Parish merger

As Pfarr fusion or Parish fusion of the merger is two or more parishes including their assets in a manner understood that at least one of their economic and legal independence gives up.

The term was formed analogously to the term fusion in the economy.

The purpose of the merger is to improve the pastoral and personal prerequisites for a local church structure that corresponds to the present and future conditions of pastoral care. The aim is to bring together local, pastoral and personal synergies for optimal use by those affected and to organize the administration of the parishes more rationally, not only in a business sense.

Literature / web links

• Matthias Pulte: From parish association to parish merger. Pastoral theological, ecclesiastical and state church law aspects of the union of parishes in the Archdiocese of Cologne , NomoK @ non-Webdokument, marginal no. 1-127.