Bernese Reformed withdraw from "Reformed Media" association
The decision stands: the Reformed Churches of Bern-Jura-Solothurn are withdrawing from the «Reformierte Medien» association. On Wednesday, the Church Parliament confirmed a decision to that effect by the Synodal Council.
However, the matter was discussed very controversially. Over 30 synod members had joined a motion calling for rejoining the association.
The association "Reformed Media" is probably not directly known to the general public. Indirectly, however, it is very well known: Together with radio and television, for example, it is responsible for the "Word on Sunday. It also operates the Ref.ch Internet portal and publishes the magazine "Reformierte Medien". Bref out.
It was precisely this magazine that triggered the conflict surrounding church media. Bref was beautiful, but too expensive, the synodal council of the Bernese Reformed found.
The magazine is responsible for the financial difficulties of the association, because this works too little cost-consciously, as president of the synodal council Andreas Zeller explained according to communication from Wednesday.
The Bernese churches want to continue paying for the association's other activities, namely for media work with SRF radio and television or for Ref.ch.
The proponents of Bref appealed for solidarity. Already in the run-up to the synod, they had warned that the Bernese Reformed should not open the door to cherry-picking.
The proposal, which was eventually modified into the less binding form of a postulate, was rejected by the church parliament, the synod, by 87 votes to 76 with 12 abstentions.
On the other hand, there was support for a postulate demanding a detailed report on public relations from the synodal council within a year. The postulate is intended to encourage the synod to reflect on the communication of the Reformed Churches of Bern-Jura-Solothurn.
There was also support for a resolution on the savings measures recently adopted by the Bernese cantonal parliament in the social sector. In it, the Reformed express their concern that the austerity measures call into question the solidarity-based cohesion of society.
The Synod calls on decision-makers in politics and the church to do everything possible to ensure that savings are not made at the expense of the weak. (SDA)
