Ordinance of the Evangelical Church Council of the Canton of Thurgau on the Confirmation Election of Ordained Ministers - Scope

1. This regulation governs the confirmation election procedure for pastors elected by the church congregations and for ordained deacons elected by the church congregations.

2. Whenever officeholders are mentioned hereinafter, it refers to the pastors elected by the church congregations and the ordained deacons elected by the church congregations.

1. Any potential confirmation election must be conducted in the same manner as new elections for the respective ordained officeholders, either by secret ballot at a church congregation meeting or at the polls.

1. The term of office of the ordained officers and officials elected by the church congregations corresponds to that of the church councils of the Protestant church congregations.

1. If the supervisory commission of the church congregation intends to conduct a confirmation election for an ordained minister or ordained office bearer for another term of office, it consults with the church council. It decides on the arrangement of such an election by September 30 of the year preceding the end of the term of office and communicates the decision to the church council.

2. ...

1. The Church Council shall publish by November 15 at the latest in the Official Gazette of the Canton of Thurgau the names of the ordained officeholders for whom the supervisory commission of the respective church community has requested a confirmation election.

2. The other ordained officeholders are considered confirmed in their office for another term, unless one-fifth of the eligible voters of the church community request a confirmation election.

1. The period for a potential collection of signatures for the request of a confirmation election begins on November 16 and lasts for 90 days.

2. Upon request, access to the voting register of the church community must be granted for the collection of signatures. The address lists may not be used by the applicant for other purposes.

1. The electoral office of the church congregation determines, under the chairmanship of the president of the church council, the fulfillment of the request for a confirmation election and communicates the result to the church council office no later than March 1st of the election year.

2. The signature sheets may only be inspected by members of the electoral office.

1. If the Oversight Commission decides on a confirmation election or if such an election is requested by one-fifth of the eligible voters of the church congregation, the Church Council shall order its execution.

2. The confirmation election must be conducted no later than May 31.

1. In the secret confirmation vote, the question: "Do you want to confirm NN in their position for another term?" must be answered on the ballot with Yes or No.

2. The procurement of the necessary ballots is the responsibility of the church congregation.

1. A protocol on the election outcome must be promptly delivered to the Church Council Chancellery.

1. The church board is responsible for the publication of the result of the successful confirmation vote.

1. An appeal against the validity of the decision must be submitted in writing and with reasons, within 10 days from the official publication or the municipal assembly, to the church council by registered mail.

1. Upon the unused expiration of the objection period, the Church Council communicates the decision of the parish to the affected individual in an order.

1. A confirmation election for an ordained officeholder must be ordered even during the term of office if one-fifth of the eligible voters of the church community request it.

1. The period for collecting signatures for the request of a confirmation election during the term of office lasts 90 days. It begins with the collection of the first signatures.

2. Upon request, access to the voting register of the church community must be granted for the collection of signatures. The address lists may not be used by the applicant for other purposes.

1. The election office of the church congregation, under the chairmanship of the president of the church council, determines the validity of the request for a confirmation election and communicates the result to the church council office no later than one month after the end of the collection period.

2. The signature sheets may only be inspected by members of the election office.

1. The church council orders the conduct of a confirmation election during the term of office.

2. A confirmation election during the term of office must be conducted at the latest four months after the initiation of a request.

1. In all other respects, the procedure for a confirmation election during the term of office shall be in accordance with that for a confirmation election at the expiration of the term of office, as regulated in § 9, § 10, § 11, § 12, and § 13 of this regulation.

1. Where two parishes are connected through a joint pastorate or diaconate, the two supervisory commissions must make their decision regarding a confirmation election for an ordained officeholder in mutual agreement. If such an agreement is not reached, the church council shall decide on the arrangement of a confirmation election in both parishes.

1. If in a joint parish or diaconate of two church congregations, a request for a confirmation election for an ordained officeholder is initiated by a signature collection in only one congregation, the church council shall arrange a confirmation election for both congregations.

1. The conduct of the confirmation election is governed by the existing agreement between the parishes. The election is, in any case, conducted by secret ballot.

2. If the election of the pastor and the confirmation election are not regulated in the agreement regarding the joint pastorate or diaconate, they must be conducted in two separate meetings or ballot box elections held simultaneously.

1. If a confirmation election for an ordained officeholder in two church congregations, which are connected by a joint parish office or diaconate, results in differing outcomes, the confirmation in office by the approving congregation is only valid if this congregation, in addition to the confirmation election made, also agrees to a request for the dissolution of the joint parish office or diaconate within six months following the election, and the church council resolves the dissolution.

1. This regulation comes into effect on June 1, 2004. It replaces the ordinance of the Evangelical Church Council of the Canton of Thurgau regarding the confirmation election of pastors from August 21, 1991.