Ordinance on Religious Education Modules (REM Ordinance) (OPRPR)

This Ordinance regulates the religious education modules that are the subject of the parish communities in accordance with the provisions of the Church Order and the Comprehensive Religious Education Concept rpg.

Definitions

In this Ordinance, the following terms mean

1. **Modules:**

the religious education modules of the church parishes within the framework of the Comprehensive Religious Education Concept rpg;

2. **Comprehensive Concept:**

the Comprehensive Religious Education Concept rpg;

3. **Department:**

the department responsible for religious education within the Overall Church Services of the State Church.

The parish churches introduce children, young people, young adults, and their families to the evangelical faith and the Reformed Church through their religious educational activities. They open up opportunities for them to participate actively and encourage them to profess their faith through a responsible life.

Bearers of religious education action are the sponsoring body

parishes.

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5 The compensation for an annual lesson includes all preparatory and accompanying tasks related to the basic religious education mission. Further tasks will be compensated additionally.

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181.17 On the religious education modules (rpg-Ordinance)

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Part II: Modules

Section 1: In General

Designation

5 1 The parish churches offer mandatory and voluntary religious education modules.

2 They designate the modules with a name. In doing so, and regarding the appearance of the modules, they observe the requirements of the Landeskirche.

Contents

5 The church communities design the modules such that the dimensions of celebrating, learning, sharing, and shaping are in a balanced relationship with each other and are interconnected.

Form, Time

and Place

1 The parish churches determine, within the framework of this Ordinance, the form as well as the temporal and spatial arrangement of the Modules.

2 Within the parish church, they coordinate their mandatory and voluntary Modules.

Cooperation

5 1 The parish congregations design their modules, taking into account

local and regional conditions.

2 They cultivate cooperation within the municipality and the region,

especially with organizations for children and youth work.

Volunteers

Module leaders should, where possible, involve volunteers.

Municipal concept RPG

1 The church parishes shall, within the framework of the church

ordinance, the overall concept, and this ordinance, issue a parish

concept rpg.

2 The parish concept rpg shall specify in particular

a. for the mandatory modules, the form, the temporal and spatial

design, and the handling of the mandatory nature locally,

b. for the voluntary modules, the content design and the

focus areas,

c. the longer-term need for personnel, material, and financial

resources.

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Section 2: Mandatory Modules

A. In General

1. **Overall Concept and Structure**

The overall concept comprises five compulsory modules leading up to Confirmation. These take place during the second, third, and fourth years, as well as from the fifth to seventh years, and as Confirmation instruction.

2. Confirmation instruction generally concludes in the final obligatory school year.

5 1 The content of the compulsory modules is based on the themes and

guidelines provided by the Church Order, the overall concept, and a. Content

this ordinance, as well as the working aids of the Department.

and Form

2 The church communities design the compulsory modules as a whole

and ensure smooth transitions between them. They pay attention

to a diversity of forms and methods.

5 1 The compulsory modules comprise a total of at least b. Scope

192 hours, usually divided into 30 hours or 40 lessons

of 45 minutes in the second, third, and fourth, as well as from the fifth

to seventh grades. Confirmation instruction accounts for at least 72 hours

or 96 lessons of 45 minutes.

2 A half-day counts for a maximum of three hours, a full day for a maximum

of five hours. This also applies to camps.

5. Group size

c. A group in the mandatory modules comprises at least five and at most 14 children. Deviations are regulated by the Church Childcare Authority.

5 Prerequisite for Admission to a Compulsory Admission Module

Attendance of the preceding compulsory modules constitutes the prerequisite for admission to a compulsory admission module.

Exceptions are granted by the Church Council.

The parish councils have a presence control concerning attendance at the mandatory modules.

Presence control

Upon completion of a binding module, children and adolescents receive a confirmation.

The church parishes provide the work aids for the mandatory modules free of charge.

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Ordinance on religious education modules (rpg Ordinance)

B. Modules from the second to seventh grade

Leadership

5.1 The compulsory modules in the second to seventh grade are led by persons with catechetical teaching qualifications or a qualification recognized as equivalent by the Regional Church.

2. Persons who do not meet the requirements according to Para. 1 may exceptionally lead the compulsory modules in the second to seventh grade, provided they are accompanied by a specialist person determined by the Church Council.

Topics

Themes of the mandatory modules from the second to seventh

grade are:5

a. second grade: Church as Community and Church as House –

Advent, Christmas and the Childhood of Jesus – Wander Stories of the

Old Testament – Creation,

b. third grade: Baptism and Holy Communion – Prayer – Pentecost – Golden

Rule,

c. fourth grade: Bible – Primeval History – David – Jesus and the Church,

d. fifth to seventh grade: Jeremiah – Paul – Zurich Reformation –

Global Church – Lived Realities – Life Portraits.

Confirmation

Work

C. Confirmation Class and Confirmation

5 1 Pastors are responsible for confirmation instruction.

2 Confirmation instruction encourages young people to engage with the themes of creation, reconciliation, and liberation. It provides them with space to express their own faith and to shape the church. It accompanies young people on the path to religious maturity.

Confirmation

a. Significance

b. Admission

c. Date

Confirmation takes up God's "yes" as expressed in baptism. In Confirmation, the congregation prays for God's blessing upon the confirmands. It invites them to responsible Christian living and participation in the life of the Regional Church.

Admission to confirmation is granted to those who have attended confirmation instruction and fulfill the requirements according to § 18 of these regulations.

The confirmation generally takes place on a Sunday after Pentecost.

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3rd Section: Voluntary Modules

1. **The Church Parishes decide within the framework of the Church Order, the Overall Concept, this Ordinance, and the rpg Parish Concept which voluntary modules they will offer.**

**Principle and Scope**

2. **They determine the priorities, content, and scope of the voluntary modules.**

5 The voluntary modules include

a. during preschool age

divine services, low-threshold family events for encounter and exchange, intergenerational events, and as a focus, initial encounters with various forms of religious expression,

b. during compulsory school age

opportunities for children and young people to participate in the church parish and shape their own space, promotion of relational skills, and as a focus, joint activities,

c. after confirmation

participation opportunities at all levels of community life, scope for own projects, and as a focus, leadership responsibility for younger individuals.

Orientation and

Key Areas

5 1 Persons who lead voluntary modules must demonstrate the necessary skills for their support.

2 The Church Council appoints a member of the Parish Convention as a supervisor. This person supports and promotes the leaders of the voluntary modules in their tasks.

Part III: Responsibilities

Section 1: The Church Council

5 The Church Council is responsible for the implementation of the overall concept. - Responsibility

The Church Council, within the framework of this Ordinance and the overall concept, is specifically responsible for the following tasks

a. Enactment of a congregational RPG concept in accordance with § 13;

b. Provision of personnel, material, and financial resources, subject to the competence of the voters;

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181.17 Ordinance on religious education modules (RPG Ordinance)

c. Promotion of the training and further education of persons active in religious education;

d. Approval of the annual programme;

e. Supervision of the implementation of the congregational RPG concept and the regular evaluation of the parish's modules;

f. Establishment of the RPG Commission in accordance with § 34, appointment of its members, and determination of its tasks.

5 The Church Council shall designate from among its members a member responsible for religious education. This person shall be responsible in particular for the following tasks

a. Coordination of tasks according to § 32,

b. Leadership of persons active in the field of religious education,

c. Support of module leaders in discussions with persons having parental care.

2nd Section: RPG Commission

1 The RPG Commission shall include at least the competent member of the Church Council, a pastor, and a catechist.

**2 The member of the Church Council responsible for religious education shall chair the commission. In all other respects, the RPG Commission shall constitute itself.**

1 The rpg Commission takes on tasks within the framework of the overall concept and the parish concept, which the Church Council assigns to it.

2 It is specifically responsible for

a. ensuring a uniform handling of the binding nature of modules by the leaders,

b. processing questions concerning the fulfillment of the binding nature, admission to a binding module, as well as measures pursuant to §§ 45–47,

c. the planning, conception, and coordination of the development of the modules in the parish.

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V Ordinance on Religious Education Modules (rpg Ordinance) 181.17

Section 3: Leaders

## 5 Module Leaders and Management Personnel, Tasks

1. Module leaders are catechists and lead catechists, pastors, social deacons, and volunteers.

2. The module leaders are primarily responsible for the following tasks

a. Planning, design, and execution of their module in consultation with the church council;

b. Guidance and supervision of other persons active in the module;

c. Informing parents and inviting children and young people;

d. Coordination of the transition from one module to the subsequent one;

e. Maintaining an attendance record and providing written confirmation of participation in a mandatory module.

3. The tasks of volunteers are regulated in a deployment agreement.

## 4. Section: Department

The department supports the parish congregations, particularly in their tasks,

by:5

a. Training and continuing education in the field of religious education,

b. Work aids,

c. Advice on the integration and inclusion of children and young people with disabilities into the modules in collaboration with the department responsible for this within the General Church Services,

d. Coachings and intervisions,

e. Development and conflict resolution consulting,

f. Guidelines, directives, and recommendations.

IV. Part: Training and Continuing Education of Catechists

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Admission § 39.5 1 Admission to the religious education training requires

a. a completed vocational training,

b. regional church orientation,

c. employment with a parish for at least one compulsory module.

2 Applicants who already possess competencies and qualifications that

are taught in the training may be exempted from the training to that extent.

Completion § 40.5 The successful completion of the training leads to teaching

qualification for the corresponding school levels with the diploma Primary

Level, Middle Level or Elementary Level.

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Jurisdiction Part V: Visitation

5 1 The competent member of the Church Council shall visit all persons

who lead a module within two years.

2 The District Church Council shall visit the modules of the parish

in accordance with the Ordinance on Supervision and Visitation in the

Parishes.

Measures § 44. 1 If leaders of a module neglect their duties, the Church

Council shall engage in a conversation with them.

2 If the conversation remains unsuccessful, the Church Council

shall take the necessary measures. If these fall outside its jurisdiction,

it shall refer the matter to the District Church Council.

Conversation Part VI: Handling of Binding Nature

5 1 If the requirements for admission to a compulsory module are not met, agreed compensations are not utilized, or children and young people repeatedly disrupt the modules, the head of the module will discuss the matter with the children and young people and their guardians.

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**2 If the discussion does not lead to a solution, the head of the module informs the responsible member of the Church Council. This member submits the matter to the rpg-Commission for the attention of the Church Council.**

5 1** After hearing the children and admonishing the adolescents and their legal guardians, the Church Council may issue an admonition.

**2** If the Church Council issues an admonition, it shall indicate further measures, namely temporary removal, transfer, or retention for one year.

**3** The admonition must be pronounced orally and confirmed in writing.

1 If the admonition is unsuccessful, the Church Council shall take measures

following a renewed hearing of the children and young people as well as the legal guardians

who are to be informed of the prospective measures.

2 The decision must be justified, include instructions on legal remedies,

be communicated in writing, and a copy thereof sent to the District Church Council.

VII. Part: Final Provisions

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1 Entry into force

With the entry into force of this Ordinance, the Ordinance on Church Education

(Church Education Ordinance – LUV) of 4 April 1990 is repealed.

2 This Ordinance enters into force on 1 May 2008.

1 OS 63, 169.

2 Today: Church Order of 17 March 2009 (LS 181.10).

3 LS 181.43.

4 Repealed by the Executive Ordinance to the Personnel Ordinance of 6 July

2011 (OS 66, 680; ABI 2011, 2129). In force since 1 January 2012.

5 Version according to Decision of 16 March 2022 (OS 77, 263; ABI 2022-03-25). In force

since 1 August 2022.

6 Repealed by Decision of 16 March 2022 (OS 77, 263; ABI 2022-03-25). In force

since 1 August 2022.

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