Faced with a steady decline in the number of pastors, the Evangelical Reformed Church of the canton of Vaud (EERV) has launched a major reorganization project called "Church 29." This ambitious plan aims to reduce the number of parishes from 88 to about thirty by 2029. The decision, made by the Church Synod, responds to an urgent need to ensure quality pastoral care in every community.
Philippe Leuba, president of the EERV Synodal Council, explains that travel is easier today, so congregants can cover greater distances to attend worship. This societal change makes it possible to envision larger parishes without losing community ties. "We made projections based on the principle that we must be able to equip each parish with a team of at least three professionals, including a pastor," he says.
This restructuring is not without some apprehension, but it is presented as an opportunity to strengthen church life. Communities are invited to reflect on their future and consider voluntary mergers, in a spirit of collaboration and mutual trust.
Voluntary Engagements Between Parishes
The merger process is based on the principle of "voluntary engagements." Parishes are encouraged to come together on their own, based on affinity and geographic proximity. "The idea is to return the future of the parishes to the parishioners, knowing that at the end of the process, the Synod will validate the parish boundaries," Leuba emphasizes.
Some communities have already begun collaborating on common projects and see this merger as an intensification of their relationships. For example, the parishes of Oron-Palézieux, Jorat, and Savigny-Forel are already willing to merge. In Gros-de-Vaud, the creation of a single parish bringing together several localities has been accepted and will be submitted to the Synod.
This participatory approach aims to avoid mergers being imposed from above. It allows congregants to embrace change and experience it as a natural step in their community life.
Professional Guidance
To carry out this project, a "Mr. Merger" has been appointed: Laurent Curiaux, a former state delegate for municipal mergers. He will take office on May 1 and will propose solutions to all parishes, taking into account objective criteria such as sufficient population, the number of Protestants, and a maximum territorial area. These conditions can be relaxed depending on local configuration.
This professional guidance aims to ensure that the new parishes are viable and dynamic. The goal is to create communities capable of offering a rich church life, despite the decline in the number of pastors.
The Bible reminds us of the importance of unity and collaboration among believers. As the apostle Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians:
"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called." (Ephesians 4:3-4, NIV)
This reorganization is an opportunity to put this principle of unity into practice, overcoming local particularisms to serve the Kingdom of God together.
A Challenge for the Future
The shortage of pastors is not an isolated phenomenon; it affects many churches in Europe. By reducing the number of parishes, the EERV hopes to concentrate its human and financial resources to offer better spiritual support. Pastors will thus be able to devote themselves fully to their ministry, without being spread across several small communities.
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