![Uebersicht Kapitelbilder Aufbereitet En](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Uebersicht_Kapitelbilder_aufbereitet_en.jpg)
A century of history
In the service of Reformed Protestant churches
What began as a church federation intended to better represent Swiss Protestantism during the post-war years has since grown into a Reformed Protestant church com-munion. This retrospective touches upon the most important and impactful events from the history of the federation.
![Img Chronik 1920 Protokoll](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1920_protokoll.jpg)
The Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches was founded on September 7 in the Olten Town Hall by 32 delegates from 15 Reformed cantonal churches and two diaspora organizations. The Federation replaced the Swiss Protestant Church Conference, which had been in place since 1858, to pursue a twofold objective. Internally, it was to promote the common actions of Swiss Protestantism and strengthen its representation at the national and international levels. Externally, it was to serve, as the Protestant representation of a neutral country, as an international hub for the reconstruction of churches in post-war Europe. The FSPC was then led by a seven-member board and two parttime secretaries (one each for German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland). The General Assembly was the highest body of the organization, whose resolutions held a certain binding force. The member churches remained autonomous and free, maintaining their own particular character, while however forming an alliance within the FSPC.
![Img Chronik 1921 Protokoll](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1921_protokoll.jpg)
Churches from Geneva, Neuchâtel and Vaud became FSPC member churches.
![Img Chronik 1922 Methodistenkirche](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1922_methodistenkirche.jpg)
Admission of the Episcopal Methodist to the Federation
Opening by the FSPC of the Central Office for Church Aid in Zurich
Opening by the FSPC of the Central Office for Church Aid in Zurich
![Img Chronik 1922 Wgrk](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1922_wgrk.jpg)
The Federation became a member of the Alliance of Reformed Churches (now World Communion of Reformed Churches – WCRC).
![Img Chronik 1927 Innere Mission](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1927_innere-mission.jpg)
Founding of the Schweizerischen Verbands für Innere Mission und Evangelische Liebestätigkeit (“Swiss Association for Inner Mission and Neighborly Aid”) to group together numerous agencies and organizations.
![Img Chronik 1928 Institut](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1928_institut.jpg)
The FSPC participated in the founding of the International Institute of Social Sciences in Geneva.
![Img Chronik 1924 34 London](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1924-34_london.jpg)
The Swiss churches in Genoa (1924), Florence (1928), Marseille (1929), London (1933), and Barcelona (1934) all joined the Federation.
![Img Chronik 1932 Soz Kommission](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1932_soz-kommission.jpg)
Founding of the Social Commission to engage in a dialogue between economists and theologians
![Img Chronik 1933 45 Studienkommission](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1933-45_studienkommission.jpg)
Commission for Social Work: the FSPC placed its focus on promoting peace, a ban on the export of weapons, and on asylum policy.
![Img Chronik 1946 Heks](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1946_heks.jpg)
Efforts to assist people living in precarious conditions in war-torn Europe led to the founding of Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER), based in Zurich. HEKS/EPER took on Protestant activities to support refugees in Switzerland. Since 1954, the organization has been active in Third World developmental aid.
![Img Chronik 1948 Oek Rat](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1948_oek-rat.jpg)
The FSPC joined the World Council of Churches upon its first Assembly in Amsterdam. The Federation thus represented its member churches on the international stage. The FSPC was to report back to the Swiss churches on the achievements of the ecumenical movement.
![Img Chronik 1950 Verfassung D](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1950_verfassung_d.jpg)
Until this point in time, the Federation had chiefly had a unifying and integrational effect.
A partial revision of the constitution led to the version that remained in effect, in broad strokes, through the end of 2019. It reflected a stronger common will and expressed the foundations of the faith.
A partial revision of the constitution led to the version that remained in effect, in broad strokes, through the end of 2019. It reflected a stronger common will and expressed the foundations of the faith.
![Img Chronik 1959 Kek](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1959_kek.jpg)
The Federation joined the Conference of European Churches (CEC).
![Img Chronik 1961 Brot](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1961_brot.jpg)
The Brot für Brüder (Pain pour les frères / “Bread for Brothers”) fundraising cam-paign was carried out for the first time. A second campaign followed from 1964 to 1967 and a third began in 1969. A close relationship developed with the campaign’s Catholic counterpart Fastenopfer / Action de Carême. A permanent foundation was founded in 1970, which has continued under the name Brot für alle (“Bread for all”) since 1991. Originally conceived for developmental aid, the organization has devel-oped into an advocate for relations between rich and poor countries in an increas-ingly globalized world.
![Img Chronik 1963 Dm](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1963_dm.jpg)
The Protestant churches of Western Switzerland combined the activities of several mission societies to found the Département missionnaire, now known as DM-Dynamique en échange.
![Img Chronik 1966 John Jeffries](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1966_john-jeffries.jpg)
The American John Jeffries V left his entire estate and fortune to the FSPC. Thanks to his donation, the Federation was able to purchase the building at Sulgenauweg 26 in Bern, which has served as its headquarters ever since.
![Img Chronik 1968 Mission](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1968_mission.jpg)
The Basel Mission, founded in 1815, and other mission agencies founded the Co-operation of Protestant Churches and Missions in Switzerland, which existed through the year 2000.
![Img Chronik 1970 Ise](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1970_ise.jpg)
The Conference for Church and Society organized by the WCC inspired the FSPC to found the Institute for Social Ethics, which was integrated into FSPC headquarters as the Institute for Theology and Ethics (ITE). The ISE in Bern and Lausanne provides a Protestant basis for an in-depth social discussion within church and society.
Until 1970, the FSPC placed its focus on ecumenical efforts and engagement with social concerns and issues involving developmental policy. The mass media were discovered as a new means of proclaiming the faith.
Maja Uhlmann of Zurich was the first female representative to be elected to the FSPC board, remaining in office for eight years.
Until 1970, the FSPC placed its focus on ecumenical efforts and engagement with social concerns and issues involving developmental policy. The mass media were discovered as a new means of proclaiming the faith.
Maja Uhlmann of Zurich was the first female representative to be elected to the FSPC board, remaining in office for eight years.
![Img Chronik 1971 Agck](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1971_agck.jpg)
The FSPC was a co-initiator of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft christlicher Kirchen in der Schweiz (AGCK – “Working Community of Christian Churches in Switzerland”).
![Img Chronik 1973 Taufe](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1973_taufe.jpg)
Declaration of the mutual recognition of baptism among the FSPC, the Swiss Bishops’ Conference, and the Christian Catholic Church
![Img Chronik 1974 Geke](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1974_geke.jpg)
The FSPC became a member of the Leuenberg Church Fellowship, now the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE).
![Img Chronik 1993 Fonida](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1993_fonida.jpg)
Founding of the Stiftung der Gemeindediakonie (“Foundation for Parish Diaconal Work”) within the FSPC, now fondia (since 2008)
![Img Chronik 1997 Diakonie](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1997_diakonie.jpg)
Founding of the Diaconal Conference, known since 2017 as Konferenz Diakonie Schweiz
![Img Chronik 1999 Frauenkonferenz](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_1999_frauenkonferenz.jpg)
Founding of the Women’s Conference on 7 June 1999
![Img Chronik 2001 Mission21](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_2001_mission21.jpg)
The Swiss mission organizations founded Mission 21, with the Basel Mission as its largest supporting association. Mission 21 is a global community of partner churches and organizations, anchored in the Christian faith, working towards a life in dignity for all.
![Img Chronik 2002 Heks Brot Fuer Alle D](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_2002_heks-brot-fuer-alle_d.jpg)
Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) and Bread for All reorganized as foundations within the FSPC
![Img Chronik 2002 Mitgliedkirchen](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_2002_mitgliedkirchen.jpg)
The diaspora associations of Central and Southern Switzerland disbanded over the course of time. Independent Reformed churches emerged in each canton, which successively joined the FSPC. The Federation now comprised 26 member churches.
![Img Chronik 2006 Scr](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_2006_scr.jpg)
The FSPC became a founding member of the Swiss Council of Religions (SCR).
![Img Chronik 2017 500jahre Reformation](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_2017_500jahre-reformation.jpg)
The FSPC and its member churches took part in national, regional, and local events to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, together with other Protestant churches around the world.
![Img Chronik 2018 Beschluss](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_2018_beschluss.jpg)
The Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches decided to reorganize itself as the Protestant Church in Switzerland (PCS) beginning in 2020 and to adopt a corre-sponding constitution.
![Img Chronik 2019 Pss](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_2019_pss.jpg)
Founding of the Conference of Protestant Solidarity Switzerland (PSS)
![Img Chronik 2020 Eks D](https://www.evref.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/img_chronik_2020_eks-d.jpg)
The Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FSPC) became the Protestant Church in Switzerland (PCS).
The agencies HEKS/EPER and Bread for All merged into a single organization with the name Hilfswerk der Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche Schweiz (“Swiss Church Aid”) to further optimize the impact of their projects and activities within Switzerland and abroad.