Ordinance of the Evangelical Synod of the Canton of Thurgau on the Compensation for Church Services between Parishes - Legal Basis

1. The Church Regulation of February 17, 2014, stipulates in § 13 that for church services conducted within the territory of the Cantonal Church of Thurgau but outside the residential parish, the incurred costs for members of the Evangelical Cantonal Church of Thurgau are generally settled between the parishes.

1. Among the church congregations, the costs for religious education, weddings, and funerals shall be mutually accounted for.

1. The Church Administration of the host municipality of a school bills the church congregations, from which children attend religious education, for the compensation of services in the area of religious education.

1. Compensation is effected through a flat rate per student and annual lesson according to the statistics collected by the municipality of the venue on January 15th each year.

2. For the billing flat rate, the following rates apply per child and annual lesson in religious education

1. Primary school: CHF 400;

2. Secondary school: CHF 500.

3. If higher costs are evidenced in private and special schools, a rate of up to a maximum of 250% of the above amounts is permissible.

1. Additional expenses for activities and services related to religious education will be billed according to the incurred costs, particularly in connection with excursions, camps, and the distribution of Bibles.

1. For students whose parents reside outside the parishes of the Evangelical Church of the Canton of Thurgau, the Church shall bear the costs.

1. In the case of attending confirmation classes outside one's own parish, only additional expenses may be billed to the parish of residence, not the pure teaching costs. Additional expenses specifically include camps, excursions, and the issuance of confirmation certificates.

2. The parish of residence may limit cost participation to the average per capita amount that would have been incurred for analogous expenses had the confirmation course been attended within the home parish.

1. For couples who have a church wedding in a parish of the Evangelical Church of the Canton of Thurgau but reside in another parish of the Canton, the church council of the place of marriage will bill the parish of residence that the couple has at the time of the church wedding.

1. Expenses for the usual infrastructure costs can be charged, namely for church usage, sexton's service, cleaning, heating, wedding Bible, and organist service, but not for the pastor or minister conducting the wedding ceremony.

2. If pastors or ministers conduct a wedding ceremony that they are not required to officiate, they must reach an agreement directly with the couple regarding any possible compensation. The rates outlined in the Compensation Ordinance may serve as a guideline.

1. The following approaches are applicable

1. Church Use: CHF 250 (flat rate, incl. heating if applicable);

2. Sacristan Service: CHF 250 (incl. cleaning);

3. Organ Service: according to effort, in accordance with salary guidelines.

1. The right to issue invoices rests with the church council of the parish where the expenses and costs actually occur.

2. For churches that are privately owned, owned by political municipalities, or jointly owned by two parishes, arrangements regarding any costs for church use and their onward billing between the parish where the church is located and the owner or co-owner must be made.

1. In the case of funeral services for deceased persons who were members of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau but did not have their last residence at the place of the funeral, the church council of the location where the funeral takes place shall invoice the parish of the deceased's residence.

1. Expenses for the usual infrastructure costs, namely church usage, sexton services, heating, and organ services, may be invoiced, but not those costs for the pastor conducting the funeral service.

2. If pastors undertake the conduct of a funeral service to which they are not obliged, they must negotiate directly with the relatives of the deceased regarding any potential compensation. The rates according to the Compensation Ordinance can serve as a guideline.

1. The following approaches are applicable

1. Church Use: CHF 250 (flat rate, incl. heating if applicable);

2. Sacristan Service: CHF 250 (incl. cleaning);

3. Organ Service: according to effort, in accordance with salary guidelines.

1. This ordinance replaces the recommendations of the Evangelical Church Council of the Canton of Thurgau regarding the compensation for services between church communities dated February 6, 2002.

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