Ordinance of the Evangelical Synod of the Canton of Thurgau on the Division of Decanal Districts and the Organisation of Chapters - Legal Basis

1. Pursuant to §§ 49 and 50 of the Church Constitution dated November 27, 2000, the Synod enacts the following ordinance

1. The Deanery District of Frauenfeld includes the following parishes as of the effective date of this ordinance

1. Aadorf-Aawangen

2. Affeltrangen

3. Bichelsee

4. Braunau

5. Dussnang

6. Felben

7. Frauenfeld

8. Gachnang

9. Hüttlingen

10. Thunbachtal

11. Lommis

12. Märwil

13. Matzingen

14. Münchwilen-Eschlikon

15. Neunforn

16. Sirnach

17. Stettfurt

18. Wängi

2. The Deanery District of Obersee includes the following parishes as of the effective date of this ordinance

1. Altnau

2. Amriswil-Sommeri

3. Arbon

4. Egnach

5. Güttingen

6. Horn

7. Kesswil-Dozwil

8. Kreuzlingen

9. Lengwil

10. Roggwil

11. Romanshorn-Salmsach

12. Scherzingen-Bottighofen

13. Uttwil

3. The Deanery District of Untersee includes the following parishes as of the effective date of this ordinance

1. Basadingen-Schlattingen-Willisdorf

2. Berlingen

3. Burg

4. Diessenhofen

5. Ermatingen

6. Hüttwilen

7. Lipperswil-Wäldi

8. Mammern

9. Müllheim

10. Nussbaumen

11. Pfyn

12. Schlatt

13. Steckborn

14. Tägerwilen-Gottlieben

15. Uesslingen

16. Wagenhausen

17. Warth-Weiningen

18. Wigoltingen-Raperswilen

4. The Deanery District of Weinfelden includes the following parishes as of the effective date of this ordinance

1. Alterswilen-Hugelshofen

2. Andwil

3. Berg

4. Bischofszell-Hauptwil

5. Bürglen

6. Bussnang-Leutmerken

7. Erlen

8. Langrickenbach-Birwinken

9. Märstetten

10. Neukirch an der Thur

11. Schönholzerswilen

12. Sitterdorf-Zihlschlacht

13. Sulgen-Kradolf

14. Weinfelden

1. Changes to allocations are made upon the request of the affected church congregations by resolution of the church council.

1. The chapter shall be composed of

1. The elected pastors and deacons serving in a congregation within the deanery district.

2. The pastors and (ordained) deacons who hold a church-wide role with at least a 20% capacity based in the deanery district.

2. The employed pastors and (ordained) deacons serving in a pastoral or diaconal office of the deanery district with at least a 20% capacity are entitled to participate in the chapter meetings with the right to propose motions and a consultative voice.

3. Curates, trainee vicars, Verbi Divini Ministri, and retired pastors and deacons may be invited to participate in the meetings with a consultative voice, unless the chapter decides otherwise. The same applies to groups of persons mentioned in Sec. 1 No. 2 and Sec. 2, who hold a position with less than a 20% capacity.

1. Chapters may regulate matters not addressed in the Church Constitution or in this regulation through autonomous statutes.

2. The Church Council approves these.

1. The functions of the chapter are governed by § 51 of the Church Constitution of November 27, 2000.

2. Attendance at chapter meetings is mandatory for the persons mentioned under § 4 paragraphs 1 and 2.

1. The Dean, the Actuary, and the Treasurer form the Chapter Board.

2. The board members are elected individually to their respective functions by secret ballot from among the chapter members. The results must be communicated to the Church Council.

3. The board determines the arrangement of internal representation among the board members.

4. Eligible for election as Dean are pastors who are members of the chapter. Also eligible for election as other board members are the elected deacons who are members of the chapter.

5. The term of office of the chapter board coincides with that of the church council.

1. The Dean has, in particular, the following responsibilities

1. Chairing the chapter meetings, which must be convened at least twice a year;

2. Conducting or leading church leadership meetings, alone or in conjunction with representatives from the church council or the chapter board;

3. Installation of pastors, deacons, or deaconesses within the deanery area;

4. Inauguration of pastors, deacons, and deaconesses, in collaboration with ordained members of the church council;

5. Conducting the commissioning of new church council members, in cooperation with the synod presidium;

6. Assisting in the liturgical commissioning of acting moderators, employed pastors, or employed deacons, as desired by the church leadership;

7. At the request of the family of a pastor or pastor who has died in office, delivering the eulogy at the burial;

8. The Dean undertakes pastoral care duties and can be called upon for mediation in conflict situations.

9. The Dean may be involved in visitations by the church council.

10. The Dean is responsible for the annual report to be submitted to the church council.

1. The Quaestor manages the assets of the chapter, handles financial matters, and submits the annual accounts approved by the chapter to the quaestorship of the state church for approval.

1. The secretary is responsible for the minutes and handles administrative tasks. They are responsible for submitting the election minutes to the church council office.

1. The chapter elects two auditing inspectors from the group of persons mentioned in § 4 paragraphs 1 and 2. Their term of office coincides with that of the board members.

1. The protocols, the register of chapter members, the old chapter accounts, as well as other important documents, are to be organized in an archive by the Dean and kept according to a directory that must be updated.

2. The church council is authorized to inspect the chapter archives.

1. Records that are no longer needed for the needs of the Chapter shall be transferred to the Archive of the Regional Church. Any possible future inspection by the Chapter Board remains ensured.

1. In the event of new elections, the archive and assets shall be handed over to the successors. A record of the handover shall be prepared.

1. This regulation shall enter into force on a date to be determined by the Church Council and shall replace the Ordinance of the Evangelical Synod on the Division of Deanery Districts and the Organization of Chapters dated March 31, 2003.