What do we do?

The centre’s purpose is the deepening and broadening of scholarly attention to:

• The internal laws of the various denominations
• Points where ecclesiastical law and civil law intersect
• The legal position of the church in relation to the state and in the society
• The legal aspects of the emergence and functioning of non-Christian religions in the Netherlands

The centre endeavours to accomplish the preceding goals by:

• Scholarly studying of and providing instruction in the subjects ecclesiastical law and church and law
• Giving advice in the area of explanation and application of various church orders and issues in the field of religion and law
• Providing for lectures
• Providing for publications in the area of church law and church order
• Initiating a periodical for church law and church order (see www.ntkr.nl)
• Organizing symposia

Instruction
The Centre for Religion and Law offers once every year the elective course Denomination and Law (four study credits), consisting of ten two-hour lectures and a final examination. A textbook is in preparation for this elective. In addition, the centre can offer an annual post-academic-instruction course Church and Law, consisting of parts of two days A syllabus will be available. The instruction will be given at the VU University. On request, the Centre for Religion and Law can also offer in-house instruction or extra lecture cycles.

Advice
The Centre for Religion and Law offers on request advice about subjects related to church order or church law. The advice can be gathered from ecclesiastical gatherings, committees, organizations, and from persons. A friendly request: will you, if at all possible, give a brief explanation of the circumstances when you make your request for advice. This can sometimes help focus the answer/advice, so that we can be of better service to you. For this advice, we sometimes charge a fee; a first contact, a simple request for advice, or referral is gratis. Of course you will be informed in advance of the costs to be anticipated.

Lectures
The Centre for Religion and Law is prepared to respond to requests from the whole country to offer lectures about subjects in the area of church order, church law, or religion and law.

Publications
The Centre for Religion and Law is intended to be a platform for scholars, each from his or her own discipline, to bring about spontaneous initiatives by two or more of them for research and/or a joint publication.

Symposia
An annual symposium will be organized, in which a particular theme in the area of church law and/or church and law stands central. In this way publicity will be generated, those interested in church law will come in contact with each other, and a basis found and built up to stimulate research.