World · Europe · 17 hrs ago
Chur bishop asks parishes to organize a wider church network
Joseph-Maria Bonnemain, the bishop of Chur in Switzerland, has asked clergy and parish leaders to help shape how the diocese is organized in future.
The diocese covers more than 600,000 people.
In a letter to more than 200 pastoral workers and parish and church-community leaders, he said closer links between parishes and other church institutions could no longer be delayed.
He called for the change to be developed from local communities upward, rather than directed by the diocese’s central office.
The letter comes amid concerns about the church’s future organization and the capacity of individual parishes.
It could mean that communities will need to share resources and coordinate more closely, though the letter does not set out a final structure.
Parish and church leaders are being asked to take the work forward, while questions about staffing, finances and cooperation with public bodies remain open.
Chur Bishop Joseph-Maria Bonnemain has called on clergy and parish leaders to organize the future structure of the diocese themselves.
He says a wider network of parishes and other church institutions can no longer be postponed.
The change should be built from the bottom up rather than imposed by the diocese’s central office, according to the article.
The diocese has more than 600,000 people and spans several Swiss cantons.
The article’s author warns that the proposed changes could disadvantage weaker parishes and weaken local ties between parishioners and their priests.
- Who
- Chur Bishop Joseph-Maria Bonnemain called on clergy and parish and church-community leaders to act.
- What
- He urged them to organize a wider network of parishes and other church institutions.
- When
- The appeal was made in a letter; its date is not stated.
- Where
- The Diocese of Chur, Switzerland.
- Why
- Bonnemain said the future organization of the diocese must be addressed and that wider networking could no longer be postponed.
Bishop Joseph-Maria Bonnemain
Inside Paradeplatz article author
Organization
Bishop Joseph-Maria Bonnemain
Bonnemain called for parish and church leaders to organize a wider network from the bottom up.
Inside Paradeplatz article author
The author describes the change as a revolution and argues that the diocese is shifting responsibility onto clergy and parish leaders.
Likely effects
Bishop Joseph-Maria Bonnemain
Bonnemain’s stated appeal is for closer coordination among parishes and church institutions.
Inside Paradeplatz article author
The author warns that stronger parishes may prevail over weaker ones and that local ties between parishioners and priests may be weakened.
a bold networking of parishes and other church institutions can no longer be postponed
This must happen from the bottom up and no longer on the basis of instructions from Chur
a bold networking of our parishes
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Bishop
- Joseph-Maria Bonnemain
- Diocese population
- More than 600,000 people
- Clergy and parish leaders addressed
- More than 200
- Cantons included
- Graubünden, Schwyz, Uri, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Zurich and Glarus
Sources
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