Regulations on the Election of Pastors and Parish Officers (RWPP) (RWPP)

Scope of Application

This Regulation applies to the new elections and the confirmation elections of parish priests based on § 13 of the Church Law of July 9, 20073 and Art. 58 of the Church Ordinance of the Roman Catholic Corporation of the Canton of Zurich of January 29, 2009 (KO)4, as well as to the election of pastoral care delegates based on Art. 59 KO.

**II. New Election of Parish Priests**

**1. Initiation of the Election Procedure**

1. If a pastor or a parochial administrator with a congregational leadership function has submitted his resignation to the diocesan bishop and the latter has given his consent, the pastor or parochial administrator must immediately inform the church council.

2. If the resignation is submitted to the Vicar General, the latter shall forward the letter to the diocesan bishop, notifying the sender, with the request to approve the resignation.

3. If such a position becomes vacant due to death or non-confirmation of the incumbent, the church council must immediately inform the Vicar General.

4. The Vicar General for the Diocese of Zurich-Glarus, acting as the representative of the diocesan bishop, conducts the negotiations for filling the pastoral offices.

Following notification, the Parish Council contacts the Vicar General to discuss the succession arrangement. In doing so, it expresses any wishes.

**Determination of the Succession Arrangement**

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182.22 Regulation on the Election of Pastors and Parish Administrators

**Parish Election Commission**

**Eligibility Requirements according to CIC**

**Cooperation with the Vicar General**

**Convocation of the Parish Assembly and Election Procedure**

1 The Church Council may appoint a Parish Election Committee to prepare an election proposal.

2 The Parish Election Committee, consisting of at least five to a maximum of nine members, may be composed of

a. Members of the Church Council,

b. Employees of the parish,

c. Members of the Parish Council,

d. Representatives of parish associations,

e. Members of missions,

f. Other persons connected with the parish.

3 The presidency of the Parish Election Committee shall be held by a member of the Church Council.

4 The tasks of the Parish Election Committee consist of

a. Reviewing the candidates named by the Vicar General,

b. Publicly advertising the vacant position after consultation with the Vicar General,

c. Conducting applicant interviews,

d. Preparing a report with a recommendation for the Church Council.

2. Procedure for Parish Elections

As parish priest of a Roman Catholic parish, only a priest who is eligible for election according to the ecclesiastical order, the Code of Canon Law (CIC), can be elected.

1 The Vicar General proposes a candidate after consulting with the Church Board.

2 The Church Board is entitled, within 20 days of receipt of the proposal, to request the Vicar General, if possible, to make a second or at most a third proposal. One of these candidates must be proposed by the Church Board to the parish for election.

3 The Vicar General issues the election recommendation for the candidate accepted by the Church Board in accordance with paragraph 2.

1 Based on the election recommendation, the Church Council convenes a parish assembly for the election.

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Regulations on the Election of Pastors and Parish Representatives

182.22

2 The election of the pastor shall be by secret ballot. No nominations can be made from the assembly. Voters are bound by the proposal of the Church Council.

3 The name of the pastor to be elected may be printed on the ballot paper. He is elected if he receives more "yes" than "no" votes.

4 The parish elects the pastor for a term of six years. The ordinary term of office always begins on July 1st of the election year.

5 Pastors elected during a term of office are elected for the remainder of the current term.

6 Parishes with a parish parliament elect the pastor by ballot box in accordance with the provisions of the parish regulations. A silent election is excluded.

### Failure to Elect

If an election fails to take place, the procedure must be repeated in accordance with Election Sections 6 and 7.

1 If additional priests are to be active in a parish, their election will also be determined according to §§ 6–8 and they will be elected by the parish assembly or, in parishes with a parish parliament, by ballot.

2 The General Vicar, in consultation with the Church Council, will determine before the election which priest is to have the leadership according to CIC Can. 517 § 1.

Solidum

3. Procedure for the Election of the Parish Administrator with Pastoral Leadership Function

Parish Administrator

1 No later than two years after the appointment of the pastoral administrator with parish leadership function and the issuance of the election recommendation by the Vicar General, the Church Council – subject to para. 3 – initiates the election procedure according to § 7.

2 In the event of a repeat election, § 8 applies.

3 If there are objectively sufficient reasons that preclude an election of the pastoral administrator with parish leadership function, the Church Council requests the Vicar General for a new proposal according to

1 The confirmation election of pastors takes place at the ballot box, unless a silent election occurs or the church community regulations do not provide for an election at the church community assembly.

2 If the confirmation election takes place at the church community assembly, the election procedure is governed by § 7.

1 Confirmation Election by Acclamation

1 In a confirmation election by acclamation, the Church Council

may conduct the election itself.

2 The Church Council shall decide, before the expiry of the term of office, whether it

wishes to propose the pastor to the eligible voters for confirmation.

3 The decision of the Church Council shall be published.

4 If the Church Council has decided to propose the pastor for a confirmation

election, the publication must indicate that,

within 30 days of the publication of the election proposal,

a ballot election may be requested in writing

a. by 5% of the eligible voters in parish communities with a maximum of

2000 eligible voters,

b. by at least 100 eligible voters in other communities.

5 If no ballot election is requested, the Church Council shall declare the pastor

proposed for confirmation as elected.

6 If the Church Council has decided not to propose the pastor for re-

confirmation election, the publication must indicate

that the confirmation election will take place by ballot.

1 The political municipality, as the electoral authority, orders

the confirmation election at the ballot box if

a. the Church Council has decided to propose to the voters the non-

confirmation of the pastor,

b. eligible voters have submitted a request according to § 12 para. 4.

2 In a confirmation election at the ballot box, the name of the incumbent

pastor, who stands for the confirmation election, is printed on the ballot

and supplemented with the Church Council's recommendation for confirmation

or non-confirmation.

3 Voters are asked whether they wish to confirm the pastor in office.

They can answer with Yes or No or abstain.

4 Votes cast for persons other than those listed on the ballot paper

and repetitions of the same name are invalid.

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Regulations on the Election of Pastors and Parish Representatives

IV. Conclusion of the Election Procedure

182.22

1 The election shall be recorded in minutes, which shall be signed by the

President and by the Secretary of the election authority.

2 The election minutes shall be prepared in duplicate.

1 The Church Council informs the Episcopal Vicar of the outcome of the election and publishes the election result.

2 It submits a copy of the election minutes to the Synodal Council, along with the certificate of legal force.

After the election has become legally binding, the Church Council notifies the elected person of their election. The elected person must submit a written declaration regarding the acceptance or refusal of the election to the President of the Church Council within five days of receiving the notification.

V. Early Resignation and Dismissal, Resignation at the Request of the Diocesan Bishop

1 On the premature resignation of an elected pastor, the Church Council Premature

decides in consultation with the Vicar General and taking into account Resignation

the employment regulations as well as the profession-specific provisions and Dismissal

for priests and deacons. The decision on a premature resignation must be

notified to the Synodal Council.

2 The Synodal Council is responsible for premature dismissal for important

reasons in accordance with § 18 para. 4 of the Employment Regulations

of the Roman Catholic Corporation of the Canton of Zurich of March 22,

2007. It decides on the termination of the employment relationship upon

application by the Church Council and after consultation with the Vicar

General.

Tritt ein Pfarrer auf Ersuchen des Diözesanbischofs gestützt Rücktritt auf

auf den CIC vor Ablauf seiner Amtszeit zurück, ist dies dem Synodalrat Ersuchen

anzuzeigen.

des Diözesan-

bischofs

If a pastor resigns at the request of the Diocesan Bishop based on the CIC before the end of his term of office, this must be reported to the Synodal Council.

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182.22

Regulation on the Election of Pastors and Parish Representatives

VI. Election of Parish Representatives

Eligibility Requirements

1 Persons eligible for election as Parish Representatives are those who fulfill the requirements for holding office according to ecclesiastical law.

2 No later than two years after the employment of the Parish Representative and the issuance of the election recommendation by the Vicar General, the Church Council initiates the election procedure.

3 If there are objectively sufficient reasons that oppose the election of the Parish Representative, the Church Council requests a new proposal from the Vicar General.

Procedure

1 The Parish Representatives are elected at the church assembly for a term of six years, following the General Vicar's consent.

2 The election is conducted by secret ballot.

3 No nominations can be made from the assembly. The voters are bound by the proposal of the Church Council.

4 The name of the candidate can be printed on the ballot paper. He or she is elected if he or she receives more "yes" votes than "no" votes. If an election does not take place, the Church Council must immediately notify the General Vicar.

5 Parish Representatives elected during a term of office are elected for the remainder of the term. The ordinary term of office always begins on July 1st of the election year.

6 Church communities with a church parliament elect the Parish Representative at the ballot box according to the provisions of the church community regulations. A silent election is excluded.

7 For the conclusion of the election procedure, the provisions of §§ 14 et seq. apply.

Appointment,

premature

resignation and

dismissal,

resignation at

the request of

the Diocesan

Bishop

1 If the Diocesan Bishop intends not to renew the commission, or if the Church Council intends not to issue a recommendation for election for objectively sufficient reasons, a timely conciliation procedure must be carried out between the Diocesan Bishop and the Parish to establish mutual agreement.

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Regulation on the Election of Pastors and Parish Administrators

182.22

2 The Church Council, in agreement with the Vicar General and taking into account the employment regulations and professional provisions, decides on the premature resignation of an elected Parish Administrator. The resignation requires the approval of the Diocesan Bishop. The decision regarding a premature resignation must be notified to the Synodal Council.

3 The Synodal Council is responsible for premature dismissal for important reasons. It decides on the termination of the employment relationship upon application by the Church Council and after consultation with the Vicar General.

4 If a Parish Administrator resigns at the request of the Diocesan Bishop, based on the CIC, before the expiry of their term of office, this must be notified to the Synodal Council.

VII. Order of Succession for Elections

1 The term of office for pastors is six years. The first confirmation election in accordance with these Regulations will take place in 2024.

2 The term of office for parish officers is six years. The first election in accordance with these Regulations will take place in 2024.

Confirmation

election of pastors

and re-election of

parish officers

VIII. Legal Protection

The appeal in voting matters is governed by the legal protection

Parish Regulations.

in voting

matters

IX. Transitional and Final Provisions

1. This regulation comes into force after the expiry of the referendum period

by decision of the Synodal Council.

2. It replaces the Regulation on the re-election of pastors of

18 April 2013.

1 OS 78, 455; for justification, see ABI 2022-12-16.

2 Entry into force: 1 January 2024.

3 LS 180.1.

4 LS 182.10.

5 LS 182.41.

6 LS 182.60.

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