Wildhaus
Filling the new parish hall with life: 50 voters took part in the parish assembly
The parish meeting in the church in Wildhaus was characterized by a spot-on landing in the construction accounts and lively participation. The focus was on the joy of the parish house in Alt St.Johann, which had been inaugurated the previous year.
Heidi Huser-Schmid, secretary of the parish, and President Yvonne Brügger (from left).
The president of the Evangelical-Reformed parish of Wildhaus-Alt St.Johann, Yvonne Brügger, was able to welcome 50 voters to the ordinary parish meeting in the church in Wildhaus on Sunday morning. The focus was on the joy of the parish hall in Alt St.Johann, which was inaugurated on May 22, 2022. “Since the inauguration ceremony, we have received many words of praise,” says Yvonne Brügger.
And Pastor Tobias Claudy states in the official report: “We have been filling our new parish hall with life for a few months now. Young and old, church events and events of village associations are on site, it’s just how we wanted it to be.”
The construction bill – on May 17, 2020, a loan of CHF 2.2 million was approved for the overall renovation of the vicarage and the replacement building of the parish hall in Alt St.Johann – hit the spot. “Despite the difficult economic situation, we managed to settle accounts within the construction loan granted,” says a visibly pleased Yvonne Brügger. This means that the expectations of creating contemporary rooms and a meeting place between the church and the parish hall have been met, as has the budget.
Tax rate remains at 28 percent
Church communities that require financial equalization from the central treasury of the cantonal church for their tasks must set their tax rate at 28 percent. In the year under review, the Evangelical parish of Wildhaus-Alt St.Johann received a good CHF 120,000 less in financial equalization thanks to higher tax revenues and a tightly managed financial budget. For the current year, there has been a commitment for the financial equalization of 357,150 francs.
After four years, Petra Bösch is resigning from her position as treasurer of the Evangelical-Reformed church community. The President informed those present that the financial expert Christian Schlegel could be won as his successor. She also expressed her joy that after a three-year break, personal encounters at the meeting are finally possible again.
“Yes” words heard more often than ever before
In his report, Pastor Tobias Claudy pointed out that in the Wildhaus and Alt St.Johann churches the “yes” word was heard more often than ever before. “Yes to a life together as a couple, yes to the baptism of a child, yes to belonging to the Christian church at confirmation and when entering the church could be heard.” This makes one happy and hopeful – especially in times when the small and large world seems to be getting out of joint.
A look at the statistics shows that in the year under review ten children were baptized, 15 young people were confirmed, four people joined the church and eleven left, six couples got married and 19 people were buried.
