Implementing Agreement between the Evangelical Church Councils of Schaffhausen and Thurgau concerning the Evangelical Parish of Burg bei Stein am Rhein

1. The Rights and Obligations of the Parish of Burg as a Whole as well as the Rights and Obligations of its Members are Regulated, Subject to the Following Provisions, by the Organization of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Schaffhausen dated May 30, 1914.

1. Regarding the Relationship of the Church Community to the Thurgau Cantonal Church, the Following is Established

1. The results of the pastoral elections, which are to be conducted according to the Schaffhausen provisions for church elections, must be communicated to the Thurgau Evangelical Church Council by the church authority, accompanied by a copy of the election protocol. The Church Council of Thurgau will notify the Thurgau Cantonal Government of the election. Additionally, the church authority must inform the Thurgau Evangelical Church Council about the filling of the pastoral position.

2. The Church Council of the Canton of Thurgau must also be provided with one copy of the accounts of the church and benefice funds immediately after their approval by the Church Community of Burg, delivered by the church authority.

3. The pastor of Burg is required to send an annual report of pastoral activities to the Thurgau Church Council in accordance with the usual form, with special consideration of the Thurgau part of the church community.

4. The inspection reports regarding the pastor's conduct of duties, as specified in Article 32f of the Schaffhausen Church Organization, must be communicated to the Thurgau Church Council in a copy, as well as any decisions by the Church Council according to Article 32g regarding the suspension of the pastor.

5. The Schaffhausen part of the church community elects its delegation to the synod of the Schaffhausen Cantonal Church according to the Schaffhausen Church Organization, while the Thurgau part does so according to the Thurgau Organizational Law for the synod of the Thurgau Cantonal Church.

6. In the elections for the church council of the community, the individual localities within the church community are to be appropriately considered as before, and a duplicate of the protocols of these elections is to be submitted to the Church Council of the Canton of Thurgau.

7. Regarding the admission to confirmation classes, the conditions for the Thurgau part of the church community according to § 17 of the Thurgau Church Ordinance apply (must have reached the age of 16 by April 1st, two-year religious instruction, and a certificate of moral conduct).

8. Requests for dispensation for children from the Thurgau part must be resolved by the Thurgau Church Council after obtaining the opinion of the church authority. In cases of admission requests by children from other church communities, the pastor must consider the Thurgau Church Ordinance and practices (§ 22 of the Church Ordinance), as well as the deferment of confirmation due to inadequate knowledge or immoral conduct (§ 18 and § 14 of the Church Ordinance).

1. The incumbent pastor of Burg is entitled to retirement allowances according to the norms of the Schaffhausen Salary Act. These are provided to him by the church community. The central fund of the Thurgau Evangelical Church compensates the community with an amount based on the provisions of the Thurgau regulations concerning retirement allowances, which corresponds to the ratio of the number of evangelical residents of the Thurgau part to the total number of church community residents. Currently, this fraction is set at three-quarters of the full amount.

2. The incumbent pastor of Burg is required to join the Schaffhausen Support Fund for Clergy.

1. Disputes between the Schaffhausen and Thurgau sections of the church congregation shall be finally decided by an arbitration tribunal, which consists of two representatives from each of the two church councils and a chairman to be designated by them.

2. If they cannot agree on the chairman, the president of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court shall appoint one.

1. Church Disputes between the Parish and Individual Members Thereof are resolved for all parish members in accordance with the Schaffhausen church organization and the authority competent according to the latter. In the event of complaints from members of the Thurgau section regarding the conduct of the pastor, a statement from the Thurgau church council should also be obtained.

2. Disputes concerning Clergy Elections, which may arise between the two national church authorities, are to be decided through arbitration in accordance with the provisions of Art. 4 by analogy.

1. With reference to the welfare of the poor, the Thurgovian part of the church municipality remains under the legislation of the Canton of Thurgau and under the supervision of the competent authorities of this Canton.