Paroisse réformée française de Bienne

Name

Paroisse réformée française de Bienne

Legal name

Paroisse réformée française de Bienne

Website

https://ref-bienne.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (813110), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL), Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

Keywords

• Reformed parish services
• Pastoral spiritual care
• Religious community support
• Worship life-stage rites
• Diaconal social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Biel/Bienne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Contributions and Church Tax: The parish is funded through member contributions and church taxes collected by the canton, a standard mechanism for Reformed churches in the Swiss canton of Bern. Parishioners contribute financially based on tax assessments.
2. Donations and Offerings: Voluntary donations collected during worship services, special collections for humanitarian causes (e.g., EPER projects), and charitable fundraising events such as the Marché aux puces and Vente de l'Avent.
3. Facility Rental Income: Rental of parish halls (salles paroissiales) and churches for private events, managed through a booking system at ref-bielbienne.ch.
4. TerrEspoir Fair Trade Sales: Monthly sales of fair trade products from Cameroon through pre-order bulletins, with revenue supporting smallholder farmers and the TerrEspoir foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Paroisse réformée française de Bienne is a French-speaking Reformed Protestant parish providing weekly worship services, life-stage sacraments (baptism, marriage, funerals), catechism and faith formation for youth, pastoral care, grief support, spiritual accompaniment, diaconal and social aid (including undocumented migrant support), cultural events and concerts, and supplementary services such as the TerrEspoir fair trade ordering system and facility rentals. It operates across multiple venues in Biel/Bienne and Evilard and complements physical services with digital offerings including audio Bible narrations, downloadable meditations, and a virtual meeting room.

Product overview

Paroisse réformée française de Bienne is a French-speaking Reformed Protestant parish in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, that functions as a unified parish formed in January 2009 from the merger of three predecessor parishes. The parish offers a comprehensive portfolio of spiritual, social, educational, and cultural services. Core offerings include weekly worship services (cultes), life-cycle sacraments (baptisms, marriages, funerals), and catechism programs for children and adolescents. The parish provides pastoral care, grief counseling (Cheminement-Deuil), spiritual accompaniment, and social assistance including help for undocumented migrants. Cultural offerings include the Bienn'Attitudes parish journal, Taizé chant gatherings, Bible narration recordings, and the Association Présences cultural program. The parish also operates the TerrEspoir fair trade program and maintains the Pasquart concert hall with its renowned Füglister organ. Digital services include virtual meeting rooms using Jitsi Meet and downloadable meditation materials. The parish operates multiple venues including Église du Pasquart, Église St-Etienne, Maison St-Paul, and chapels, and offers premises rental for private events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weekly Worship Services (Cultes) Regular Sunday Reformed worship services held at Eglise du Pasquart and other parish venues, including Vietnamese-language worship (Culte vietnamien) at Maison St-Paul and Eglise St-Etienne, and EMS (care home) services. Open to all members of the community and the public.
• Bienn'Attitudes Parish Journal Print and digital parish journal published five times per year (issues archived from 2009 to 2026, N°55 to N°166), profiling parish activities, community members, advisors, professionals, volunteers, and upcoming events. Distributed free to parishioners and the wider community.
• TerrEspoir Fair Trade Orders Monthly pre-order system for fair trade African products (dried fruits, mangoes, etc.) sourced from smallholder farmer cooperatives in Cameroon through the TerrEspoir foundation (founded 1992). Order bulletins distributed to community, deliveries at Eglise St-Etienne, payment on collection or by invoice. Revenue supports African farmer cooperatives (Cameroon partner GIC TerrEspoir transitioned to cooperative status in 2019).
• Virtual Meeting Room (Salle de conférence virtuelle) Jitsi-based virtual conference room (ParoisseReformeeBienneCafeteria) for organizing remote meetings with parish teams, recommended for use with Chrome or Firefox browsers. Self-serve access via the parish website.
• Narration des évangiles (Audio Bible Narrations) Audio recordings of biblical narratives performed during worship services, providing alternative liturgy for younger audiences. Over 40 narrations by Daniel Galataud since 2006, available online through the parish website.
• Méditer chez soi (Meditation at Home) Weekly downloadable PDF meditations with accompanying images covering biblical and spiritual themes, archived from 2023 to 2025 (and into 2026), accessible to all without charge. Distributed via the parish website and email.
• Chants de Taizé pour tous Monthly gatherings around Taizé polyphonic chants held at Eglise St-Nicolas (Fridays 20:00–21:00), offering a time of reflection and inner peace through chant repetition, silences, and short prayers. Open to all.
• Cheminement-Deuil (Grief Support Programme) An 8-session group programme for 4–8 people who wish to process their mourning journey, accompanied by the parish's bereavement pastor. Contribution of CHF 100 for the full programme, with the price not intended as an obstacle to participation. Includes an information evening prior to each cycle.
• Concerts du Pasquart Concert series held in the Pasquart church featuring classical music, gospel, and organ music, leveraging the renowned Füglister 4-keyboard organ. Runs as a seasonal programme with the organist Sara Gerber as Responsable.
• Association Présences (Cultural Programme) Cultural association combining exhibitions, concerts, events, and discussion conferences around social, existential, and religious themes. Held at Eglise du Pasquart, with the parish providing financial support, infrastructure, and human resources. Activities funded by donations, membership fees, parish support, and occasional public/private patronage.
• Parish Premises Rental (Location de salles et églises) Rental of parish halls (salles paroissiales) and churches for private events, managed through an online reservation system at kool.ref-bielbienne.ch. Bookings must be submitted at least 20 days before the event; written confirmation provided within 5 days. Contact: [email protected] or 079 551 85 45.
• Catechism and Faith Formation (Catéchisme Cycles 1–3, Éveil à la foi) Structured faith formation programme for children and adolescents, including Éveil à la foi (cycle alpha) for early childhood and three catechism cycles (1–3) delivered by dedicated catéchètes, preparing for baptism and confirmation.
• Migrant Support — Goûter et Point Conseil Weekly reception for undocumented migrants and rejected asylum seekers at Rue Dufour 46, 2502 Biel/Bienne, every Wednesday 14:00–17:00. Two Wednesdays per month include advice sessions. Jointly supported by the Reformed and Catholic parishes of Biel/Bienne with active participation of the Salvation Army; both French and German Reformed parishes are represented in the steering group.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bienn'Attitudes parish journal published 5 times per year, with issues archived from 2009 to 2026 (N°55 to N°166)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alle-Menschen / Tous les êtres humainscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Public utility association founded in March 2020, supporting migrants in the Biel/Bienne region regardless of status. The parish supports its café/thé meetings for rejected asylum seekers at Maison Calvin (Mâche), providing venue and volunteers.
• TerrEspoir Foundation (Fondation TerrEspoir)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992TerrEspoir is a Swiss fair trade foundation founded in 1992, supporting smallholder farmer groups in Cameroon through direct product marketing. The parish runs a monthly order system for TerrEspoir products (dried fruits, mangoes, etc.) distributed at Eglise St-Etienne. The foundation's Cameroon partner (GIC TerrEspoir) transitioned to cooperative status in 2019. Key contact: Esther Boder.
• Goûter et Point Conseil BiennecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly supported by the Reformed and Catholic parishes of Biel/Bienne, with active participation of the Salvation Army. Weekly reception for undocumented migrants and rejected asylum seekers at Rue Dufour 46, Wednesdays 14:00–17:00. Two Wednesdays per month include advice sessions. Both French and German Reformed parishes are represented in the steering group.
• Centre Social Protestant (CSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtestant Social Centre serving all residents of Jura bernois, Jura canton, and Biel/Bienne regardless of confession or nationality. Provides free consultations and integration support. The parish is institutionally linked and promotes CSP services. CSP had revenues of CHF 12,205,891 in 2024 with a surplus of CHF 26,434.
• Travail de rue des Eglises (Street Work of the Churches)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical association supported by Biel/Bienne, Seeland, and Jura region parishes, focused on maintaining dignity and quality of life for people living on the streets. Parish participates in this network initiative.
• Eglise réformée évangelique de Suisse (EERS) / Swiss Evangelical Reformed ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national Reformed church body. The parish operates within the RefBeJuSo (Berne-Jura-Soleure) regional church structure. EERS coordinates policy, protection standards, international diaconia (EPER, Mission 21, DM), and ecumenical relations. Approved 2024 annual accounts showing a surplus of CHF 510,000.
• Eglise réformée Berne-Jura-Soleure (RefBeJuSo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional church body encompassing Bern, Jura, and Solothurn. RefBeJuSo provides theological, administrative, and pastoral support to member parishes including this one. The parish is part of the Jurassian Arrondissement (arrondissement jurassien) within this structure.
• Paroisse générale réformée de Bienne (German-speaking Reformed Parish)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German-speaking counterpart parish with which the French parish forms the combined Paroisse réformée évangelique générale de Bienne. Joint activities include the Pasquart Concerts series and shared church facilities (Stadtkirche temple).
• World Day of Prayer Switzerland (JMP/WGT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversal movement of Christian women marking the first Friday of March in prayer and solidarity. The Biel/Bienne chapter is led by Marianne Wühl, working jointly with Catholic women of the local Catholic parish. The 2026 programme focuses on Nigeria.
• Eglise catholique de BienneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Catholic parish of Biel/Bienne collaborates with the Reformed parish on ecumenical initiatives including the Goûter et Point Conseil for migrants and the World Day of Prayer.
• Eglise Saint-Nicolas, Biel/BienneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for monthly Taizé chant evenings (Chants de Taizé pour tous), hosted at Eglise St-Nicolas. Programme runs monthly on Fridays at 20:00–21:00.
• Association PrésencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural association governed by its own statutes, conducting exhibitions, concerts, events, and conferences at Eglise du Pasquart. The parish provides financial support, infrastructure, and human resources. The committee is composed of nine members; activities are funded by donations, membership fees, parish support, and occasional public/private patronage.
• Paroisse vietnamienne réforméeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVietnamese Reformed community holds monthly worship services at Maison St-Paul and Eglise St-Etienne, facilitated by the parish. Contact: Thai Phong Trieu (prédicateur).
• Transition Biel-BienneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal initiative network for social and ecological development in the Biel/Bienne-Seeland region. The parish participates through a dedicated Transition group.
• Salvation Army (Armée du Salut)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Salvation Army actively participates in the Aide aux passants (Travellers' Aid) service, jointly managed by the Reformed and Catholic parishes of Biel/Bienne.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Paroisse réformée française de Neuchâtel: Another French-speaking Reformed parish within the broader Swiss Reformed landscape, sharing language, liturgical tradition, and francophone Swiss context with the subject parish while serving a distinct urban congregation.
• Paroisse générale réformée de Bienne (German-speaking Reformed Parish of Biel/Bienne): The German-speaking sister parish with which the subject parish forms the combined Paroisse réformée évangélique générale de Bienne. Operates the same denomination, same city, same canton, and jointly hosts the Pasquart Concerts series and the Stadtkirche temple — the most structurally comparable peer.
• Armée du Salut Biel/Bienne (Salvation Army Switzerland): The Salvation Army branch serving Biel/Bienne, jointly running the Aide aux passants service with this parish. Operates as another Christian denomination serving overlapping vulnerable populations (rejected asylum seekers, undocumented migrants) in the same city with a comparable social-action footprint.
• Paroisse réformée évangélique de La Chaux-de-Fonds: French-speaking Reformed parish in the nearby Jura bernois region, affiliated with the same EERS/RefBeJuSo network, offering a directly comparable operating model of francophone Protestant worship, catechism, and diaconal work in a Swiss Jura town.
• Église catholique romaine de Bienne: The local Catholic parish co-serving Biel/Bienne, sharing the same city, same life-stage rites, and actively collaborating on ecumenical programs (Goûter et Point Conseil, World Day of Prayer) — the closest cross-denominational peer.

Broad incumbents

• Église réformée évangélique Berne-Jura-Soleure (RefBeJuSo): The regional Reformed governing body encompassing Bern, Jura, and Solothurn. Oversees the subject parish and provides theological, administrative, and pastoral support; the broader incumbent whose standards, synodal decisions, and funding frameworks directly shape this parish's operations.
• Église évangélique réformée de Suisse (EERS): The national Reformed church body coordinating policy, protection standards, and international diaconia (EPER, Mission 21, DM) across all Swiss Reformed parishes including the subject — a broader incumbent whose synodal resolutions (2024 CHF 510K surplus, integrity-protection standards) cascade down to this parish.

Others

• Centre Social Protestant (CSP): The Protestant Social Centre serving Jura bernois, Jura canton, and Biel/Bienne, institutionally linked with the parish and promoted through it. An adjacent ecosystem participant that delivers overlapping social services (free consultations, integration support) on a much larger scale (CHF 12.2M revenue in 2024).
• EPER (Entraide Protestante Suisse / Swiss Protestant Aid): The international aid arm of the Swiss Reformed Church, funded through member parishes including the subject via EPER project collections. An adjacent ecosystem participant that channels humanitarian donations from this parish's special collections to international development work.

Emerging players

• Église évangélique libre du canton de Berne: A smaller evangelical free-church network operating in the Canton of Bern, overlapping with the subject parish on Christian community formation and outreach but with a different theological tradition and typically less institutional anchoring in historic civic life.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ParoisseReformeeFrancaiseBienne
• Instagraminstagram.com/paroissereformeebienne
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paroisse-r%C3%A9form%C3%A9e-fran%C3%A7aise-de-bienne

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Paroisse réformée française de Bienne