Guidelines on Volunteer Work

¹Voluntary work within the meaning of these guidelines is a self-chosen, charitable activity carried out in a church parish in the fields of activity according to Art. 29 para. 1 KO in tasks and projects.

²It is performed unpaid.

³It comprises up to six hours per week on an annual average. a. Definitions: Voluntary Work

b. Volunteers

Volunteers are individuals who engage in volunteer work in accordance with § 1 and enrich the life of the community with their diverse contributions.

Church parish associations with their own volunteers are considered within the scope of application

**church parish within the meaning of these guidelines.**

**a. Church parish associations**

These guidelines apply mutatis mutandis to pastorates in institutions as well as to church-wide pastorates and positions in which volunteers are active.

b. Regional Church

B. Duties of the Parish Congregations

¹The church parishes promote voluntary work, by specifically

a. creating suitable and appealing framework conditions for volunteers and voluntary work,

b. attracting church parish members and other persons for voluntary work,

c. granting volunteers the necessary scope for participation,

d. considering the skills of volunteers when defining assignments,

e. enabling volunteers to contribute their skills to the design of voluntary work.

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181.405

Guidelines on Voluntary Work

Contact Person

Support

Assignment

Agreement

Evaluation

1 Each parish shall designate at least one contact person for volunteers.

**2 The contact person shall be responsible in particular for:**

a. Planning and coordination of volunteer work within the parish,

b. Planning and organisation of volunteer recruitment,

c. Planning, coordination, support, and evaluation of volunteer assignments,

d. Concluding assignment agreements with volunteers and verifying compliance with these agreements,

e. Planning and organisation of further training for volunteers,

f. Instructing volunteers to attend further training courses and approving requests for participation in further training,

g. Periodic review of the framework conditions for volunteers and volunteer work within the parish.

Female pastors, pastors and employees, the contact persons according to § 6 para. 1 as well as the church council support the volunteers in their task.

1 The church parishes conclude deployment agreements with volunteers if the nature, duration, and regularity of the deployment in volunteer work require it.

2 When concluding a deployment agreement, they particularly consider the interests of the church parish in the respective volunteer work.

3 Within the framework of the deployment agreement, they consider the special abilities of the volunteers and grant them space to incorporate these into the design of their volunteer work.

1 Parish churches regularly evaluate the deployment of volunteers.

Guidelines on Volunteer Work 181.405

2 Aspects to consider when evaluating the deployment of volunteers

are, in particular

a. effectiveness and achievement of objectives,

b. fulfilment of deployment agreements,

c. personal and professional suitability of volunteers to carry out

the assigned task,

d. adequacy of planning, coordination, and support for deployments,

e. satisfaction of the person or body benefiting from the deployment.

6 1 The church parishes shall insure volunteers who are not compulsorily Accident

insured against non-occupational accidents within the framework Insurance

of an employment relationship, against accidents that they suffer in connection

with their voluntary work.

2 The insurance according to paragraph 1 shall at least cover the costs of healing

in the event of hospital stays, a daily allowance, and capital benefits in the event of

invalidity and death.

Liability for Damages Caused by Volunteers in the Course of Their Volunteer Work

Liability for damages caused by volunteers in the course of their volunteer work is governed by the provisions of the Liability Act². These provisions apply mutatis mutandis.

The church parishes will, upon request, provide volunteers with a written

attestation of the volunteer work performed.

Assignments

8 1 The church boards and the contact persons according to § 6 Applicable

Para. 1, as well as female pastors, male pastors, and employees, shall be guided by Provisions

these guidelines and the church council's handbooks concerning volunteer work when fulfilling their duties.

2 The church council may declare the handbooks concerning volunteer work and further regulations to be binding.

C. Rights and Obligations of Volunteers

Der Schutz der Persönlichkeit der Freiwilligen richtet sich Rechte

nach § 75 der Personalverordnung und § 170 der Vollzugsverordnung a. Persönlich-

zur Personalverordnung5. Diese Bestimmungen sind sinngemäss an- keitsschutz

wendbar.

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181.405

Richtlinien zur Freiwilligenarbeit

b. Sachschaden

c. Rechtsschutz

d. Auslagen-

ersatz

Pflichten

a. Aufgaben-

erfüllung

b. Weiter-

bildung6

c. Schweige-

pflicht

d. Privatauszug

und Sonder-

privatauszug

---

**Translation:**

The protection of the volunteers' personality rights is governed by Rights

Section 75 of the Personnel Ordinance and Section 170 of the Implementing Ordinance a. Personal-

to the Personnel Ordinance5. These provisions are applicable by analogy. ity protection

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Guidelines for Volunteer Work

b. Property Damage

c. Legal Protection

d. Reimbursement of

Expenses

Duties

a. Fulfillment of

Tasks

b. Further

Training6

c. Duty of

Confidentiality

d. Private Extract

and Special Private

Extract

The reimbursement for property damage sustained by volunteers in connection with their volunteer work is governed by Sections 78 and 79 of the Ordinance on the Implementation of the Personnel Ordinance5. These provisions apply mutatis mutandis.

The protection of volunteers from unjustified attacks is governed by Article 49 of the Personnel Ordinance4. This provision applies by analogy.

1 Volunteers are entitled to reimbursement of necessary expenses incurred in connection with their volunteer work.

2 The reimbursement of expenses pursuant to para. 1 shall be governed by §§ 67–77 of the Implementing Ordinance to the Personnel Ordinance and by the General Expense Regulations issued by the Church Council. These provisions shall apply mutatis mutandis.

1. Volunteers shall perform volunteer work according to the instructions of the contact person pursuant to § 6 para. 1 or the person responsible for them within the parish.

2. They shall fulfill the deployment agreement, insofar as such an agreement has been concluded.

3. Volunteers who are unable to perform the agreed volunteer work shall immediately inform the contact person.

## 8 Voluntary further training

1. Volunteers attend further training courses that enable them personally and professionally to perform volunteer work.

2. The Church Board or the Ecclesiastical Council may declare attendance at a further training event for volunteers to be mandatory.

3. The Ecclesiastical Council bears the costs of further training declared by it as mandatory. The parish bears the expenses incurred in connection with a further training course, as well as the costs for further training courses which the volunteers attend according to para. 2 on the instruction of the Church Board or with the permission of the contact person according to § 6 para. 1, in accordance with § 17.

The volunteers are subject to the duty of confidentiality in respect of their activities in accordance with Articles 22 and 101 KO3.

The parish bears the costs of the private extract and

the special private extract, which volunteers must submit in accordance with § 87 b of the Personnel

Ordinance.

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Guidelines for Volunteer Work

D. Final Provision

181.405

Entry into Force

1 OS 69, 67; Rationale see ABI 2013-11-22.

2 LS 170.1.

3 LS 181.10.

4 LS 181.40.

5 LS 181.401.

6 Version in accordance with B of September 20, 2017 (OS 72, 617; ABI 2017-10-06). In

force since January 1, 2018.

7 Inserted by B of August 25, 2021 (OS 76, 469; ABI 2021-09-03). In force

since January 1, 2022.

8 Version in accordance with B of August 25, 2021 (OS 76, 469; ABI 2021-09-03). In force

since January 1, 2022.

9 Version in accordance with B of June 12, 2024 (OS 79, 391; ABI 2024-06-28). In force

since January 1, 2025.

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