Church finances: New committee decides on important decisions!

Church finances: New committee decides on important decisions!

The church tax council of the Archdiocese of Paderborn recently constituted itself and is now ready to steer the financial fortunes of the archdiocese. This committee has extensive decision-making and decision-making functions, which range from the determination of the church tax rate to guidelines for the distribution of church taxes. His tasks are diverse and crucial for the financial stability of the church in the region.

The church tax council, under the direction of Archbishop Dr. Udo Markus Bentz, not only presents the household of the Archdiocese, but also decides the annual financial statements of the archbishopric. In addition, he has the responsibility for the election of the auditor and the proposals for the Diocesan Association for the Board of Association, which significantly designs the economic interests of the church. The professional and competence of the members was expressly recognized by Archbishop Bentz. The Council acts as an important connection between the management of the archbishopric and the parishes as well as various groups and associations, which is an example of lived synodality in the archbishopric.

composition and elections

The church tax council consists of 14 elected lay members and three laypersons appointed by the archbishop. The majority of the members, including two incumbent pastors, are determined by democratic elections. In the last elections that took place at the end of 2024, the following people were elected to the council:

• Petra Brinkmann (Paderborn)
• Sonja Hansmann (Marsberg)
• Rainer Hellmann (Dortmund)
• Christiane Humpert (Hagen)
• Georg Kaiser (Kirchhundem)
• Burghard König (Schmallenberg)
• Iris Korbmacher (Erwitte)
• Michael Mersch (Verl)
• Norbert Quante (Welver)
• Philip Sonntag (Delbrück)
• Werner Twent (Rheda-Wiedenbrück)
• Matthias Vitt (Siegen)
• Inga Wegener (Herne)
• Dr. Klaus Weimer (Hagen)

In addition, the following members were appointed by the archbishop:

• Christine Müller (Paderborn)
• Christiane Vosshans-Schöningh (Paderborn)
• Markus Ziganki (Castrop-Rauxel)

The priestly council selected the pastor Christian Conrad (Dortmund) and Ansgar Heckeroth (Steinheim) as members of the Council. The church tax council is therefore well positioned to perform its tasks in the coming years.

financial initiatives and responsibility

In the past four decades, the church tax council of the Archdiocese of Paderborn has launched numerous initiatives. These include:

• Measures for family support
• establishment of a disaster fund
• help to protect the unborn life
• help for the unemployed and late repatriates
• funding for hospice
• support for victims of war and refugees

These initiatives ensure a solid financial basis for the church, for the well -being of the people in the Paderborn region. The church tax council also has the task of regularly checking and adapting the key assignment guidelines in order to meet the changing needs.

Finally, it can be stated that the church tax council plays a crucial role in the financial and organizational structure of the church in the Archdiocese of Paderborn. He guarantees that the concerns of the municipalities are heard and the financial resources are used where they are most urgently needed.