Regulations of the Roman Catholic Corporation of the Canton of Zurich concerning Parishes (KGR) (Parish Regulations) (RPC)

This regulation governs the fundamental principles of the organization of the

parishes and the cooperation between the parishes, changes in the composition and territory, the supervision of the parishes, and legal protection.

1 Parish Communities

**Duties**

1 Parish communities shall create the conditions for the development of church life within their territory.

2 Parish communities shall support the parishes, particularly in the areas of

a. liturgy, catechesis, and diakonia,

b. pastoral care for non-German speakers,

c. youth and adult education,

d. fostering ecumenism.

3 Further duties of the parish communities include, in particular

a. construction and maintenance of ecclesiastical properties,

b. aid at home and abroad,

c. fostering contact with other parish communities, political municipalities, and school municipalities,

d. cultivating relations with the Church Foundation.

Autonomy

Parish councils regulate their affairs autonomously within the framework of superior law.

1 Parish congregations regulate their organization as well as the Parish by-

competences and tasks of their organs in the parish by-laws. laws

These require approval by the Synodal Council.

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182.60 Parish Regulations (PR)

Parish organs

Minutes

Publication

2 Insofar as parish congregations do not need to enact their own

regulations, they may decide to apply the Parish Regulations directly.

13 1 The organs of the parish are

a. the entirety of its eligible voters,

b. the parish assembly or, in its place, the parish parliament,

c. the church board,

d. the Financial Audit Commission.

2 If a parish parliament exists, a Management Audit Commission must be appointed in addition to the Financial Audit Commission.

1 Minutes shall be taken at parish assemblies and at meetings of parish parliaments and authorities.13

2 The minutes of the parish assembly shall be prepared within ten days. They shall contain at least the resolutions, election results, and any objections to the procedure.

3 The President shall review the minutes of the parish assembly for accuracy within ten days of their submission and attest to their correctness by signature. The minutes shall also be signed by the minute-taker.

4 The recording of minutes for meetings of parish parliaments and authorities shall be governed by their respective rules of procedure.13

1 Decisions of the Parish Assembly and the Parish Parliament, as well as generally binding decisions of the authorities, shall be published with notification of the appeal period. The publication may be limited to the designation of the decision and the setting of the deadline, with a note that the decision is available for inspection at the Parish Secretariat or can be viewed electronically.

2 The Parish Regulations shall designate the publication organ or regulate the competence for its designation.

3 In the absence of such a designation, the "forum" shall serve as the publication organ.

Parish Regulations (KGR) 182.60

The information and data protection are governed by the information and ecclesiastical regulations as well as by the state information and data protection legislation.

13 Official Secrecy and Release Therefrom

1 Members of authorities, bodies, commissions, and working groups are obliged to maintain secrecy regarding matters they have perceived in their official or service capacity, if there is a predominant ecclesiastical, public, or private interest in maintaining secrecy according to the Law on Information and Data Protection, or if a specific regulation so provides.

2 This obligation remains in effect after the termination of the official and service relationship.

3 The Supervisory Commission for Parishes and Special Purpose Associations is responsible for persons according to para. 1 for release from official secrecy.

**Part 2: Organisation**

**Section 1: Persons Entitled to Vote**

**A. General**

1 The electorate exercises its rights in the parish assembly and, where this is provided for, at the ballot box. Voting and electoral rights

2 Entitled to vote and stand for election is anyone who

a. is a member of the Roman Catholic Corporation,

b. has their domicile in the parish,

c. has reached the age of 18,

d. is in possession of Swiss citizenship or a settlement or residence permit, and

e. is not excluded from exercising political rights.

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Parish Regulations (KGR)

B. Ballot Box Votes and Elections

Mandatory

Ballot Box

Vote

Optional

Ballot Box

Vote

Subsequent

Ballot Box

Vote

13

1 The parish by-laws designate the matters on which the eligible voters are obliged to decide at the ballot box.

2 In parishes with a parish parliament, the eligible voters decide at the ballot box on the matters designated in the parish by-laws. The following are mandatorily subject to a ballot box vote (obligatory referendum)

a. total revisions of the parish by-laws,

b. partial revisions of the parish by-laws that concern the right to vote and elect or other powers of the eligible voters.

12 1 In parish communities with a parish parliament, the following may

demand an optional ballot vote

a. one third of the members of the parish parliament within

14 days of the resolution (parliamentary referendum),

b. a number of eligible voters determined by the parish regulations

within 60 days of the official publication

of the parliamentary resolution (popular referendum). The required

number of signatures may not exceed 3% of the eligible voters

and may also not be greater than 3000.

2 No optional ballot vote shall take place regarding

a. matters according to § 12 para. 2,

b. elections within the parish parliament,

c. the approval of the annual report,

d. negative resolutions of the parish parliament, with the exception

of rejected popular initiatives,

e. procedural decisions in the handling of parliamentary motions.

1 In the Parish Assembly, one third of the present eligible voters can demand that a decision be subsequently put to a vote at the ballot box.

2 Exceptions are:13

a. the determination of the budget and the tax rate (§ 22 para. 1 lit. b),

b. the approval of the annual financial statements (§ 22 para. 1 lit. c),

c. the approval of construction accounts from special resolutions (§ 22

para. 1 lit. c),

d. elections in the Parish Assembly,

e. procedural decisions when dealing with initiatives.

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Parish Regulation (KGR)

13 1 The following shall take place at the ballot box

182.60

Ballot Box Election

a. the election of the members of the Synod, provided that the parish

regulations do not stipulate a different arrangement in accordance

with Art. 21 para. 1 of the Church Order (KO)8. The election

takes place between November of the preceding year and May of

the year in which the Cantonal Council is elected.

b. the confirmation election of the pastors in accordance with the

regulations concerning the election of pastors and pastoral

commissioners, provided that the conditions for an uncontested

election are not met and the parish regulations do not stipulate a

different arrangement.

c. other elections designated in the parish regulations.

2 In parishes with a parish parliament, the following shall also take place

at the ballot box

a. the election of the members of the parish parliament,

b. the election of the members of the church board and its president,

c. the election of the pastors,

d. the election of the pastoral commissioners.

3 The parish regulations may provide for the election of the members of

the church board and its president by the parish parliament.

For the election procedure, the provisions of the Church Order apply, as well as, subsidiarily, the Law on Political Rights.4

The tasks of the election office and the election management are carried out by the political municipality.

Election Management Authority

C. Initiatives

13 1 Initiatives may be submitted by at least 15 eligible voters or by the number of eligible voters designated in the parish regulations, concerning matters subject to voting in the parish assembly or at the ballot box.

2 In parishes with a parish parliament, initiatives may be submitted by the number of eligible voters designated in the parish regulations, concerning matters subject to the mandatory or optional referendum.

3 The parish regulations may permit individual initiatives.

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182.60

Parish Regulations (KGR)

Form

Examination

Decision-

making

a. in the parish

assembly

b. at the ballot box

Processing

by the parish

parliament

4 The required number of signatures must not exceed 5% of eligible voters and must not be greater than 3000.

5 Initiatives are submitted to the church council.

1 Initiatives can be submitted as general suggestions or as fully-

drafted proposals.

2 The initiative petition, accompanied by the list of signatures, must contain the following

information

a. the title, text, and a justification for the initiative,

b. an unconditional withdrawal clause,

c. the name and address of the members of the initiative committee. This

committee must consist of at least three persons eligible to vote.

The Church Council decides on the validity of the initiative within three months of its submission.

1. If the initiative pursuant to Article 16 paragraph 1 concerns a matter that is subject to a vote in the parish assembly, the Church Board shall submit the initiative to the assembly for resolution within twelve months of its submission.

2. The Church Board shall propose whether the initiative should be approved or rejected. It may submit a counter-proposal to the initiative to the eligible voters.

3. A member of the initiative committee may verbally explain the initiative at the parish assembly.

4. The majority of the members of the initiative committee may withdraw the initiative until a resolution is passed at the parish assembly.

1 Relating to an Initiative under Article 16 para. 1

1 If an initiative under Article 16 para. 1 concerns a matter subject to a ballot vote, the Church Board shall arrange for the ballot vote within twelve months of its submission.13

2 The Church Board shall propose whether the initiative should be approved or rejected. It may submit a counter-proposal to the initiative to the voters.

3 The majority of the members of the initiative committee may withdraw the initiative until the ballot vote is ordered.

12 1 If the Church Board considers the initiative to be valid, it shall submit

a report to the Church Parish Parliament within nine months of its submission

and shall move a motion concerning its validity and content; otherwise, it shall move

a motion for its invalidation. It may submit a counter-proposal to the initiative.

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182.60

2 If the Church Parish Parliament approves the initiative without a counter-proposal,

the initiative request shall be deemed its own decision, subject to a referendum.

3 If the Church Parish Parliament approves the initiative and decides on a

counter-proposal, a ballot box vote shall take place on both proposals.

The Church Parish Parliament shall indicate that it prefers the counter-proposal to the initiative.

4 If the Church Parish Parliament rejects the initiative with or without a

counter-proposal, a ballot box vote shall take place.

Section 2: Church Parish Assembly

A. Composition and Powers

The Parish Assembly

**Composition**

The Parish Assembly is the assembly of those eligible to vote.

1 Powers of the Parish Assembly

The Parish Assembly is notably vested with the following powers

a. Enactment and amendment of the Parish Regulations,

b. Determination of the budget and the tax rate,

c. Approval of the annual accounts and construction accounts arising from special resolutions,

d. Authorization of expenditures in accordance with the provisions of the Parish Regulations,

e. Determination of the remuneration of executive body members,

f. Consideration of initiatives pursuant to § 19,

g. Approval of statutes and agreements of joint ventures pursuant to §§ 63 and 64,

h. Approval of agreements concerning territorial changes pursuant to

1. Voters may submit inquiries regarding matters of general interest to the Parish and request their answers at the Parish Assembly.

2. Inquiries must be submitted in writing to the Church Council at least ten working days before the Parish Assembly.

3. The Church Council shall answer the inquiry orally at the Parish Assembly.

4. The inquiring person may comment on the answer. A deliberation on the answer shall only take place if the Parish Regulations so provide. No resolution may be passed.

B. Preparation

Convening of the

Parish Assembly

a.

b.

The Parish Assembly convenes

a. by order of the Church Council,

b. as a result of a previously decided adjournment,

c. when at least 15 eligible voters or the number of eligible voters

stated in the Parish Regulations demand it.

1 Every meeting, urgent cases excepted, must be publicly announced at least four weeks in advance, specifying the agenda items. The motions, accounts, and files designated for consideration must be made available for inspection by eligible voters two weeks before the meeting.

2 The parish assembly should be scheduled at a time that allows the majority of eligible voters to attend.

Announcement

Meeting

Management

C. Execution

The President of the Church Council leads

the Church Assembly.

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1 The President ensures the maintenance of peace and order in the assembly.

**2 He or she may remove disturbers of the peace and close a meeting if order cannot be restored.**

**3 Visual and audio recordings are only permitted with the approval of the President.**

**Handling of Peace and Order**

The Parish Assembly elects openly, by relative majority of votes, the required number of vote counters. These may not be members of the Church Council or the Auditing Committee, nor may they have participated in the preparation of a matter, nor may they be candidates for an office to be filled.

Vote Counters

1 The President asks the assembly whether any non-voting persons are present.

**Determination of Voting Rights**

**2 If this is the case, they are requested to remove themselves from the assembly or to take the seats designated for observers.**

**3 In case of dispute, the President decides on their voting eligibility based on the voter register.**

The meeting chair provides information to entitled voters upon request about a person's eligibility to vote.

Voter Register

D. Motions

1 The Parish Assembly decides on the proposals of the Church Council. The proposals are presented by a member of the Church Council or a rapporteur.

Right to Submit Motions by Authorities

2 The Church Council may submit two proposals on the same matter, as well as contingent proposals on individual points of a draft. It designates its preferred proposal.

3 The Church Council may request a consultative vote to clarify fundamental questions. The result of the vote is not legally binding for the Church Council.

1 Every voting person present is entitled to make procedural motions as well as motions for the rejection or amendment of the subject matter under discussion. These motions may be justified. Counter-motions may be made.

Right of Motion for Voting Members

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182.60 Parish Regulations (KGR)

Re-

submission

of a motion

Deliberation

Voting

procedure

Open

ballot

Secret

ballot

2 Procedural motions concern the conduct of the negotiations. These

include in particular the following motions

a. Close of debate,

b. secret election and ballot,

c. postponement of an item on the agenda,

d. referral back,

e. deletion or change in the order of agenda items,

f. reconsideration,

g. limitation of speaking time.

The Church Council is entitled to resubmit a motion rejected or refused by the Church Assembly to a later Church Assembly.

E. Deliberation and Voting

1 Every person entitled to vote has the right to speak on the subject under discussion.

2 The deliberation will continue until no one else requests to speak or the parish meeting decides to conclude the deliberation.

1. Motions regarding points of order shall be voted on immediately. A dis-

cussion generally does not take place.

2. Mutually exclusive motions shall be put to a vote against each other. The motion with the fewest votes shall be eliminated. The procedure shall be repeated until only one motion remains. This motion shall be voted on in the final vote.

1 Announcement of Subject and Order of Votes

Before the first vote on a matter, the President announces the subject and the order of the votes.

**2 Determination of Result; Repeat Vote**

He or she determines whether the majority of voters has accepted or rejected the motion. In case of doubt, the vote shall be repeated and the votes counted.

**3 President's Vote; Casting Vote**

The President does not vote. In the event of a tie, he or she casts the deciding vote.

1 A quarter of the eligible voters present may demand a secret ballot. It is excluded during the purification of the motion in the case of mutually exclusive motions.

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Parish Council Regulations (KGR)

182.60

2 Voting is done on the blank ballot papers issued.

3 The President does not vote. In the event of a tie, he or she casts the deciding vote. The Parish Regulations may provide for a different arrangement.

1 Election Procedure

Subject to the Regulations on the Election of Pastors and Parish Representatives, the following provisions apply to the election procedure13

a. Eligible persons proposed by the voters are available for election. Nominations can be made before or during the assembly.

b. The election proceeds as follows

1. Voting is open.

2. The nominated candidates are called in alphabetical order.

3. The person who has received more than half of the valid votes is elected.

4. If more persons are elected than there are positions to be filled, the persons with the lowest number of votes are eliminated from the election.

5. The President does not vote. In the event of a tie, she or he casts the deciding vote.

2 If fewer persons are elected than there are positions to be filled, a second ballot shall take place according to the provisions of paragraph 1.

3 Elections generally take place in the first half of the same year as the elections of the political municipality.

12 1 If the members of the Synod are elected by the parish assembly, the election procedure is governed by § 38 para. 1. The election takes place between November of the preceding year and May of the year in which the Cantonal Council is elected.

2 If a second ballot takes place, the person who has received more votes is elected. § 38 para. 1 lit. b Ziff. 3 does not apply.

**Election of the Members of the Synod**

1 The parish regulations may provide for secret ballots for individual Confidential Ballot

election matters. A secret ballot is always held if one quarter of the

voters present request one.

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182.60

Parish Regulations (KGR)

Composition

Public Nature

of Deliberations

Elections

a. Election

procedure,

eligibility

requirements,

and termination

of term of office

b. Election

proposals

c. Election of

employees

2 Votes are cast on the blank ballots issued. The parish regulations

may provide for the use of printed election proposals.

3 The President also votes.

4 For all other matters, the election is governed by § 38.

Section 3: Parish Parliament12

12 1 The church parishes may introduce a church parish parliament instead of the church parish assembly.

2 The church parish regulations determine the number of members.

12 1 The deliberations of the Parish Council are public.

**2 The Parish Council may exclude the public from the discussion of individual matters if overriding ecclesiastical, public or private interests, in accordance with the Information and Data Protection Act, so require.**

12 1 The enfranchised voters elect the members of the Parish Parliament

in accordance with the procedure for majority elections at the ballot box as per

the Law on Political Rights4.

2 Eligible for membership is any person who, at the time of the election, is

entitled to vote and eligible for election in accordance with § 10 para. 2. There is no obligation to accept office.

3 The term of office ends upon moving out of the parish.

4 In renewal elections, silent election is excluded. By-elections are conducted

as silent elections, provided that the conditions according to the Law on Political Rights are met.

5 The parish may be divided into several electoral districts by the parish

bylaws.

12 1 Renewal elections and, to the extent that the conditions for

silent election are not met, by-elections are conducted with printed

nomination proposals.**

**2 Persons proposed for election shall declare on the nomination

proposal, by signature, whether they are employed by the respective parish

as an employee in the service of that parish.**

12 1 At most one-third of the members of the Parish Assembly

may be in an employment relationship with the parish.

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Parish Regulations (KGR)

182.60

2 The electoral authority shall inform the elected persons of the

condition pursuant to para. 1 when notifying them of their election.

3 If, after the expiry of the deadline for declining the election, the condition in

para. 1 is not met, the election of those employees who have reached the absolute majority and are employed by the parish, with the

lowest number of votes, shall be invalid. If other persons have reached the absolute

majority, they shall move up in the order of the results achieved.

4 If not all seats can be filled in the procedure pursuant to para. 3, a second ballot shall be held for the vacant seats. Para. 3 shall

apply mutatis mutandis.

12 1 If a person declines the election, the person who achieved the best result among those elected but excluded as supernumerary shall be deemed not elected to the occupied positions.

**2 If a seat cannot be filled, a second ballot shall take place.**

12 1 The Parish Parliament shall adopt Rules of Procedure.

2 The Rules of Procedure shall regulate, in particular

a. the parliamentary committees and their competences,

b. the duty of recusal of parliamentary members,

c. the parliamentary instruments,

d. the deliberations, votes, and elections.

3 If the Rules of Procedure do not contain corresponding provisions,

then

a. the duty of recusal shall be governed by § 51,

b. the parliamentary instruments shall be governed by Art. 29 para. 1 of the KO,

c. the voting procedure shall be governed by §§ 36 and 37,

d. the election procedure shall be governed by § 38.

12 1 If the members of the Synod are elected by the parish parliament,

their election shall take place upon proposal of the competent parliamentary

commission.

2 The election procedure shall be governed by § 38 para. 1 lit. b. The

election shall take place between November of the preceding year and May

of the year in which the Cantonal Council is elected.

3 If a second ballot takes place, the person who has received more

votes shall be elected. § 38 para. 1 lit. b Ziff. 3 shall not apply.

regulation

Election of

the members

of the Synod

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182.60 Parish Regulations (KGR)

Rights of the

Church Council

12 1 The Church Council submits business to the Parish Parliament for

decision-making.

2 It has the right of proposal or the right to comment on all business of the Parish Parliament.

3 It participates in the meetings of the Parish Parliament with a consultative vote and the right of proposal.

4 It may have its proposals represented by a member in the preliminary committees of the Parish Parliament.

Eligibility Requirements

and Termination

of Office

Section 4: Authorities 13

A. Eligibility and Term of Office

13 1 Eligible for election as a member of an authority is any person who, at the time of the

election, is entitled to vote and to be elected according to § 10 para. 2. There is no

obligation to accept office.

2 The pastor, the parish representative, and employees of the

parish cannot be members of an authority of the parish that employs

them. This provision also applies to spouses

and registered partners of

parish representatives, as well as to persons who are in a

de facto cohabitation with parish representatives.

3 For election to the Audit Commission, the

parish regulations may provide for residency in another Roman Catholic parish

of the Canton of Zurich instead of residency in the parish.

4 The term of office ends with the abandonment of the residency required for election.

The parish regulations may permit members of authorities

to complete their term of office if they lose eligibility due to abandoning the required

residency.

5 Members of authorities who have in the meantime abandoned the required

residency according to the parish regulations may be

re-elected if the parish regulations so provide and

they continue to reside in another Roman Catholic parish

in the Canton of Zurich. This does not apply to the president

of the authority.

Incompatibility

1 Persons may not simultaneously be members of authorities if they are

a. Spouses and registered partners;

b. Parents, children, and their spouses or registered partners;

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Parish Regulations (KGR)

182.60

c. Siblings and their spouses or registered partners.

2 Persons in a de facto life partnership are equivalent to spouses or registered partners.

12. Acceptance and Refusal of Election

An election shall be deemed accepted if the elected person does not decline the election in writing to the electoral authority within five days of notification.

1. The Constitution of the Authority and the Assumption of Office by Members

The constitution of the authority and the assumption of office by its members shall take place as soon as the President and the majority of the members have been validly elected.

2. Every member is obliged to undertake the tasks assigned to them by the authority. The Parish Regulations may designate areas of responsibility that the President cannot be obliged to assume.

3. Upon their constitution, the authorities shall regulate the deputies for their members.

4. If the Church Council or the Audit Committee has not constituted itself by September 1st of the election year, or if office has not been assumed by this date, the supervisory authority shall take the necessary measures.

1 The term of office for authorities is four years. It begins with their constitution. At the same time, the term of office of the previous body ends.

2 The parish regulations may stipulate a term limit for members of authorities.

1 The Supervisory Commission for Parish and Special-Purpose Associations must be informed of every change in office.

2 It ensures that newly elected members are introduced to their duties.

3 The handover of office takes place in the presence of the outgoing member or their representative. If there is a change regarding finances, the secretarial duties (Aktuariat), and archive responsibility, a representative of the Supervisory Commission for Parish and Special-Purpose Associations also participates.

4 A record (protocol) is made of the process, which must provide information, in particular, about the documents handed over to the new member and, in the case of finances, about the assets and liabilities. It must be signed by all participating persons and kept in the authority's archive.

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Parish Regulations (KGR)

Early Dismissal

By-elections

Meetings

Decision-making

Votes and Elections

1 Loss of Eligibility and Departure from Office

Whoever loses their eligibility for election and departs from the authority, shall inform the Supervisory Commission for Parishes and Special Purpose Associations. Whoever wishes to resign prematurely from office for other reasons shall request premature dismissal from the Supervisory Commission for Parishes and Special Purpose Associations.

**2 Premature Dismissal**

The request for premature dismissal shall be granted, provided that the affected authority consents thereto and the functionality of the authority is ensured.

1 If vacancies arise during the term of office, a by-election shall be held.

2 No by-election shall take place if the regular election of the authority occurs within six months and its functioning capability remains ensured.

B. Convening and Decision-making

1 Authorities convene at the invitation of the President or at the request of at least one-third of their members.

2 The pastor and the parish representative attend the meetings of the Church Board in an advisory capacity. Substitution is only permitted in cases of longer absences with the consent of the President. Guests and experts may be invited to the meeting for specific agenda items.

3 The parish regulations may provide for the participation of other parish employees.

4 The agenda items shall be communicated to the members before the meeting.

5 Members are obliged to attend the meetings. The President shall issue the necessary admonitions to members who are negligent in attending meetings. If these remain fruitless, the Supervisory Commission for Parishes and Special Purpose Associations shall be informed of this fact.

A public authority can make decisions if the majority of its members are present.

1 Every member is obliged to cast their vote in ballots and elections. Voting is open. The President votes along. In the event of a tie, the chairperson's vote is decisive.

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2 For the rest, §§ 35, 36 and 38 apply mutatis mutandis to the voting order and the voting and election procedure.

Circular resolutions

If urgent matters cannot be handled in time by the Presiding Authority, the President may decide and make decisions in their place or order a decision-making process by circular resolution. The President informs the Authority at the next meeting about any presidential decisions made. Presidential decisions and circular resolutions are recorded in the minutes.

1 Recusal Obligation for Authority Members

Members of an authority must recuse themselves from deliberations and decision-making if they appear personally biased in the matter, in particular

a. if they have a personal interest in the matter,

b. if they are related by blood or marriage in the direct line or in the collateral line up to the third degree, or are connected through marriage, engagement, registered partnership, de facto cohabitation, or adoption with a party,

c. if they could be biased for other reasons, particularly due to special friendship or personal animosity with a party or their representative.

**2** If recusal is disputed, the authority shall decide, excluding the member concerned.

**3** There is no obligation to recuse oneself when dealing with the budget and with generally binding decisions.

The deliberations of authorities are not public.

C. Transfer of Tasks, Commissions, and Experts

Exclusion of the

Public

1 A public authority may delegate tasks to individual or multiple members of the authority for independent execution.

2 The parish regulations may stipulate that tasks be delegated to employees of the parish for independent execution.

A public authority may appoint advisory commissions or consult experts for the preliminary deliberation of its business.

Advisory

Commissions

and Experts

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182.60

D. Church Administration

Parish Regulations (KGR)

Organization

Powers

Duties

Actuarial Office

Auditing

Commission

a. Composition

1 The Church Council consists of five members, including the President.

2 The parish regulations may provide for a higher number of members.

Re

1 The Church Council (Kirchenpflege) has, in particular, the following powers

a. the execution of the tasks assigned to it by the Church Parish Regulations (Kirchgemeindeordnung),

b. the management of the affairs of the Church Parish, insofar as no other authority or body is competent,

c. the preliminary deliberation of matters to be brought before the Church Parish Assembly (Kirchgemeindeversammlung) or the Church Parish Parliament (Kirchgemeindeparlament) and the submission of proposals thereon,

d. the making of appointments assigned to it,

e. the preparation of the budget for the Church Parish Assembly or the Church Parish Parliament, as well as the keeping of the accounts of the Church Parish,

f. the authorization of expenditures according to the provisions of the Church Parish Regulations,

g. the adoption of rules of procedure.

2 It represents the Church Parish externally.

The Church Council appoints from its members the persons responsible for the individual areas of responsibility.

1 The Church Council elects a secretary.

The president may not hold this office.

2 The secretary does not have to be a member of the authority.

E. Audit and Business Review Commission13

13 1 The parish appoints an auditing committee of three members. The parish

regulations may provide for a higher number of members.

2 In parishes with a parish parliament, the parliament elects the members from among its own.

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Parish Regulations (KGR)

182.60

1 The Auditing Commission is responsible for the b. Duties

supervision of the financial management of the church parish. It is tasked with the examination

of the financial management and accounting system from a financial policy

and financial technical perspective, as well as with assessing financial

appropriateness.

2 It examines the budget and the annual financial statements. Furthermore, it examines all

transactions of financial significance that are decided upon by the voters

or the Church Parish Parliament.

12 1 Parish communities with a parish parliament are obligated to conduct a business audit.

2 For this purpose, the parliament elects a Business Audit Commission from among its members, consisting of five members. The parish community regulations may stipulate a higher number of members.

3 The business audit can also be performed by an Audit and Business Audit Commission. This commission consists of five members. The parish community regulations may stipulate a higher number of members.

a. Composition

12 1 The Business Auditing Commission exercises political b. Duties

control over the management of the parish.

2 In particular, it examines the business report and the matters to be

submitted to Parliament, unless another commission is responsible for them.

3 The audit is conducted with regard to legality and expediency.

12 Restriction on the Disclosure of Documents

The Church Council restricts the disclosure of documents and the provision of information insofar as an overriding public or private interest so requires.

13 1 The financial audit of the parish budget Expertise

must be led by a person possessing the necessary expertise. In parishes with a parish parliament, an external audit body in accordance with para. 2 must be appointed for this purpose.

2 If, in parishes without a parish parliament, no member of the Audit Committee fulfills the requirement according to para. 1 sentence 1, an external audit body must be appointed according to the provisions of the Financial Regulations for Parishes10.

3 The Church Council and the Audit Committee determine the audit body with concurring resolutions. In case of disagreement, the Synodal Council decides.

4 The Synodal Council sets out the requirements for expertise in a circular.

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Parish Regulations (KGR)

Independence

1 The members of the Audit Commission must be independent both in fact and in appearance.

**2 They may neither hold another office in the church parish nor be in a contractual relationship with the church parish.**

**3 They exercise their office free from instructions from the church parish.**

**4 Paras. 1 and 2 are not applicable to members of the audit and business review commissions in church parishes with a church parish parliament.12**

**Special Purpose Association**

**Part 3: Collaboration**

**Article 13**

1. The parishes may form special purpose associations with their own legal personality for the joint fulfillment of one or more tasks.

2. The statutes of the special purpose association shall regulate at least the following matters

a. participating parishes,

b. type and scope of the tasks,

c. organization,

d. decision-making powers of the bodies,

e. financing and cost distribution,

f. supervision,

g. termination of cooperation.

3. The statutes of the special purpose association shall determine which provisions are deemed fundamental.

4. The enactment and fundamental amendments to the statutes of the special purpose association require the consent of the parish assemblies or the parish parliaments of all parishes. For other amendments, the consent of the majority of the parishes is sufficient.

5. The enactment and amendments to the statutes of the special purpose association require the approval of the Synodal Council. The Synodal Council shall examine their legality.

6. The duties of the electoral office and the election management in elections and popular votes shall be performed by the political municipality designated in the statutes of the special purpose association.

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**Parish Regulations (KGR)**

182.60

12 1 Parishes may, for the joint fulfillment of one or more tasks,

a. establish a private law legal entity,

b. participate in an existing private law legal entity,

c. transfer one or more tasks to an existing private law legal entity.

2 The cooperation shall be governed by a contract within the meaning of § 64 para. 2. The contract shall specify which points are considered fundamental.

3 A joint supervisory body may be provided, in which each parish is represented.

4 The competence for concluding and amending the contract, as well as the approval procedure, shall be governed by § 63 para. 4 and 5.

Legal Entities

Under Private Law

1. Contractual Collaboration

1 For the joint fulfillment of one or more tasks, the parish councils may conclude agreements.

2 The agreements shall regulate at least the following points

a. participating parish councils,

b. legal form of collaboration,

c. type and scope of tasks,

d. financing and cost distribution,

e. supervision,

f. termination of collaboration.

3 The agreement shall define which points are considered fundamental.

4 Decisions regarding the conclusion and fundamental amendments of agreements shall be made by the parish assemblies or parish parliaments of the participating parish councils. In other cases, the parish council regulations may stipulate the competence of the church board.13

Part 4: Changes in the Composition and Territory of Parish Councils

Section 1: Changes in Composition 12

13 1 The parish churches are listed in a directory for the Church Ordinance.

Changes in

Inventory

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Parish Church Regulations (KGR)

Merger of

Parish Churches

a. Initiative for

the Examination

of Mergers

b. Merger Agreement

c. Procedure

d. Support

2 The formation, merger, and dissolution of parish churches occur by resolution of the Synod upon request of the affected parish churches to the Synodal Council or upon motion of the Synodal Council.

12 1** An initiative in the form of a general suggestion can be used by the Church Board to request the examination of mergers.

**2** If the initiative is accepted, the Church Board is obligated to examine mergers and to inform the Church General Assembly or the Church Parish Parliament about the matter.

**3** Furthermore, the procedure is governed by the provisions regarding the handling of initiatives according to §§ 16 et seq.

12 1 Parish churches intending to merge

**shall conclude a contract.**

**2 This contract shall regulate, in particular:**

**a. whether a new parish church will be formed, or whether one parish church**

**will absorb other parish churches or parts of parish churches,**

**b. the transitional arrangements,**

**c. the transfer of legal relationships,**

**d. the creation of a transitional authority, which may submit proposals**

**regarding the parish church regulations and the budget.**

12 1** The voters of each participating parish decide on the merger agreement. This requires the approval of the Synodal Council, which reviews it for legality. The approval is a prerequisite for the agreement to come into force.

**2** The totality of voters of the participating parishes decides on the parish regulations of the new parish.

12 1 The Corporation may, upon application, support mergers of

parishes with consultation and financial contributions, if the merger

a. results in a suitably delimited parish,

b. takes into account the interests of other parishes and the Corporation.

2 The Corporation may provide the following financial contributions

a. contribution to the project costs for preparing a merger,

b. contributions to compensate for losses in financial equalisation for a maximum of four years.

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3 The calculation of the contribution according to para. 2 lit. b takes into account

the difference between the financial equalisation contributions paid to the parishes involved before the merger

and those that would have been granted to the parishes involved under the assumption of their merger.

4 The Synodal Council regulates the amount of the contributions in a regulation.

Section 2: Changes in Territory

2 It conducts the following elections

a. New election of pastors,

b. Election of parish representatives,

c. Election of the members of the Church Council and its president, insofar

as the parish regulations do not provide for a ballot box election,

d. Election of the members of the Auditing Committee and its president,

insofar as the parish regulations do not provide for a ballot box election,

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Parish Regulations (KGR)

e.12 Election of the members of the Synod, if provided for in the parish

regulations.

3 The parish assembly is responsible for the confirmatory election of pastors,

if provided for in the parish regulations. 12

Right of inquiry

1 Parish councils and special purpose associations are subject to the general supervision of the Supervisory Commission in accordance with Art. 42b KO and the supreme supervision of the Synodal Council. The supervision of the District Council according to § 12 para. 2 of the Church Law in the direct application of state law remains reserved.13

2 The Supervisory Commission for Parish Councils and Special Purpose Associations ensures, in particular, that the parish council authorities and their employees, as well as the organs of the special purpose associations, fulfil their duties in accordance with legal provisions and in the spirit of consensus.

Supervision of

Parish Councils

and Special Purpose

Associations

1 The Supervisory Commission for Ecclesiastical Parishes and Special- Purpose

Associations conducts visitations of ecclesiastical parishes and special-purpose associations every two years. Extraordinary visitations in the event of grievances remain reserved.

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Ecclesiastical Parish Regulation (EPR)

2 It particularly reviews

a. the archives, minutes, registers, and directories,

b. compliance with the employment regulations of the corporation,

c. compliance with the provisions for the expert and independent audit of financial management and accounting,

d. the annual financial statements to be submitted annually. It conducts sample checks,

e.12 compliance with safety regulations and data protection guidelines, particularly in the IT sector.

1 The Supervisory Commission for Parishes and Ecclesiastical Corporate Bodies annually reports to the Synodal Council on the exercise of its supervisory duties.

2 If problems are identified in the relationship between the Church Council and the Parish Priest, or the person commissioned to oversee the parish, the Supervisory Commission informs the Vicar General for the Canton of Zurich.

The Supervisory Commission for Parishes and Special-

Purpose Associations intervenes if

a. there are indications of clear legal violations, or

b. the proper management or administrative activity is otherwise endangered.

1 The Supervisory Commission for Parishes and Associations of Municipalities may, in particular

a. issue directives;

b. take precautionary measures;

c. revoke unlawful orders, resolutions, and decrees;

d. issue substitute orders and take substitute actions;

e. temporarily suspend a member of an authority who repeatedly or seriously violates official duties, or remove them from office, if this is in the public interest.

2 The Synodal Council reserves the right to withdraw a parish's right to self-administration and to appoint a governing body, if the proper fulfillment of duties cannot be otherwise ensured. The Synodal Council decides upon the request of the Supervisory Commission for Parishes and Associations of Municipalities or within the scope of its general oversight.

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Parish Regulation (KGR)

182.60

12. Cost Imposition when a Corporate Supervisory Authority Takes Measures

If a corporate supervisory authority takes measures, the costs of the proceedings and the measures shall as a rule be imposed on the supervised organization.

**Section 2: Legal Protection**

1 If tasks are assigned for independent execution – Reassessment

reassessment may be requested

a. by the entire authority in the case of orders and decrees from members

or committees of an authority,

b. by the assigning authority in the case of orders from employees

of the parish.

2 Participation in the decision subject to reassessment does not constitute

a ground for recusal.

3 The possibility of requesting reassessment must be indicated in the decision.

4 The request for reassessment must be submitted in writing within 30 days

of notification. It must contain a motion and a statement of reasons.

5 The running of the deadline and the submission of the request have

suspensive effect.

6 An appeal may be filed against the new assessment.

Acts issued on the basis of these regulations can be challenged

by appeal to the Appeals Commission in accordance with Art. 47 KO8.

The jurisdiction of the Synodal Council according to Art. 41 KO8 remains reserved.

1. **Right to Appeal**

Anyone who is affected by the order and has a legitimate interest in its annulment or amendment is entitled to appeal.

2. Parish councils and special-purpose associations are entitled to appeal if

a. they are affected by the order like a private person and have a legitimate interest in its annulment or amendment,

b. they claim the violation of guarantees granted to them by the cantonal or federal constitution,

c. their legitimate interests are otherwise violated in the fulfillment of statutory duties, in particular in the event of a significant intervention in their financial or administrative assets.

3. In matters concerning voting rights, any person entitled to vote in the matter concerned has the right to appeal. If it is complained that regulations concerning political rights have been violated within the framework of a parish meeting, only a person who participated in the meeting and complained about the violation there can lodge an appeal.

The appeal procedure is governed by Article 48 of the KO8.

1 If the appeal concerns a ballot box vote or a ballot box election, the Appeals Commission may carry out recounts or have them carried out.

2 The repetition of a ballot box vote or a ballot box election will only be ordered if there are grounds for assuming that the irregularity has influenced the outcome of the vote or election with a certain probability.

1 If a decision of the voters, the parish assembly, or the parish parliament has been annulled or amended in an appeals procedure, the following body decides whether the parish itself should pursue legal remedies:13

a. in parishes with a parish parliament, the parliament,

b. in parishes with a parish assembly, the Church Council after hearing the Auditing Commission.

2 The decision can be made subsequently if the Church Council has already pursued the legal remedy.

Part 6: Transitional and Final Provisions

1 Parish communities and special purpose associations shall make the necessary adjustments to their legal framework within four years of the entry into force of these regulations.

2 Members of authorities shall remain in office until the end of their term of office under the previous law.

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Parish Community Regulations (PCR)

182.60

This Regulation shall enter into force after the expiry of the referendum period

by decision of the Synodal Council².

1 OS 72, 460.

2 Entry into force: 1 January 2018.

3 LS 101.

4 LS 161.

5 LS 161.1.

6 LS 170.4.

7 LS 180.1.

8 LS 182.10.

9 LS 182.22.

10 LS 182.63.

11 SR 101.

12 Inserted by decision of 1 December 2022 (OS 78, 442; ABI 2022-12-16). In

force since 1 January 2024.

13 Version according to decision of 1 December 2022 (OS 78, 442; ABI 2022-12-16). In

force since 1 January 2024.

14 Repealed by decision of 1 December 2022 (OS 78, 442; ABI 2022-12-16). In

force since 1 January 2024.

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