Bylaws of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Ticino

The Evangelical Reformed Church in Ticino (CERT) unites the regional Evangelical Reformed Communities in a federal structure.

The CERT is recognized as a public law legal entity pursuant to Article 24 of the current Constitution of the Canton of Ticino.

The CERT establishes its own regulations within the framework of federal and cantonal law.

The CERT is a member of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Switzerland (FSPC).

The CERT and the Communities belonging to it declare

– their desire to belong, trusting in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the people of God on the foundation of His word in the Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament and in the Christian Scriptures of the New Testament;

– their acceptance of the essential principles of the Reformation for the pursuit of an ever-renewed obedience to the Gospel;

– their recognition of the evangel of Jesus Christ as their purpose, which commits them to the service of all human beings;

– their commitment to collaborate in the spirit of the ecumenical movement with other Christian Churches.

The CERT aims to

– promote collaboration among regional Communities and solidarity among them;

– foster relations with the cantonal authorities;

– represent Reformed Protestantism in Ticino;

– promote relations with other churches;

– ensure compliance with the statutes and regulations.

Every Evangelical Community member of CERT

– accepts the present statutes;

– is regularly constituted with a members' assembly and a Church Council;

– declares the number of members with voting rights.

Admission of a Community to CERT occurs by decision of the Synod. The application must be submitted in writing to the Synod Council.

The following Regional Communities are members of CERT

– Evangelical Reformed Community of Bellinzona and Surrounds;

– Evangelical Reformed Community of Locarno and Surrounds;

– Evangelical Reformed Church in Sottoceneri.

Every person domiciled or residing in the territory who meets the following requirements is an ex officio member of the Regional Communities

1) has been baptized;

2) requests to join the community through confirmation or in writing.

Every member of the regional Communities obtains the right to vote upon reaching 16 years of age and the right to be elected after at least one year from becoming a member.

Within the framework of these statutes and the Cantonal Law on the Evangelical Reformed Church in the Canton of Ticino, the Regional Communities enjoy full autonomy

The bodies of the CERT are

– the Synod;

– the Synodal Council;

– the Appeals Commission;

– the Chapter of Ministers.

The Synod, as the supreme body of the CERT, is the assembly of delegates from the Regional Communities, their pastors, and deacons. The synodal delegates and substitutes are elected by the assemblies of the Regional Communities for a period of 4 years and are eligible for re-election.

The following are members of the synod

a) with deliberative vote

– 2 delegates for each Regional Community;

– 1 delegate for every five hundred registered members;

– the members of the Chapter of Ministers of the CERT;

in addition, if members of one of the Regional Communities

– the mass media coordinator;

– 1 delegate from the CERT Faculty Assembly;

– the cantonal expert for the teaching of evangelical reformed religion in schools;

– the coordinator for the teaching of evangelical reformed religion in primary schools.

b) with consultative voice

– the secretary of the Synodal Council.

The president and vice-president of the Synod remain in office for 4 years and are eligible for re-election. They constitute the presidium.

The Synod is convened by the Bureau at least twice a year or upon a written and reasoned proposal from a Regional Community.

The convocation, including the agenda, must be sent to the members at least 10 days before the date of the session.

The competences of the Synod are as follows

– elects the president and vice-president;

– elects the members of the Synodal Council and its president;

– elects the members of the Appeals Commission;

– elects the delegates to the FCES assembly and their alternates;

– elects the members of special commissions and any individuals assigned for particular purposes;

– approves the management report, annual accounts, budget, and any loans;

– establishes the annual contributions of the Regional Communities for the CERT and any other contributions;

– decides with binding effect for the Regional Communities on proposals from members of the Synod or the Synodal Council;

– instructs the Synodal Council to study certain proposals;

– appoints a trust office for the auditing of accounts;

– addresses issues of activity in the life of the churches (preaching, mission, diaconia, ecumenism), issues of Christian formation and socio-political engagement;

– deliberates on any unions or territorial subdivisions of the Regional Communities;

– approves any revisions to the statutes of the Regional Communities, provided that the present statutes and cantonal laws are not prejudiced;

– issues ecclesiastical regulations and ordinances;

– issues a regulation on the eligibility of pastors and deacons;

– amends the statutes of the CERT.

All decisions of the Synod are binding on the Regional Communities and the Synodal Council.

The synodal assembly is valid if at least half of the members are present; it deliberates by relative majority. Proxy voting is excluded.

For elections, an absolute majority is required. In the second ballot, a relative majority is sufficient. Upon the request of at least 5 (five) members of the assembly, secret elections shall be held. In the case of elections, those directly concerned must abstain from casting their vote.

To amend the statutes, the presence of at least two-thirds of the Synod members is required, along with a qualified majority of two-thirds of those present. If, in a first session, the prescribed minimum number of members is not reached, the synodal council shall convene a second session, which may decide by a two-thirds majority.

The second assembly must take place no later than 30 days and no earlier than 10 days from the previous one.

The Synodal Council, as the executive body of the CERT, is composed of one representative for each Regional Community, one pastor representing the Chapter of Ministers, and a fifth member proposed by the assembly of teachers who is a member of a Regional Community. It is freely constituted. The members of the Synodal Council remain in office for 4 years and are eligible for re-election.

The Synodal Council

– carries out the tasks entrusted to it;

– promotes collaboration among the regional Communities;

– decides on extraordinary, non-recurring expenses up to CHF 10,000.- (ten thousand) and up to an annual maximum of CHF 20,000.- (twenty thousand); higher expenses must be approved by the Synod;

– mediates between the regional Communities in case of conflict;

– proposes members for its commissions to the FCES council.

The CERT is legally represented towards third parties by the signature of the president and another member of the Synodal Council.

The Appeals Commission is composed of three members who are not part of the Synod or the Synodal Council. It is appointed by the Synod for a term of 4 years.

The Appeals Commission shall have exclusive jurisdiction over complaints regarding infringements of these statutes, the regulations issued by the Synod, the statutes of the individual Regional Communities, as well as disputes between members of the Communities and the bodies of the CERT or the Regional Communities.

Decisions of the Appeals Commission may be appealed to the Cantonal Administrative Court (TRAM) in accordance with the law on administrative procedure.

The pastors and deacons serving in the CERT or in the Regional Communities form the "Chapter of Ministers."

The Chapter of Ministers has its own regulations within the framework of these statutes.

The Chapter of Ministers

– promotes training programs;

– organizes activities and meetings at the cantonal level;

– elaborates theological expertise and statements;

– provides for the consecration of candidates in theology and the induction of new pastors elected in the Regional Communities;

– encourages ongoing education and collective theological work.

The Synodal Council shall employ the necessary personnel for the operation of the secretariat and shall determine their duties, roles, and responsibilities in a specific regulation.

This Statute repeals and replaces the previous Statute of October 30, 1976, and subsequent amendments (the last of which was on November 13, 1999). It was approved by the Synod in its sessions of November 15, 2014, in Muralto, and November 14, 2015, in Lugano, and comes into force on the date of approval by the State Council.

Approved by the State Council with gov. res. no. 2695 of June 15, 2016.

Published in BU 2016, 316.