The Future of the Reformed Church in Switzerland

Sunday, October 19 – Tuesday, October 21, 2025
University of Zurich, Conference Room: RAA-G-01 Aula klein, Rämistrasse 59, 8001 Zürich

organized by

the Faculty of Theology and the Study of Religion of the University of Zurich:

• the Institute of Hermeneutics and Philosophy of Religion (IHR)
• the Centre for Church Development (ZKE)

and the Faculty of Theology of the University of Geneva:

• Institute for Systematic and Ethics (IRSE)
• and the Lemanic Institute of Practical Theology (ILTP)

In cooperation with

Swiss Theological Society (SThG)

Five hundred years after the beginning of the Reformation, the Reformed Church in Switzerland is still a venerable and life-relevant institution that offers many people a spiritual and intellectual home. It is still standing, but is it also moving? Its existence and continued presence are not a matter of course. Its reputation has suffered and the outlook for the coming years is challenging. It is not only the loss of members that is forcing it and those in positions of responsibility within it to rethink their place and their public responsibility. What might the future of the Reformed Church in Switzerland look like?

This conference does not want to and cannot predict it. But all the more possible ways for the Reformed Church are to be explored on a sound theological basis – so that it can make recognisable contributions to making the gospel shine again and be convincingly lived in a torn world.

• Program  (PDF)
• Registration (the conference is open to all interested parties free of charge)

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Monday, October 20, 2025

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

• Abruzzi, Anne, Vice-President of the Synodal Council of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Vaud (EERV)
• Aus der Au, Christina, Prof. Dr., President of the Church Council of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau
• Baschera, Luca, PD Dr., Lecturer in Practical Theology, University of Zurich
• Berlis, Angela, Prof. Dr., Professor of the History of Old Catholicism and Church History in General, University of Bern
• Bieler, Andrea, Prof. Dr., Professor of Practical Theology, University of Basel
• Bourquin, Yves, Pastor, President of the Synod Council of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Neuchâtel (EREN)
• Bünker, Arnd, Tit.Prof. Dr., Head of the Swiss Pastoral Sociological Institute, St. Gallen
• Coors, Michael, Prof. Dr., Professor for theological ethics and dean of the Faculty of Theology and the Study of Religion, University of Zurich
• Famos, Rita, President of the Protestant Church in Switzerland (PCS) and President of the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE)
• Gordon, Bruce, Prof. Dr., Titus Street Professor of Reformation History, Yale Divinity School
• Hausammann, Andreas, Director of the Protestant Church Music School of St. Gallen (ekms)
• Jaillet, Elio, Dr., Responsible for theological and ethical issues, Protestant Church in Switzerland (PCS)
• Jütte, Stephan, Dr., Head of the Departement of Theology and Ethics of the Protestant Church in Switzerland (PCS)
• Kusmierz, Katrin, Dr., Scientific director of the Competence Center for Liturgy, University of Bern
• Lämmlin, Georg, Prof. Dr., Director of the Social Science Institute of the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD)
• Marti, Andreas, Prof. em. Dr., theologian, organist, harpsichordist, choirmaster, hymnologist
• Müller, Sabrina, Prof. Dr., Professor of Practical Theology, University of Bonn
• Oefele, Christine, Dr., Liturgy and Music Officer at the Liturgy and Hymnal Conference of the Reformed Churches of German-speaking Switzerland (LGBK)
• Pahud de Mortanges, René, Prof. Dr., Professor of Legal History and Canon Law, University of Fribourg
• Plüss, David, Prof. Dr., Professor of Homiletics, Liturgics and Church Theory, University of Bern
• Rehmat, Kathrin, Pastor, member of the advisory board of the Association of Orthodox Churches in the Canton of Zurich
• Rose, Miriam, Prof. Dr., Professor of Systematic Theology / Dogmatics, University of Basel
• Schmidt, Martin, President of the Church Council, Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of St. Gallen
• Schulthess, Iwan, Pastor, member of the Synodal Council of the Reformed Churches of Bern-Jura-Solothurn
• Schumacher, Ursula, Prof. Dr., Professor of Dogmatics, University of Lucerne
• Schaufelberger, Thomas, Pastor, Head of Church Development, Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Zurich
• Schüz, Juliane, Dr., Pastor, Dean of the Protestant Deanery Hochtaunus, Evangelical Church in Hessen and Nassau
• van Dorp, Emma, Assistant in Systematic Theology, University of Geneva
• van Driel, Edwin Chr., Prof. Dr., Rev., Directors’ Bicentennial Professor of Theology, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PA/USA)
• Walti, Christian, Dr., Pastor at Grossmünster Zurich
• Weber-Berg, Christoph, Dr., President of the Church Council of the Reformed Church of Aargau
• Zeindler, Matthias, Prof. em. Dr., Emeritus Tit.Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Bern and former Head of Theology at the Reformed Churches of Bern-Jura-Solothurn

Organizing committee

• Chalamet, Christophe, Prof. Dr., Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Geneva
• Kunz, Ralph, Prof. Dr., Professor of Practical Theology, University of Zurich
• Parmentier, Élisabeth, Professor of Practical Theology, University of Geneva
• Schlag, Thomas, Prof. Dr., Professor of Practical Theology, University of Zurich
• Wüthrich, Matthias, Prof. Dr., Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Zurich

• Protestant Church in Switzerland (PCS)
• Faculty of Theology, University of Geneva
• Institute for Systematic and Ethics (IRSE), University of Geneva
• Lemanic Institute of Practical Theology (ILTP), University of Genva and Lausanne
• Réforme progressive, Geneva
• Reformed Church of Geneva (EPG)
• Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Vaud (EERV)
• Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Neuchâtel (EREN)
• Foundation of the Evangelical Reformed Parish of Zurich
• Swiss Reformation Foundation
• Academic Society of the University of Geneva (SACAD)
• Fonds général of the University of Geneva
• Commission administrative of the University of Geneva (COMAD)
• Faculty of Theology and the Study of Religion (TRF), University of Zurich
• European Academy on Religion and Society (EARS)