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Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs

The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs is the governing body of the Danish National Evangelical Lutheran Church and administrates grants and appropriations to that part of the Danish National Church funded out of the National Budget. The most important task of the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs is to administrate the Danish National Evangelical Lutheran Church in conformity with current legislation.

The Work of the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs
The Ministry draws up the budget for the joint fund from which the joint expenses of the Danish National Church are defrayed. In order to meet the joint fund’s deficit, the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs decides how much national church tax is to be paid and distributes this equally as a percentage of each member of the Danish National Church’s taxable income.

The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs draws up draft legislation and promulgates laws in conformity with the general and particular regulations for Church administration. To a certain extent, the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs acts as an appeals board ruling on the decisions of other Church authorities. Furthermore, the Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs has the power to appoint staff to a series of positions within the area of responsibility of the Ministry – above all, the appointment of the clergy – and the Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs is responsible for the day-to-day administrative supervision of these appointments.

Besides drawing up draft legislation and establishing general regulations within the area of Church administration through the issuing of Ministerial Orders and Circulars, the Minister deals with and prepares those matters which must be formally settled by a Royal Decree or resolution, e.g. authorisation of religious services, hymn books and translations of the Bible, etc.

In addition, the Ministry is responsible for settling certain matters pertaining to salaries and conditions of employment of the clergy and Church officers, and matters pertaining to resignations and forced resignations of Church officers employed as public servants.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs is responsible for organising and running a number of educational and training institutes.

The Ministry’s Independent Powers Relative to the General Public
The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs has independent powers over the general public to approve alternative forms of burial in accordance with the principal rule applicable to burial in the Danish National Church’s cemeteries.

The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs must also approve the laying out of cemeteries for religious followers of other congregations and faiths.

The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs


	Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs Address: Frederiksholms Kanal 21 Postboks 2123 1015 Copenhagen K Denmark Phone: +45 33 92 33 90 Fax: +45 33 92 39 13 Web site: Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs E-mail: km@km.dk

Edited September 17, 2008

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