Law on the Evangelical Reformed Church in the Canton of Ticino

1 The Evangelical Reformed Church in the Canton Ticino is a public law corporation within the limits established by the Constitution and by law.

2 Public law legal personality is recognized for the Cantonal Church and for the Regional Communities.

1 The Cantonal Church and the Regional Communities are autonomous. Within the limits of the present law, they

a) establish the rules necessary for their organization and for the fulfillment of their respective tasks;

b) freely organize and manage their own assets and resources.

2 Pastoral and worship activities are not subject to the present law.

1 The organization and functioning of the cantonal Church and the regional Communities are established in their statutes.

2 The statutes must, in particular, define the organs, regulate their competencies, and their functioning.

3 The statutes of the regional Communities are adopted by their respective assemblies of members.

4 The statutes must conform to the Constitution and laws and enter into force upon their approval by the Council of State.

The statutes set the conditions for membership in the Regional Communities respectively in the Cantonal Church.

Every member of the Cantonal Church and the regional Communities who has reached the age of sixteen, whether Swiss or a resident, has the right to vote and to be elected.

This right is exercised in the regional Community of residence.

[1] The public prosecutor notifies the President of the Synodal Council, within three months of the opening of the investigation, of the existence of criminal proceedings against a pastor or deacon when the alleged offense is such as to prejudice the exercise of their function.

[1] Art. introduced by L 15.12.2014; in force since 1.3.2015 - BU 2015, 52.

1 The statute of the cantonal Church establishes the legal remedies against decisions of its bodies and of the regional Communities.

2 Decisions of the last instance may be appealed to the Cantonal Administrative Court in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act of 24 September 2013. [2]

[2] Para. amended by Act of 24.9.2013; in force since 1.3.2014 - BO 2013, 480.

The Cantonal Church and the existing regional Communities are required to comply with the present law by December 31, 1998.

1 After the expiry of the deadlines for exercising the right of referendum, the present law shall be published in the Official Gazette of Laws and Executive Acts of the Canton of Ticino.

2 The Council of State shall establish its effective date. [3]

Published in the OG 1997, 437.

[3] Effective date: 1 July 1998 – OG 1997, 437.