional Worship Service on the same day: CHF 150

2. Youth Worship Service: CHF 150

- Each additional Youth Worship Service on the same day: CHF 100

3. Wedding including Pre-marital Consultation: CHF 300

4. Funeral including Preliminary Consultation: CHF 300

5. On-call Duty for Occasional Services per Week: CHF 100

6. Home Worship Service: CHF 150

- Each additional Home Worship Service on the same day: CHF 100

7. Confirmation Instruction Single Session (45 minutes): CHF 100

1. The allowances for sessions are based on the following rates

1. Full day: CHF 160

2. Half day: CHF 110

2. The allowances for members of commissions and working groups are based on the following rates

1. Full day (over 4 hours): CHF 140

2. Half day (up to 4 hours): CHF 95

3. The review of documents is part of the commission's mandate.

4. Session allowances are only granted to participants listed in the minutes. The secretary of the respective body maintains an attendance list.

1. Whoever presides over a session of the Synod receives an allowance of CHF 500.

2. The minute-taking of a Synod is compensated with CHF 1,000 for a full-day session or CHF 500 for a half-day session. If the person entrusted with the minute-taking is not a member of the Synod, they shall also receive the usual attendance fee as a compensation for their presence at the meeting.

3. Whoever presides over a meeting of the Synodal Office, a synodal or church council committee, or a working group, or prepares their minutes, receives an allowance of CHF 140 for a full-day session or CHF 95 for a half-day session.

1. Special Compensation

1. Commission Report before the Synod: Fr. 150

2. For special assignments or reports commissioned by the Synod Office, it determines the amount of compensation.

3. For special assignments or reports commissioned by the Church Council, it determines the amount of compensation.

1. Members of the Appeals and Complaints Commission are entitled to compensation. For members who hold a full-time position in the church, the rates according to § 10 apply.

2. The following rates apply to the remaining members

1. Full day (over 4 hours): CHF 250

2. Half day (up to 4 hours): CHF 150

3. Document review per hour: CHF 50

4. Drafting of proposals, minutes, and decisions per hour: CHF 100

5. Procedural management per hour additionally: CHF 100

3. Members of the Appeals and Complaints Commission who provide their personnel may be reimbursed for this service at CHF 50 per hour.

4. Office compensation is included in these rates.

1. The Actuary prepares the settlement for the compensation of all members of the commission. This document is approved by the presidency and forwarded to the church council.

1. The deans are compensated for their activities with a flat fee of CHF 7,000 per year.

2. The dean is entitled to an annual allowance of CHF 700 for expenses (including travel expenses and postage).

1. Mentors appointed by the Church Council for the guidance of administrators or new professionals receive CHF 800 per mentorship per year.

2. Mentors who accompany theology students receive meeting fees for participating in explorations conducted by the Commission for Eligibility Assessment (CEA) in accordance with § 8 para. 2.

1. Holders or deputies of the Ombudsman Office and persons assigned to the contact point for sexual boundary violations shall be compensated based on the effort, with an hourly rate of CHF 100 for conducting discussions and CHF 50 for preparation and follow-up.

2. Personnel employed by the Ombudsman Office, who work in the administrative area, shall be compensated with CHF 50 per hour.

1. For congregations that employ interns or apprentices in diaconal service, the regional church shall pay the following share of the internship compensation or wage costs

1. * 50%, but not more than CHF 600 per month or a maximum of CHF 7,200 per year for internships that are not directly related to church diaconal training

2. * 50%, but not more than CHF 800 per month or a maximum of CHF 9,600 per year for internships related to full-time church diaconal training

3. * 50%, but not more than CHF 1,200 per month or a maximum of CHF 15,600 per year for training positions of part-time students at TDS Aarau

2. No shares of the social costs related to the internship compensation according to Paragraph 1, Number 1, and Number 2 shall be paid by the regional church to the congregations.

1. A travel allowance equivalent to the cost of a second-class public transportation ticket shall be provided for journeys to the location of sessions or activities, regardless of whether the trip was undertaken using public transportation or any other means of transport.

1. For obligations requiring an overnight stay, the following are provided for accommodation and meals

1. For overnight stay/breakfast: Actual costs, up to a maximum of CHF 150

2. Per main meal: up to a maximum of CHF 35

2. The costs for the lunch shared by the members of the Synod during full-day meetings are covered by the state church.