Ordinance on the Organization of Ecclesiastical Services (OES) (VOGKD)

1. **Overall Church Services and their Staff – Principles of Action**

Overall Church Services and their staff understand their service as a service to the authorities, staff, and members of the regional church, as well as to individual people and society. They observe the principles of sustainability in social, ecological, and economic terms. They act within the framework of the law.

2. They align their actions with the goals of the Church Council and their priority.

3. They monitor important developments, assess the need for action early, and prepare appropriate goals, resources, measures, and implementation options for the Church Council.

4. They are responsible for the timely exchange of information and necessary consultations with the Church Council and within the Overall Church Services.

181.221 V – Organisation of the Central Church Services (VO GKD)

1 The Central Church Services perform the duties assigned to them pursuant to Article 142 Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Church Order (KO), and those transferred by the Church Council.

2 The Central Church Services are particularly responsible for

a. The development, ongoing advancement, and provision of fundamental principles in the church's fields of activity,

b. Monitoring and incorporating societal developments for the development and testing of corresponding forms of church life,

c. Staff development and training of governing bodies,

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d. Training, as well as ensuring the initial and continuing education of clergy, employees, and volunteers of the parishes,

e. Ensuring and supporting the presence of the parishes in proclamation, pastoral care, diaconia, education, and religious pedagogy,

f. Public relations,

g. Resource management,

h. Fostering partnerships,

i. Supporting the Church Council.

3 The fulfillment of tasks shall occur within the framework of performance and project mandates.

Staff

Employees of the General Church Services are the employees of the General Church Services as well as the pastors in institutions, in parish offices with mixed sponsorship, and in parish offices of the General Church Services.

Structure

Section 2: Organizational Units

A. Principle

are

1. The Organizational Units of the General Church Services

a. Staff Services,

b. Divisions,

c. Sectors.

2. When forming and organizing the organizational units, particular consideration shall be given to

a. the coherence of the tasks,

b. the expediency of leadership, particularly with regard to the number of subordinate organizational units and employees, as well as the tasks to be performed,

c. the balance among the organizational units.

V - Organization of the General Church Services (VO GKD) 181.221

B. Staff Services

1 Staff services support the Church Council, the President of the Church

Council, the Church Council Secretary, the Executive Board, and the

departments in fulfilling their duties.

2 The staff services are responsible, in particular, for

a. Ensuring the legality of the actions of ecclesiastical authorities and

bodies,

b. Providing, maintaining, and developing legal foundations and stra-

tegic governance instruments,

c. Advising and supporting authorities and bodies of the Regional

Church, ecclesiastical districts, and parishes in legal matters,

d. Planning, preparing, and following up on, as well as administratively

supporting, meetings of the Church Council and the Executive Board,

as well as conferences and events of the Church Council,

e. Drafting resolutions of the Church Council and decrees of the Presi-

dent of the Church Council and the Church Council Secretary,

f. Managing the active and inactive files of the Church Council and

the General Church Services, as well as periodic transfers of records

to the State Archives.

C. Departments

The General Church Services comprise the following departments – Inventory

a. Resources,

b. Communication,

c. Church Development,

d. Life Worlds,

e. Specialized Pastoral Care.

1 The Resources Department provides the overall Church Mission

Services with personnel and business administration resources and other resources

foundations for fulfilling tasks, as well as the necessary infrastructure.

structure.

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181.221

V – Organisation of Overall Church Services (VO GKD)

2 The Resources Department is particularly responsible for

a. the financial and investment planning of the Regional Church,

b. preparation and ongoing monitoring of the budget and annual accounts

of the central treasury,

c. processing of subsidy applications,

d. human resources and payroll administration for pastors and

employees of the Regional Church,

e. placement of substitutes in accordance with

Art. 121 para. 1 KO,

f. provision and maintenance of the IT infrastructure required by the Overall Church Services,

g. management of e-government matters in cooperation with

the Staff Services,

h. management and maintenance of the properties used by the Overall Church Services,

i. advising parish councils on matters of personnel, finance,

IT, and properties in cooperation with the Staff Services and the Church Development Department.

b. Communication

1 The Department of Communication contributes to a positive perception of the Regional Church and its parishes in the public sphere. It informs the public about the church's areas of activity and services. It is responsible for relations with and networking with other churches and religious communities, as well as other corporations.

2 The Department of Communication is responsible, in particular, for

a. Supporting the media, public relations, and marketing on behalf of the Regional Church and its parishes,

b. Informing the authorities and employees of the Regional Church as well as the public,

c. Empowering authorities and employees of the parishes to carry out communication tasks,

d. Providing a regional church and an ecumenical corporate identity, as well as tools for digital communication,

e. Fostering ecumenical and international relations, relations with church organizations, and interreligious dialogue.

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V - Organization of General Church Services (VO GKD) 181.221

1. **Department for Church Development**

The Department for Church Development promotes local, regional, and supra-regional congregational development. It strengthens the competencies of stakeholders and thereby contributes to an innovative, learning-oriented, and socially relevant church. To this end, it supports the professional development of employees and authorities, encourages networking, promotes the participation of members in church life, and contributes to a church that is connected to people's realities of life.

2. **The Department for Church Development is particularly responsible for:**

a. Promoting congregational development, especially within the framework of the merger of parishes, and participation in church life;

b. Training members of church authorities and bodies;

c. Promoting young talent and human resource development for ecclesiastical professions;

d. Initial and continuing education in ecclesiastical professions;

e. Human resource management for pastors;

f. Supporting parishes in the implementation of national church concepts;

g. Supporting and promoting forms of church life according to Art. 155 KO.

Here is the English translation of the law article

**1 The Department for Spheres of Life**

**d. Spheres of Life**

The Department for Spheres of Life, through its offerings, enables people with a greater distance from the Church to establish a connection with it. It accomplishes what parishes alone and in cooperation with each other cannot achieve. Through the communication of the Gospel, it contributes to keeping the Church in dialogue with other parts of society. It networks with other actors and maintains contact with responsible persons in society.

**2 The Department for Spheres of Life is particularly responsible for:**

a. the operation of Kappel Monastery,

b. the Pilgrimage Chaplaincy,

c. participation in theological and societal discourses via digital and other channels, as well as networking and a readiness for exchange with the relevant actors,

d. promotion and support of theological adult education at the level of the Regional Church,

e. support for pupils and students at secondary schools and higher education institutions through suitable offerings.

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181.221 V – Ordinance on the Organization of Overall Church Services (VO GKD)

**e. Special Pastoral Care**

1 The Specialized Pastoral Care Department ensures, through institutions and networks, the pastoral accompaniment and social welfare counseling of people in their particular life situations and specific life worlds. It connects pastoral and social welfare care in institutions with pastoral and social welfare care in parishes.

2 The Specialized Pastoral Care Department is responsible in particular for

a. pastoral care in hospitals, psychiatric clinics, and nursing homes,

b. pastoral care in prisons,

c. pastoral care in rectories with mixed sponsorship,

d. pastoral care in rectories for people with disabilities,

e. the provision of counseling services for couples,

f. the provision or support of counseling services for apprentices and in cases of unemployment.

Structure

Mandate

D. Areas

1 Staff services and departments are divided into divisions.

2 The divisions of the staff services are the Church Council Chancellery and

the Legal Service.

3 The heads of department determine the divisions of their department. This determination requires the approval of the Church Council Secretary.

The assignments of the divisions result from the basic assignments in accordance with §§ 5 and 7–11, the service mandates in accordance with §§ 50–52, as well as the assignments issued by the Church Council, the Church Council Secretary, and the Head of Department.

Function,

Position and

Duties

3rd Section: Leadership

A. Church Council Secretary

1 The Church Council Secretary or the Church Council Secretary

manages the General Church Services and the Staff Services.

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V - Organization of General Church Services (VO GKD) 181.221

2 The function, position, and duties of the Church Council Secretary or

the Church Council Secretary are governed by §§ 38 and 40 of the Rules

of Procedure of the Church Council of June 10, 2020 (GO KR)7 and by this

Ordinance.

Die Zuständigkeit zum Erlass von Verfügungen, die Unter- Entscheidungs-

schriftenberechtigung und die Ausgabenbefugnisse richten sich nach und Zeichnungs-

befugnisse

§§ 41, 45 und 46 GO KR.

B. Abteilungsleiterinnen und Abteilungsleiter

---

**English Translation:**

Competence to issue decrees, decision-making authority, and expenditure powers are governed by and Signature

powers

§§ 41, 45 and 46 GO KR.

B. Heads of Departments

### 1 Organization

Every department is headed by a department head.

2 Every department head designates at least one deputy for themselves, in agreement with the church council secretary.

1 The Heads of Department are direct superiors to the Section Heads within their department, as well as to other directly subordinate employees.

2 Subject to the powers of the Church Council Secretary, they possess unrestricted rights of instruction, supervision, and direct intervention in individual cases concerning the employees of their department.

1 **Responsibilities of the Department Heads**

The department heads manage, control, and coordinate the activities of their department.

2 The department heads

a. support the members of the Church Council and the Church Council Secretary in the performance of their duties,

b. contribute as members of the Executive Board to the development of the General Church Services and to the fulfillment of their mandate through these services,

c. regulate the organisation of their department within the framework of this ordinance,

d. define the tasks and responsibilities of the areas and employees within their department within the framework of this ordinance,

e. lead their department in professional, personnel, and administrative matters,

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181.221 V – Organisation of General Church Services (GCS Ordinance)

f. are responsible for the fulfillment of service and project assignments of their department and regularly report to the Executive Board,

g. perform other duties assigned by the Church Council Secretary and in accordance with this ordinance.

The signing authority of the heads of departments and their power to make expenditures within their own sphere of responsibility are governed by §§ 45 and 46 GO KR.

Signing Powers

Organization

Position

Duties

C. Heads of Divisions

1 Each section is headed by a section manager.

2 Department managers may head a section in place of a section manager.

3 Department managers shall designate at least one deputy for each section manager.

1. The Heads of Department are the direct superiors of the employees in their department.

2. Subject to the powers of the Church Council Secretary and the Head of Division, they possess unrestricted rights of instruction, supervision, and intervention in individual cases concerning the employees within their department.

1 The heads of division lead, manage, and coordinate the activities of their division.

2 The heads of division

a. support the members of the Church Council, the Church Council Secretary, and the head of department in the performance of their duties,

b. contribute to the development of the department and the General Church Services, as well as to the fulfillment of their mandate by these,

c. define the tasks and responsibilities of the employees within their division, within the framework of this ordinance, subject to the powers of the head of department,

d. manage their division professionally, in terms of personnel, and administratively,

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V - Organization of General Church Services (VO GKD) 181.221

e. are responsible for the fulfillment of service and project assignments within their division and report regularly to the head of department.

f. perform other duties assigned by the Church Council Secretary, the head of department, and in accordance with this ordinance.

The authority of division heads to sign and their power to incur expenditures within their own sphere of responsibility are governed by Sections 45 and 46 of the GO KR.

4. Section: Management Principles

1. Leadership

Superiors demand target-, personnel- and quality-oriented performance from their employees and behaviour appropriate to their function. They promote the independence of employees, their education and training, and their personal development. In discussions with employees, they regularly express their observations and assessments.

They bear and delegate responsibility. They create framework conditions and room for manoeuvre for employees so that they can achieve their goals and continuously improve.

They consider the compatibility of work and family life and strive for a balanced gender ratio among employees.

They observe the principles of personnel policy according to § 8 of the Personnel Ordinance of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Zurich of May 11, 2010 (PVO)8.

1. Supervisors and employees proactively communicate and obtain the information necessary for their task fulfillment.

2. They jointly advocate for an open and constructive feedback culture.

1 The Church Council Secretary, the Heads of Departments, and the

Heads of Divisions shall ensure that important decisions, especially

those with significant legal or financial implications, are prepared

according to the four-eyes principle.

2 They shall involve affected departments and individuals in the decision-

making process in a timely manner.

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181.221 V – Organization of the Supra-Parochial Services (VO GKD)

Staff

The participation of employees is governed by the

Participation Statute for Employees of the General

Church Services of November 28, 2019.

Composition

Recusal

Tasks

Business Planning

5. Section: Management Tools

A. Executive Management

1 The Church Council Secretary as well as the Department Heads form the Executive Management.

2 The Department Heads participate in the meetings of the Executive Management with an advisory vote and the right to submit motions.

1 Recusal is governed by the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act of 24 May 1959 (VGR)5.

2 It shall be recorded in the minutes.

The Executive Management

a. prepares business for the attention of the Church Council,

b. coordinates the business and scheduling for the overall ecclesiastical services,

c. initiates and manages cross-departmental projects,

d. serves for mutual information and exchange among its members,

e. develops procedural guidelines and work aids for the overall ecclesiastical services, particularly on matters of leadership, business transactions, information, and public relations,

f. deliberates on concerns and business brought forward by its members,

g. processes other business assigned to it by the Church Council Secretary.

1 The Church Council Secretary or the Church Council Clerk

establishes the business plan of the Executive Board.

2 The business plan ensures that the Executive Board can address its

affairs according to their importance and urgency. It comprises the most important matters and key topics and extends over a semester or a calendar year.

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V - Organization of the Overall Church Services (VO GKD)

181.221

Convening of Meetings

The Executive Board meets as often as business requires.

The Church Council Secretary convenes the meetings of the Executive Board.

At least two department heads may at any time request that a meeting be held, stating the business to be discussed and the desired date.

The members of the executive management are obliged to attend the meetings. In case of absence, the deputy of the department head shall attend. Reasons for absence must be communicated to the church council clerk in due time.

The minute-taker participates in the meetings with an advisory vote.

The church council clerk may invite additional persons with an advisory vote to specific matters.

The meetings of the Executive Board take place in coordination with the meetings of the Church Council.

Meeting Rules

The Executive Board may hold closed sessions, during which it particularly discusses fundamental issues of far-reaching importance.

The Church Council Secretary's Invitation

The Church Council Secretary creates the invitation, including a list of the agenda items. He or she ensures that the invitation and the essential documents related to the agenda items are made available to the members of the executive board, as a rule, at least three working days before the meeting.

The meetings of the management are not public.

Exclusion of the

Public

Every member of the management board may request consultation on a motion.

business.

a. Filing of motions

The Church Council Secretary typically makes decisions based on written applications.

He or she reviews the written applications from formal, substantive, and legal perspectives.

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181.221 V – Organization of General Church Services (VO GKD)

b. Form

c. Deadlines

Case

management

Survey

Minutes

a. Management and

Approval

b. Content

1 The Church Council Secretary

is responsible for ensuring that the Executive Board can conduct business in a timely manner.

**2 Applications for matters requiring a decision by the Church Council**

must generally be submitted in such a way that they can be placed on the agenda of the Church Council no later than the second-to-last meeting before the deadline.

1 Each member of the Executive Board may request amendments to the agenda.

**2 Matters not on the agenda may be dealt with if no member objects.**

**3 The matters shall be called individually and deliberated upon. If no deliberation is requested, a matter shall be deemed to have been deliberated upon.**

The survey at the end of each session serves for information and exchange of ideas.

1 Minutes are kept of the Executive Board's deliberations.

**2 The person designated by the Church Council Secretary shall keep the minutes.**

**3 The minutes are generally made available to the members of the Executive Board for inspection within seven working days after the meeting.**

**4 They are submitted to the Executive Board for approval at the next meeting and to the Church Council for information.**

The protocol contains in particular

a. the precise designation of all transactions,

b. the dispositions of the Church Council Clerk (female) or the Church Council Clerk (male) with the corresponding considerations,

c. for each disposition, the determination of whether access to information can be granted without further ado in accordance with the Law on Information and Data Protection of 12 February 2007 (IDG)³,

d. the essential results of discussions,

e. the information from the survey.

c. Access

1 The minutes are available to all members of the executive board.

2 The Church Council Secretary designates the employees of the General Church Services to whom the minutes are made accessible.

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V - Organisation of General Church Services (VO GKD) 181.221

3 For the rest, the publication and distribution of extracts from the minutes are governed by Art. 23 KO and the IDG.

1 The Church Council Office shall prepare the dispositions of the Church

Council Clerk.

2 The dispositions shall be communicated by means of an excerpt from the minutes and, exceptionally, by special notice. They shall bear the name of the competent person in the Church Council Office and shall be signed by that person.

3 Dispositions of the Church Council Clerk based on written applications that are not amended during the meeting of the Executive Board shall be prepared immediately after the meeting. Otherwise, dispositions shall be prepared immediately once they are approved by the Church Council Clerk or the person designated by him or her.

B. Conferences

The Church Council Secretary typically invites employees to the Conference of Employees of the Comprehensive Ecclesiastical Services twice a year.

1 The Church Council Secretary convenes the Cadre Conference as needed.

2 The heads of departments and heads of sections of the Central Church Services participate in the Cadre Conference.

The conference of employees of the General Church Counselling Services and the management conference serve for information and mutual networking. They deal in particular with

a. cross-sectional topics,

b. key topics of the Church Council and the General Church Services,

c. further education,

d. information provided by external persons on selected topics.

Attendance is mandatory at the conferences according to §§ 46 and 47. Any impediment to attendance and the reasons for it must be communicated to the inviting body in good time.

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181.221 V – Organization of Ecclesiastical Services (VO GKD)

C. Service and Project Orders

Service Orders

a. Principle

b. Content

c. Determination and Duration

Project Orders

Specification Sheet

Function

1 The Church Council Secretary issues performance mandates to the heads of departments, as well as to the heads of the Church Council Chancellery and Legal Services, for the departments and areas they manage.

2 These performance mandates are subject to approval by the Church Council.

The content of the performance mandates is determined in particular by the basic mandate of the staff services and departments according to §§ 5 and 7-11, the legislative goals of the Church Council, the project mandates according to § 53, and other tasks to be fulfilled by the Church Council and the overall church services.

1 The Church Council Secretary (or the Church Council Clerk) defines the performance mandates following the adoption of the legislative goals by the Church Council. He or she issues the performance mandates within six months of the Church Synod taking note of the legislative goals.

2 Performance mandates are issued for a maximum duration equal to that of the legislative goals.

1. The Church Council, the Church Council Secretary (female) or the Church Council Secretary (male), as well as the Head of Departments (female) and Head of Departments (male), issue project assignments within the scope of their authority.

2. Project assignments are limited in terms of subject matter, content, and duration. If they extend across multiple departments or areas, the assigning authority determines the responsible department or area.

1 The employees of the Central Church Services have a job

description.

2 The project assignments according to § 53, together with the job

description according to §§ 19 and 20 PVO, form the job description.

D. Internal Control System

1 The Supra-Regional Church Services have an internal control system, in particular to monitor compliance with the relevant regulations and to prevent damage to the Regional Church.

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V - Organisation of the Supra-Regional Church Services (VO GKD) 181.221

2 The internal control system particularly supports

a. reliable financial reporting,

b. compliance with legal requirements and relevant standards,

c. the protection of the Regional Church's assets,

d. the coverage of significant financial risks of the Regional Church,

e. the protection of the Regional Church's information,

f. the prevention of accidents and environmental damage,

g. the safeguarding of employees' rights and their fulfillment of legal obligations,

h. ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of processes,

i. creating transparency regarding processes, risks, and controls.

1. The Church Council Secretary or the Church Council Secretary — Leadership

is responsible for the internal control system of the Comprehensive Church Services and reports

according to principles decided by the Church Council.

2. He or she reports to the Church Council as needed, but at least

Reporting

biannually.

Section 6: Communication

A. Internal Information

**181.221 V – Organization of the Overall Ecclesiastical Services (O OES)**

1 The Church Council Secretary shall make available to the employees of the Overall Ecclesiastical Services information of general interest in an appropriate manner, in particular

a. Information from the meetings of the Church Council and the Executive Board,

b. Directives and recommendations, specifically concerning organization, human resources, and communication,

c. Further information and tools developed by the staff services and departments,

d. Event notices.

2 The Heads of Departments and the Heads of Divisions shall inform the employees of their department or division about the essential matters and occurrences of the department or division.

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Information for Employees

1. Employees of the Central Church Services shall immediately inform their direct superiors, the Communications Department, and the Church Council about media inquiries, as well as about the provision of special information to other authorities or institutions, with the exception of detailed information, routine questions, and minor matters.

2. The Heads of Department shall inform the Church Council Secretary about

a. pending personnel matters of particular significance, especially hirings, releases, and terminations of employment relationships;

b. departmental procedures concerning the Cantonal or Church Ombudsman's Office;

c. high-risk circumstances, if such a risk newly arises or intensifies;

d. special occurrences.

1 Important information and documents are transmitted through official channels. This includes, in particular, instructions issued and completed, statements and reports, as well as matters and circumstances requiring approval or notification.

2 In cases of particular urgency, direct transmission to the final recipient is permissible. The bypassed levels shall be served simultaneously with copies.

3 If the receiving person recognizes that official channels have not been followed, they shall inform the bypassed levels.

1 The Human Resources Department is available to all employees for personal legal matters.

2 Inquiries are treated confidentially.

B. External Contacts and Media

1 The Church Council, the Church Council Secretary, or the Church Council Scribe shall comment to the media and third parties on matters of fundamental importance or significant scope.

2 Matters of fundamental importance or significant scope include, in particular

a. special incidents in connection with the performance of duties by the General Church Services,

b. matters containing church-political or political aspects,

c. matters whose scope cannot be assessed, particularly with regard to their ecclesiastical, political, or professional significance,

d. interviews and major publications,

e. the recall of pastors and the termination of employment of staff members of the General Church Services against their will or by mutual agreement,

f. crisis situations.

3 In all other respects, the Heads of Department shall comment on matters within their area of responsibility, unless they have delegated this task to the Area Managers responsible for the matter. In cases of doubt, they shall consult with the Communication Department before providing information to the media and third parties.

4 The Church Council, the Church Council Secretary, or the Church Council Scribe, as well as the Heads of Department, may delegate the provision of information to the media and third parties to the Communication Department.

1 The Communications Department coordinates and dispatches media releases on behalf of the Church Council, the Church Council Secretary (female) or the Church Council Secretary (male).

2 On behalf of the Church Council, the Church Council Secretary (female) or the Church Council Secretary (male), it extends invitations to and conducts media events.

The Church Council may appoint a media spokesperson (male or female) and assign to him or her the duties according to §§ 61, 62 and 65 Para. 2.

Communication with the Church Synod and its factions, as well as with interest groups, is carried out by the Church Council or on its behalf.

1 **Audio and Video Recordings via the Supra-Ecclesiastical Audio and Video Services**

Audio and video recordings made through the Supra-Ecclesiastical Audio and Video Services require the approval of the Church Council Secretary, provided their content extends beyond short interviews.

2 The Church Council Secretary shall, together with the applicant, establish a binding recording concept. This concept shall regulate the content and scope of the recordings, participation and support during content creation, and the protection of personal rights of employees and third parties. The Church Council Secretary may delegate this task to the Communications Department.

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181.221 V – Organisation of the Supra-Ecclesiastical Services (VO GKD)

Appearance

1 The Church Council determines the logo, the designation of staff

services, departments and their divisions, the letterhead, the typeface,

and the design of the presence of the Ecclesiastical Services

on the internet and in social media.

2 The employees of the Ecclesiastical Services use appropriate and gender-

sensitive language in their spoken and written communication. In written

communication, they follow the style guide for German orthography issued by

the Federal Chancellery, unless the Church Council determines otherwise.10

3 Presentations are created based on templates provided by the

Communication Department.

4 If employees of the Ecclesiastical Services appear in public

and on social media, the content and appearance of their presence

must correspond to the significance of the matter and the function of the

employee.

Requests for

Information

Access

1 Requests for access to information in accordance with the IDG will be immediately transferred to the Church Council Chancellery.

2 The Church Council Chancellery processes the requests in cooperation with the Legal Service, subject to the powers of the Church Council, the Church Council Secretary (female), or the Church Council Secretary (male).

**Competence**

**Section 7: Legislative Procedure**

1 The Legal Department coordinates legislation by the Church

Synod and the Church Council.

2 It drafts new or amending legal acts and provides advice to the

Overall Church Services during the drafting of legal acts. It reviews

draft legal acts from a legal and legislative-technical perspective,

especially regarding

a. compliance with superordinate law,

b. the impact on the existing legal order,

c. the systematic structure,

d. clarity and comprehensibility.

Guidelines

The formal drafting of decrees is governed by the

guidelines for legal drafting issued by the Government Council in accordance with § 4 of the Ordinance on Legislative Procedures in the Cantonal Administration of November 29, 2004.

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V - Organization of the General Church Services (VO GKD)

181.221

1 With the consultation, affected authorities, bodies, associations, corporations, and other organizations are given the opportunity to comment on a draft enactment.

2 A consultation will be conducted in particular if

a. it concerns a legal amendment of particular significance,

b. corporations, authorities, bodies, associations, or other organizations are substantially affected in their interests or are to be invited to the consultation based on a special provision,

c. an enactment is implemented to a considerable extent outside of the overall Church Services.

3 A legal amendment is of particular significance if

a. it has significant financial or other implications,

b. it requires special coordination with other areas of the legal system,

c. the enacting body has considerable discretion.

Consultation

a. Purpose

1 The Church Council opens the consultation on legal changes of particular significance. Other consultations are opened by the Church Council Secretary.

2 The consultation is carried out by the unit of the General Church Services commissioned by the Church Council Secretary.

3 The procedure is in writing. It can instead be conducted wholly or partially in the form of hearings.

b. Competence and Procedure

1. The consultation period is three months.

2. The body responsible for opening the consultation may set a shorter period.

c. Deadline

The body responsible for opening the consultation process determines who is invited to participate in a consultation.

d. Participants

1 The body responsible for conducting the consultation shall compile the consultation result.

2 The consultation result shall be summarily presented in the Church Council's considerations regarding the relevant enactment.

3 The consultation documents and the statements are not subject to official secrecy and may be inspected at the body responsible for conducting the consultation.

e. Compilation

of the Result

and Accessibility

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181.221 V – Organisation of the Ecclesiastical Services (VO GKD)

Section 8: Appeal Procedure

Church Council

Secretary

In appeals to be decided by the Church Council, the Church Council Secretary is solely competent, within the framework of interim decisions, for orders concerning

a. the restoration or withdrawal of the suspensive effect,

b. the imposition and waiver of an advance on costs,

c. the extension and restoration of deadlines,

d. the determination of a domicile for service or a representation,

e. the granting and refusal of access to files,

f. the procurement of official reports and expert opinions as well as the carrying out of inspections,

g. the determination that an appeal procedure has been concluded due to withdrawal, futility, or reconsideration.

In appeals to be decided by the Church Council, the Legal Service is solely responsible for orders concerning

Legal Service

a. setting a new deadline for improving a deficient appeal submission,

b. requests in accordance with §§ 6 a and 6 b VRG to provide a service domicile or a representation,

c. obtaining statements from the lower instance and the involved parties,

d. carrying out further exchanges of pleadings,

e. requesting files as part of the fact-finding process,

f. notifying that the fact-finding has been concluded,

g. informing if the processing period cannot be met since the conclusion of the fact-finding,

h. threatening a *reformatio in peius*,

i. collecting procedural costs through debt enforcement.

Legal Representation

If a decision of the Church Council is challenged before an appellate body, the Church Council is usually represented by the Legal Service.

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V - Organization of the General Church Services (VO GKD) 181.221

9. Section: Final Provision

Guidelines, Instructions, Competencies, and Orders Contradictory to this Ordinance

Guidelines, instructions, competencies, and orders contradictory to this Ordinance shall be repealed upon the entry into force of this Ordinance. Deviating orders from the Church Council and the Church Council Secretary (male or female) remain reserved.

¹ OS 76, 285; ABI 2021-06-25.

2 Entry into force: 1 October 2021.

3 LS 170.4.

4 LS 172.16.

5 LS 175.2.

6 LS 181.10.

7 LS 181.22.

8 LS 181.40.

9 LS 181.404.

10 Version according to B of 27 October 2021 (OS 77, 11; ABI 2021-10-29). In force since 1 February 2022.

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