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Protestant Reformed Church Basel-Stadt
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The Protestant Reformed Church Basel-Stadt was founded in 1529. Today it has some 40,000 members and is divided into seven parishes. A Reformed church in the form of the Münster (Minster) dominates the Basel skyline.
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The Protestant Reformed Church Basel-Stadt was founded in the year 1529 through the endeavours of the Basel-based Reformer Johannes Oekolampad. It was the state Church for almost 400 years. It has been independent of the Canton since 1911. Since then, as a public body corporate with autonomous fiscal powers, it has been responsible for its own finances and organisation.
Seven parishes
The Church is made up of seven parishes: Münster, St. Elisabethen, St. Leonhard, Johannes Oekolampad, Kleinbasel, Riehen-Bettingen and the Eglise française. The parishes enjoy considerable autonomy, and may subdivide themselves into town-quarter parishes. Parishes and sub-parishes have democratic structures, and are headed by parish or sub-parish councils that work on a voluntary basis.
As a rule, the Church members belong to the parishes and sub-parishes in which they live. It is there that they are also able to take part in Church elections and referendums. Those who wish, however, may join one of the other parishes.
Advice and services
Day-to-day Church activities - these are first-and-foremost the responsibility of the parishes or sub-parishes. A wide variety of local meetings and activities are provided: youth centres, mother's mornings, organ concerts, festivals are organised, family vacations are offered and much, much more. Within the framework of the parishes or sub-parishes, the vicars as well as the social-welfare workers maintain wide-ranging personal contacts with Church members and their families. It is within this environment of contacts, discussions, support and commiseration that the ritual significance of the church services is expressed: christenings, confirmations, weddings and memorial services.
Specialist expertise
The Protestant Reformed Church Basel-Stadt also comprises an important social network. It faces the challenges of our age with its pastoral activities and varied social and cultural programmes. This network also includes a wide range of Church services, some of which are provided on an ecumenical basis in conjunction with other Churches based in the Canton of Basel-Land.
Religious instruction
Religious instruction is organised and financed in conjunction with the Roman Catholic Church.
The Church pursues many low-profile but important activities within the Canton. These include associations dedicated to helping drug addicts, the homeless and the hungry.
Historical buildings
The visual manifestation of the Protestant Reformed Church Basel-Stadt includes 85 churches, parish rooms, vicarages and sacristy apartments. The city's skyline is marked by numerous historical buildings, such as the Münster as one of Basel's landmarks, and the inner-city churches St. Leonhard, St. Martin, St. Peter and St. Theodor.
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