The President of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Switzerland (EERS), Gottfried Locher, has resigned. He announced it in a letter to the president of the Synod on Wednesday.
“For several weeks, the President’s capacity for action has been restricted due to a case submitted on April 13 to the EERS Council,” said the EERS in a press release, without giving details on this case, which is “Intensively processed”. With his resignation, Gottfried Locher wishes to “prevent debates around his person from affecting the action” of the Church.
Open letter
Twelve theologians recently published an open letter questioning Gottfried Locher’s behavior and reporting that the case concerns “border violation”. The German press reported abusive behavior in the context of labor relations.
A Council member resigned due to possible bias in the case. Interviewed a week ago by Keystone-ATS, the EERS did not take a stand. In a statement released Wednesday, she said “the facts are neither established nor substantiated and still need to be clarified”. An external body has been mandated to carry out an independent investigation.
Third term
In office since 2011, Gottfried Locher was currently assuming his third four-year term. His candidacy in 2018 had been challenged. The Bernese theologian had to face the Zurich pastor Rita Famos. There were many points between the two candidates, particularly with regard to the position of women in the Church and in society in general.
Vice-President Esther Gaillard and Vice-President Daniel Reuter will direct the affairs of the Council until the presidency is resumed. (ATS / nxp)
Created: 05/27.2020, 9:36 p.m.
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