Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche des Kantons Basel-Stadt

Me and the Church

How do I become a member of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt?

By descent

• If the parents are members of the Evangelical Reformed Church
• If the mother is a member of the Evangelical Reformed Church
• If the parents are married, if the father is a member of the Evangelical Reformed Church and the mother does not belong to any other church

By moving to the area

• If you register with the canton as "Evangelical Reformed" when you move to Basel

   

By joining

• If you join our church at a later date

How do I join the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt?

By submitting a declaration of membership to the parish pastor or the church administration.

You will find the membership form as a PDF at the bottom of this page.

When does membership in the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt end?

Your membership of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt ends when you move away from the canton or by submitting a written declaration of resignation to the church administration. Your obligation to pay church tax ends on the last day of the tax period preceding your resignation.

How many members does the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt have?

Our church has around 23,941 members. They are divided into seven parishes, which are spread geographically across the entire canton.

What does membership mean? Why is it important?

Our church has a mission to bear witness to God's peace in the spirit of the Gospel in word and deed. Its members support this mission both ideologically and materially. They help to preserve an important cultural root of our society. They also support the church's social engagement and the preservation of historical buildings.

What are the specific benefits of membership in the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt?

In our church, you can live and shape your faith in freedom. Church life offers a wide range of opportunities for this: in the communal celebration of worship and Christian holidays, in devotions and meditations, in adult education, in work with children, young people, and the elderly, and in social welfare work. You can engage with other people in discussing religious, spiritual, personal, and social issues. The point of reference for this is the biblical and Christian tradition. It provides important inspiration for shaping our lives and our society.

The church offers support at various important stages of life and can draw on a rich fund of ritual forms: at baptism as a celebration of the beginning of life, at confirmation in the process of growing up, at marriage as a blessing of the relationship between two people, and at farewells. For people in difficult life situations, our church's pastors offer pastoral care and counseling, whether in the parish, in the hospital, or in various counseling centers.

Numerous events in the parishes provide regular opportunities for interpersonal contact. You can find out about the various services on offer in the church's publication, the Kirchenbote, which is delivered to all Reformed households, or here. Information on church services can also be found in the Friday edition of the Basler Zeitung.

How can I get involved in the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt?
Although our church employs a number of paid staff, it is mainly supported by the work of volunteers who are involved in the parish council, organize events, help organize church services, work in the social sector, and much more. You also support the work of the church with your church tax.

How much does membership in the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt cost?
The tax rate for our church is determined annually. It is currently eight percent of the state income tax.

How can I get involved in our church as a non-member?
Those who cannot or do not want to identify with the church as a whole, but consider certain tasks of the church worthy of support, can also donate or help as non-members. The church's social commitment relies on volunteers.
 

Charitable ecumenical foundations of the church:

»Basel Foundation for Diaconia
»Basel Foundation for Church Monument Preservation

Individual parishes or specialist departments of the church can be supported directly.

Organization of the ERK-BS
The Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt sees itself as part of the worldwide Christian community. "The basis of its teaching is Jesus Christ and his gospel" – as stated in the church constitution. It is part of the Reformed Church's self-image that its members "form a personal conviction based on reflection and experience." The church is therefore not a preconceived doctrine, but is constantly being renewed through the living example of its members. The three central pillars of a Christian church are proclamation, social welfare, and community.

Independent church

In 1529, the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt was founded with the help of the Basel reformer Johannes Oekolampad. For almost 400 years, it was the state church. Since 1911, it has been independent as a public corporation with its own tax authority.

Reformer

The Basel reformer Johannes Oekolampad (1482–1531) stands at the cradle of the Reformed Church in our canton. Even today, we can still hear the passionate call for inner renewal in his sermons: "The exaltation of the church does not consist in gold and silver, in the lavish splendor of this world, but in faith, in perseverance, in love, in the power of works, in living deeds, in gifts and grace."

Architectural monuments

The visible symbols of the Protestant Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt include 85 churches, parish houses, and sexton's dwellings. Among them are numerous architectural monuments that shape the face of our city: these include the cathedral, the landmark of Basel, the inner-city churches of the Basel West parish, St. Theodor, and numerous churches and parish halls in the outer districts.

Structure

With around 31,400 members, the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt has a population equivalent to that of a small Swiss canton: it would rank between Glarus and Appenzell Ausserrhoden. The comparison with a canton is no coincidence: in its structure and functioning, the Evangelical Reformed Church is modeled on a democratic state.

Anyone who has been baptized in the church or has joined it is a member of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt. Membership is terminated by death, moving away, or written resignation.

The church is divided into seven parishes, each of which is led by a church council. The church's parliament is the synod. It consists of 80 women and men (synod members) who are elected for four years by all church members eligible to vote. The synod in turn elects the nine-member church council, the executive body, which corresponds to a cantonal government. The church council is responsible for the cantonal church services and the church administration. These departments, offices, and services correspond to the administration and departments of a canton.

The church constitution gives a special status to the official assemblies of two professional groups: the elected pastors form the so-called "pastoral chapter," while employees with tasks in the social sector belong to the "diaconal chapter." Previously, the constitution only referred to the "pastoral chapter." For several years now, the two "chapters" have had equal rights, which is unique in the Swiss church landscape.

Church life permeates many invisible areas of our canton. Institutions such as the Association for Drug Assistance, the Association for Street Work, and the Street Kitchen were created on the initiative of the church.

 

Church administration

The church administration is the service center of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt. It is located in the Münsterhof and in the Bischofshof, the former seat of the Bishop of Basel, next to the cathedral. A total of 20 employees work there, mainly on a part-time basis.

Tax department

The tax department looks after members who are liable for tax and advises them on church tax issues and all matters relating to their membership. Due to its recognition under public law by the state, the Evangelical Reformed Church is entitled to levy church taxes on its members. The contribution depends on their income. It is recalculated each year and has remained unchanged for several years at 8 percent of cantonal income tax.
 

Accounting and Finance

The Accounting Department is responsible for planning, budgeting, and preparing the annual financial statements by cost type and function. It also records the accounting transactions of church foundations and prepares annual financial statements.

The Accounting Department is responsible for the proper accounting of cash transactions. It prepares the annual financial statements according to cost types and functions. It is also responsible for preparing the budget and financial planning. In addition to the annual financial statements of the ERK, there are several church foundations and fund accounts. The Accounting Department also supports the parishes or other church-related organizations as needed. The department has financial accounting, payroll accounting, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. It also monitors the church's finances.

 

Human resources

The payroll accounting department is responsible for paying the salaries of employees, most of whom are part-time, as well as for paying pensions. Employment contracts are drawn up by the human resources department.

The personnel coordinator is available to answer personnel questions. As a recognized mediator of the Swiss Umbrella Association for Mediation, she also mediates in conflicts.

 

Property management

The property management department manages and administers all church buildings and properties in terms of administration and planning in accordance with the guidelines of the church council.

The property management department works closely with the building administrators and the accounting department of the church administration, but it is also in constant contact with the church councils and the responsible member of the church council. The property management department provides the church council with a basis for decision-making for the medium and long-term planning of the property portfolio.

The building administration, which works directly with the church administration in many areas, is not listed here for organizational reasons.