Reformed Church of Friburg Introduces Code of Conduct and Addresses Pastoral Shortage

The Reformed Church of Friburg is taking steps to enhance its personal integrity protection system. Synodal advisor Benjamin Stupan announced that the church is currently revising this system, with plans to introduce a training course in French on 13 November in Biel and another in German on 17 November in Guin. A working group will also be established in January 2027 to develop a code of conduct. Stupan emphasized that the training will equip participants to recognize and respond to situations that may breach personal integrity, using practical examples provided by experts from MachtRaum, a center specializing in preventing abuse of power.

The training is mandatory for pastors, deacons, chaplains, catechists, and volunteers who work with vulnerable individuals. From 2027, at least one basic course will be offered annually. The code of conduct, which is expected to be introduced later in the year, will complement these efforts. Stupan described these measures as two key components of the church’s protection system.

In addition to strengthening its integrity protections, the Synod addressed the issue of a potential shortage of pastors in German-speaking Switzerland. The Reformed Churches anticipate an imminent failure in pastoral succession, attributed to a decline in theology students. To address this, theologian Thomas Schaufelberger, secretary of the Conference of the Concordat Signatory Churches, proposed engaging individuals who have not completed theological studies as suffragans. These individuals would undergo short training and close supervision before being appointed.

The target group for this initiative includes those aged 55 and over with a university bachelor’s degree or HES qualification. A selection process will assess their skills, personality, and communication abilities, with training equivalent to 60 ECTS at the University of Basel or Zurich. The commitment is up to 10 years, and Schaufelberger stressed that this is a temporary measure to address the current shortage. The initiative is expected to last no longer than two years and will be cost-neutral in the long term if the number of trained individuals remains limited.

Tünde Lamboley, synodal adviser of the EFRF, also addressed the topic of membership and contributions to the Community of Churches in Mission (Ceeva), which includes 36 churches across 25 countries on four continents. The EFRF, along with other Roman Catholic churches, is a founding member of Ceeva, which aims to support churches in the global south and north through exchange and mission efforts.

Source: Read the original report (translated from French)