Society - Church liberalizes rules for baptisms and communion
Against the backdrop of falling membership figures, the Protestant Church in the Rhineland is liberalizing the previously strict rules for church services, baptisms and communion. Many church districts have submitted requests for changes because they believe that the current rules no longer properly reflect the reality of life, said Church Vice President Johann Weusmann in Düsseldorf on Thursday.
In future, parishes will be able to set new service times and formats without having to obtain prior approval from the district synodal board. In future, all baptized persons will be allowed to take communion. Previously, only confirmed persons were allowed to receive communion.
In future, children whose parents do not belong to the Protestant church may also be baptized "if the Christian upbringing is guaranteed", said Weusmann. Until now, the rule has been that baptism must be refused if both parents do not belong to the Protestant church.
The changes to the so-called "Lebensordnungsgesetz" are to be decided at the synod, which will take place in Düsseldorf from January 14 to 19. With more than 2.2 million members, the Rhenish Church is the second largest Protestant regional church in Germany.
The forecasts for church tax income are pessimistic. While there were still increases of four percent in 2021 and 2022, a minus of six percent is expected for the current year, said Head of Finance Henning Boecker. This would leave a shortfall of around 45 million euros in the coffers. The Rhenish church had previously expected church tax income of 764 million euros for 2023 and 2024 respectively.
According to Boecker, the prospects for the coming year 2024 are just as bad. In view of the tight budget situation, everyone involved would have to consider in which areas cuts could be made. "They have to make cuts now or they have to draw on reserves, which is the only way they can cover their expenditure at all." Due to high inflation and increased personnel and energy costs, there will be "a real hole".
In addition to the decline in membership, the main reason for the financial situation is the recession, according to Boecker. Despite the high number of people leaving the church, it has still recorded growth in tax revenue. Only from 2025 onwards, when the economy recovers, can a financial easing possibly be expected.
Information on the regional synod
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In the liberalized rules, all baptized individuals in the Church in the Rhineland will now be permitted to partake in communion, expanding the previous restriction to only confirmed individuals. These changes to the "Lebensordnungsgesetz" will be discussed at the synod, which is taking place in Düsseldorf from January 14 to 19. children whose parents do not belong to the Protestant church may also be baptized under certain conditions, such as ensuring a Christian upbringing, a change from the previous rule that baptism should be refused if both parents do not belong to the church.
Source: www.stern.de
