Voters in the newly unified Protestant parish of Bern elected their inaugural parish council on Sunday, establishing the leadership structure that will take over operations on January 1, 2027. Jean-Marc Burgunder secured the role of president, heading a council tasked with steering the administrative and strategic shift for the city’s consolidated religious community.
The newly elected body includes Johannes Gieschen, Susanna Hergert, Sonja Müller, Hansjörg Salm, Ueli Stückelberger, and Martin Trachsel. Their term runs from 2027 through 2030, replacing legacy structures as the city’s congregations consolidate.
Parish Consolidation and Ongoing Legal Challenges
Preparations for the unified parish continue alongside active legal proceedings regarding asset division. According to announcements from the Smaller Parish Council (Kleine Kirchenrat) delivered during the Grand Parish Council session, negotiations with non-merging districts—specifically Bethlehem and Paulus—remain focused on startup financing, church tax distribution, and district regulations.
The transition encountered procedural hurdles when the Federal Tribunal granted partial suspensive effect to an appeal filed by the Bethlehem and Paulus parishes against a December 10, 2025, government council decision. The dispute centers on asset allocation rules for those dissenting districts. The federal court’s interim freeze applies strictly to asset regulations and does not delay the primary January 2027 launch date for the broader Bern parish integration.
Historic Friedenskirche Tower Restoration Begins
Engineering teams have launched long-awaited exterior restoration work on the bell tower of the Friedenskirche, following years of preparation. According to Häberli Architekten AG, the structural remediation project will span approximately six months and prioritize critical safety measures to address environmental weathering on the building envelope.
To protect construction crews on-site, parish administrators announced that the bell system will remain offline during working hours throughout the renovation period. Designed by architect Karl Indermühle as a monument to difficult eras, the church was constructed between 1917 and 1920 and formally dedicated on November 21, 1920, to commemorate the end of the First World War.
Wittigkofen Meeting Point Future Remains Open
The future utilization of the Wittigkofen Meeting Point site has returned to an open status after preliminary agreements lapsed. According to RefBernImmo AG and the Protestant Total Parish of Bern, conditions outlined in a preliminary intent declaration with the Islamic Center Bern Foundation were not fulfilled within the agreed-upon deadline.
With negotiation exclusivity officially expired, RefBernImmo AG stated it will engage new prospective buyers and re-evaluate development options for the location. Officials added that community feedback regarding the planned transaction has been compiled into a shared FAQ document designed to provide transparency for neighborhood residents.