Recent Challenges

The religious landscape has changed over the last few decades so that religious diversity has become a given. This leads to new issues and challenges for states, cantons, municipalities, organisations, political parties and individuals.

• What are our responsibilities with respect to social cohesion and peace among religious groups when it comes to matters such as religious education and equal treatment of and non-discrimination between groups and individuals irrespective of their religious affiliation?
• How can we ensure spiritual care for all individuals in our institutions and organisations?
• How do we deal with dress codes based on religious affiliation?
• Do we offer Halal or Kosher meals at our institution or organisation?
• How can we develop binding policies and guidelines for the peaceful coexistence of people from different cultural and religious backgrounds?
• Which pragmatic modifications should be made to a policy for a dignified funeral?​
• Which platforms for interreligious dialogue do cantons, municipalities, and organisations develop in the public interest?
• How do we develop a sustainable policy on religion (governance of religious diversity)?

Swiss Cantons

Only a few Swiss cantons have a secular-laical orientation with a strict separation of state and religion. The majority of Swiss cantons’ policies on religion are characterised by a close common bond between the state and the traditional state churches. These traditional state churches are established and highly privileged by law in contrast with the non-recognised churches and faith communities.

Whatever the religious political orientation of the canton in question may be, all Swiss cantons are being confronted by similar issues due to the increasing religious diversity and fast rise in the number of individuals who are not affiliated with any specific religion. Political initiatives and requests from the administration, the public and organisations bare evidence to burning issues and the need for a readjusted policy on religion.

How can Swiss cantons support their administration and organisations in their midst to meet the challenges concerning religious diversity? For example, how should they deal with chaplaincy and spiritual care at public institutions, or the formation of theologians and key persons of religious communities? How should they manage financial and structural support or societal integration and social work? How can Swiss cantons give equal value to the social contributions of state-unrecognised churches and communities as to the traditional state-recognised churches?

Municipalities, organisations and political parties

Municipalities, organisations and political parties are also faced with issues related to religion.

• How do the educational or the funeral sectors deal with needs related to religious diversity?
• How can organisations establish a chaplaincy that considers the needs of all individuals?
• How can public spaces be designed in a non-discriminating way?
• How can municipalities, organisations and political parties respond to the challenges related to the today’s religious landscape?

Individuals

Individuals may also be confronted with questions related to religion: You are invited to contact me with issues concerning religious diversity, governance of religious diversity, policy on religion, religious minorities, peaceful coexistence, or regarding research on these questions.

My offer

Information, analysis, conception – counselling and support​

I am experienced in the fields of religious diversity, governance of religious diversity, and policy on religion. I am able to provide you with factual information, analysis and pragmatic advice. I can support you in the development of new approaches, guidelines, and policies. I will also gladly support colleagues and students with study projects, proofreading and revising texts, of course confidentially. For students, my service is free of charge.

Method

I respond to your needs. I analyse, I inform, and together we develop solution-oriented and pragmatic concepts. 

My point of departure is to consider human rights and any relevant legal foundations. I combine this with an approach of tolerance and mutual respect.

My services and my support are provided on a confidential basis. 

My customers and my services

My customers are typically representatives of cantons, municipalities, public and private institutions, organisations, political parties, stakeholder groups, or individuals.

My services include providing information, analysis and developing concepts. I support you with the realisation of information events or the development of documents. Both individual or group coaching is possible. I can also support you with retreats, workshops and with the process of new orientation.

My competencies

My educational background and professional experience in various fields of practice related to religious diversity and policy on religion offer valuable resources to meet your needs. I am well connected with researchers and practitioners in Switzerland and worldwide.

Fields of competencies and experience:

• Studies of ancient and modern languages, history of religion and theology.
• I completed a PhD at the North-West University, South-Africa: “A Theological-Ethical Evaluation of the Christian-Muslim Dialogue in the Swiss Army Chaplaincy” (2010-2016). For this study I received an award for excellent academic achievement from the North-West University, South Africa.
• I was mandated by the Swiss Canton Bern to compile special reports on Muslim burial fields (2016/unpublished) and two analyses of the Bernese Policy on Religion (2017/unpublished & 2018/published).
• I was an officer in charge of the Care Team Canton Bern and have work experience in the Swiss Army Chaplaincy, including involvement in the Peace Support Operations in the Foreign Deployments.
• I am an Extraordinary Researcher at the North-West University, South Africa, and tutor at the Greenwich School of Theology, UK.
• I am currently busy with a second PhD project (cumulative thesis) on the topic of “State and Religion” at the North-West University, South Africa.
• Completed CAS swisspeace/University of Basel "Religion, Peace & Conflict" with a final thesis on the "Promotion of 'Religious Peace' in the Canton of Solothurn".
• I am currently busy with recertification studies «Change Management» (Fachhochschule Burgenland/Wien).
• Member of the International Consortium for Law and Religious Studies.

Leadership, Counselling & Coachin

• CAS Organisation & CAS Human Resources

• Training for individual and group coaching, management coaching (Solution Surfers, Lucerne).
• Leadership development: Care Team Canton Bern, Peace Support Operation KFOR (staff), head of service of the Chaplains’ Service in the Command Support Brigade 41, Swiss Army.
• Ongoing language training in English and French (DALF Diplom C2).

Referee & publications

Referee

Mr Martin Koelbing

State Delegate for Church and Religious Affairs of the Canton Bern (until 2020).

koelbing(at)bluewin.ch

Additional referees on demand

Publications

• Matthias Inniger, 2014. The Winds of Change: The Contribution of the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service to Multiculturalism from a Swiss Perspective, in: Dialogue. The Military Journal of the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service: 10-11.  → PDF   
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• Matthias Inniger, 2016. A Theological-Ethical Evaluation of the Christian-Muslim Dialogue in the Swiss Army Chaplaincy. Dissertation PhD.  Potchefstroom: North-West University, South Africa.  461 p.  → PDF   
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• Matthias Inniger, Jakobus Martinus Vorster & Brian Evans, 2017. A Swiss Protestant perspective on a multi-faith approach to the Swiss Army Chaplaincy, In die Skriflig 51(1), a2177, (v51i1.2177). → PDF   
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• Die Armeeseelsorge könnte ein Vorzeige-Modell sein. http://www.refbejuso.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/Sozial-Dakonie/Seite_19_Der_Bund_2016-10-24.pdf.
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• Eine Frage des Respekts. http://reformiert.info/artikel/news/"eine-frage-des-respekts".
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• TV-Sendung (Sternstunde Religion mit Amira Hafner-al Jabaji). Armeeseelsorge: vom Feldprediger zum multireligiösen Allrounder. https://www.srf.ch/play/tv/sternstunde-religion/video/armeeseelsorge-vom-feldprediger-zum-multireligioesen-allrounder?id=ef4d403e-1385-439a-ae3a-8cf436c5bcb7.
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• Matthias Inniger,  2018. Religionspolitische Auslegeordnung für den Kanton Bern. Kurzbericht. 3. April 2018 (im Auftrag der Justiz-, Gemeinde- und Kirchendirektion des Kantons Bern). → PDF   
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• Matthias Inniger, 2019. Die Schweizer Armeeseelsorge und die Förderung des Religionsfriedens. "Internationale Kirchliche Zeitschrift", Heft 2, 2019. www.ikz.unibe.ch. → PDF   
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• Matthias Inniger, 2020. Changing religious landscapes challenge confession-based state policies on religion. → PDF   
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• Matthias Inniger, 2020. Referat zum Thema "Thesen zu religionspolitischen Entwicklungsprozessen" (anlässlich der St. Galler Konferenz zu Fragen von «Religion und Staat» am 9. Dezember 2020). → PDF  

• Matthias Inniger, 2021. In "tachles", das jüdische Wochenmagazin. "Diversity wird Leitmotiv der Armee", 9. April 2021. https://www.tachles.ch/artikel/schweiz/diversity-wird-leitmotto-der-armee 

• Bei der Erstellung des Berichts des Bundesrates  in Erfüllung des Postulates 16.3314 Ingold vom 27. April 2016 "Professionalisierungsanreize für religiöse Betreuungspersonen" wurde ich als Experte konsultiert. → PDF   

• Matthias Inniger, 2021. Presentation held in Debrecen on 14 October 2021 on the topic "Shared responsibility of religions and denominations - the role of religions in Europe" (on the occasion of the Conference "Pillars of Modern Age Europe - Coexistence of Religious Communities" in the framework of the activities of the Council of Europe / www.coe.int/BeliefWithoutFear, and the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of Europe from May to November 2021) → PDF  

• Matthias Inniger, 2021. CAS "Religion, Peace & Conflict", swisspeace/University of Basel. Final thesis: "Staat und Religionsfrieden heute. Eine religionspolitische Studie zum Kanton Solothurn". → PDF 

• Matthias Inniger, 2021. Key questions on the outmoded Bernese policy on religion. → PDF  

• Matthias Inniger, 2021. Aktuelle religionspolitische Herausforderungen (Recent religious policitical challenges). Internationale Kirchliche Zeitschrift, Heft 3-4, 2001. www.ikz.unibe.ch. → PDF 

• Matthias Inniger, 2021/2023. Aktuelle religionspolitische Herausforderungen (Bericht und Schlüsse aus der 5. Internationalen IREI-Konferenz «Säkulare Gesellschaft und religiöse Präsenz»). Internationale Kirchliche Zeitschrift 2001/2003. 3-4. → PDF 

• Matthias Inniger, 2023. Religionsfrieden – eine Frage der Symmetrien. inter pares (Bulletin des Schweizerischen Reformierten Pfarrvereins), 17 November 2023. https://www.pfarrverein.ch/inter-pares (9.12.2023). → PDF