Association

In 1975, eleven cathedral and lodge master builders gathered for the first international meeting in Mainz. Their aim was to exchange expertise on the unique challenges involved in preserving and maintaining major church buildings. This initiative marked the beginning of an interdenominational and independent collaboration based on respect for the building and collegial support.

The meeting soon became an annual event, held at changing cathedral locations across Europe. As interest grew, so did participation—yet commercial interests increasingly took center stage. To preserve the quality and confidentiality of the professional exchange, 44 cathedral and lodge masters founded an official association in 1998 in Cologne, based on a clear charter.

Today, the association brings together around 150 members from 17 European countries. Its focus includes architectural history, current preservation work, workshop reports, scholarly debate, and discussions on legal and technical requirements—from fire safety to accessibility. Just as important is the safeguarding of traditional craftsmanship, which remains essential for the appropriate care of historic structures.

The association serves as a bridge between past and future, blending lived tradition with cutting-edge research and technology in a vibrant European network. Its annual meetings foster not only knowledge and cooperation, but also broader understanding and support for the preservation of our shared cultural heritage—among professionals, policymakers, and the public.

Annette Löffel (Bern)
Chairperson
Häberli-Architekten AG
Wasserwerkgasse 7
CH-3000 Bern 13
Tel +41 (0) 31 318 47 17
annette.loeffel@haeberli-architekten.ch

Gerd Meyerhoff (Greifswald)
Vicechairperson
Landeskirchenamt
Dezernat Bau
Rudolf-Breitscheid-Straße 32
D-17489 Greifswald
Tel +49 3834 796652
gerd.meyerhoff@lka.nordkirche.de

Regine Hartkopf (Naumburg)
Secretary 
HARTKOPF denk mal architektur
Breite Straße 71
D-06536 Südharz
Tel +49/034651/459902
hartkopf@denkmalarchitektur.de

Peter Füssenich (Cologne)
Treasurer
Dombauhütte Köln
Roncalliplatz 2
D-50667 Köln
Tel +49/0221 17940309
peter.fuessenich@koelner-dom.de

Johannes Schubert (Xanten)
Assessor
Dombauhütte Xanten
Kapitel 20
D-46509 Xanten
Tel +49/2801 70228
dombau@web.de

Ramon Keller (Basle)
Assessor
Münsterbauhütte Basel
St.Alban-Tal 43
CH-4052 Basel
Tel +41 61 272 87 93
rk@muensterbauhuette.ch

Liane Kreuzer (Luebeck)
Assessor
Bäckerstr. 3-5
D-23564 Lübeck
Tel +49/0451 7902180
lkreuzer@kirche-ll.de

In the version dated 10.10.2019

§ 1 Name, office, fiscal year

1. The association bears the name „European Association of Cathedral Architects, Surveyors and Heads of Workshops – Dombaumeister e.V.“
2. The association has its registered office in Cologne.
3. The fiscal year of the association begins on 01.07. of the year.

§ 2 Purpose, Tasks, Charity

1. The purpose of the association is the preservation of large churches in Europe and thus the promotion of religion, the protection of monuments and international understanding in the sense of furthering the general good (under German law, § 52 AO).
2. The association achieves its statutory purpose by, among other things, supporting the work and commitment of those responsible for thepreservation of the major churches and by seeking and promoting cooperation with public institutions that regulate heritage & monument preservation.
3. The association operates with no personal interests. It pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes. Funds of the association may only be used for statutory purposes. The members do not receive any grants from the funds of the association. No person may be favoured by tasks that are alien to the purpose of the association or by disproportionately high remuneration.

§ 3 Types and acquisition of membership

1. The association comprises 3 categories of membership
   a) Ordinary Membership
   Only cathedral and minster architects and heads of workshops can become ordinary members, as well as people who are mainly or fulltime involved with tasks falling under the purpose of the Articles. A prerequisite for regular membership is a high level of expertise and professional experience in the relevant areas of activity. Each major church / each building can be represented by a full member. If there is a cathedral workshop, the head of the cathedral workshop can acquire the second full membership.
   b) Extraordinary membership
   Such persons can become extraordinary members who want to and are able to support and promote the purpose of the association significantly through specialist knowledge. With the entry into retirement, an existing ordinary membership is automatically converted into an extraordinary membership.
   c) Honorary Membership
   Honorary membership is awarded by the general meeting at the suggestion of the board of directors. This is awarded to persons who have made special contributions to the preservation of large churches and to the Dombaumeister e.V.
2. The prerequisite for acquiring full or extraordinary membership is a written application for membership, which is addressed to the Executive Board.
3. The Executive Board decides on the application for admission.

§ 4 Termination of Membership

1. Membership ends through death, resignation or exclusion from the association.
2. The resignation takes place by means of a written declaration to the Executive Board and becomes effective at the end of the financial year.
3. A member can be expelled by resolution of the Board of Directors if that member
   a) is, despite two written reminders, in arrears with the payment of membership fees or allocations. The exclusion may only be decided if two months have elapsed after the second reminder was sent and the exclusion was threatened in this reminder. The member will be informed in writing of the Executive Board‘s decision on exclusion,
   b) culpably violates the interests of the association in a gross manner. Before the resolution is passed, the Executive Board must give the member the opportunity to comment orally or in writing. The decision of the Board of Directors must be justified in writing and sent to the member.

§ 5 Membership fees

1. Upon admission to the association, an admission fee must be paid. Annual membership fees are also collected from members. Allocations may be levied to finance special projects or to eliminate financial difficulties of the association.
2. The amount and due date of admission fees, annual contributions and allocations are determined by the general assembly at the suggestion of the board of directors.
3. Honorary members are exempt from the obligation to pay dues and contributions.
4. In special cases, the Executive Board can waive or defer fees, contributions and allocations in whole or in part.

§ 6 Tasks and rights oft the members

1. Ordinary members elect the board of directors, indemnify the board of directors, decide on the amount of membership fees, determine the conference venues and decide on the awarding of honorary membership.
2. Extraordinary members/honorary members take part in the general meetings; they have the right to speak but no voting rights.

§ 7 Organs of the association

• The organs of the association are the board of directors and the general assembly.

§ 8 Board of directors

1. According to § 26 BGB, the board of the association consists of the
   a) chairperson
   b) vicechairperson
   c) treasurer
   d) secretary
   e) three assessors.
2. The association can be jointly represented by two members of the board.
3. At least two European countries and at least one master builder of a cathedral workshop should be represented on the board.

§ 9 Tasks oft he Board of Directors

• The Board of Directors is responsible for all affairs of the association, insofar as they are not transferred to the general assembly of the association by the Articles. In particular, the Board has the following tasks:
  a) preparation and convening of the general assembly as part of the annual conference,
  b) execution of resolutions of the general meetings,
  c) preparation of the budget, bookkeeping, preparation of the annual report,
  d) resolution on the admission of members,
  e) applying for, using and accounting for grants.

§ 10 Election and term of office of the Board of Directors

• The Board of Directors is elected by the General Assembly for a period of three years, calculated from the date of the election. However, the board remains in office until a new one is elected. Each board member is elected individually. Only full members of the association can be elected as members of the board. With the termination of regular membership in the association, the office of this board member also ends. If one or more members of the Executive Board resign prematurely, the positions remain vacant until the next Executive Board election, as long as at least 5 Executive Board members remain.

§ 11 Board meetings and resolutions

1. The Executive Board decides in meetings or in writing by circulation. The electronic or text form within the meaning of §§126 a, 126 b BGB is sufficient for the written form.
2. The convening of meetings or the request for written resolutions are the responsibility of the chairperson or, if s/he is unable to attend, the deputy chairperson. In order to be effective, a 14-day convening or notice period and notification of the agenda are required.
3. The board has a quorum if at least four of its members are present or have taken part in the written resolution.
4. The board of directors passes effective resolutions with a simple majority of the entire board of directors.

§ 12 Convocation of the General Assembly

1. The ordinary general assembly should be held at least once a year. It usually takes place during the annual Cathedral Master Builders’ Con‐ference. It is convened by the board of directors in writing, electronically or in text form within the meaning of §§ 126 a, 126 b BGB, stating the agenda, with a notice period of two weeks. The period begins on the day following the sending of the letter of invitation. The letter of invitation is deemed to have been received by the member if once sent to the last address given to the association in writing by the member.
2. Each member can request an addition to the agenda in writing from the board of directors no later than one week before a general meeting. The chairman of the meeting must announce the supplement at the beginning of the general meeting. The assembly decides on requests for additions to the agenda that are made in the general assembly.
3. The respective location of the general meeting/ Cathedral Master Builders’ Conference is proposed by the board and decided by the general meeting.

§ 13 Extraordinary general meeting

• An extraordinary general meeting is to be convened by the board if the interests of the association require it or if one tenth of all members apply for this in writing, stating the purpose and reasons.

§ 14 Resolution of the General Assembly

1. The general meeting is chaired by the chairperson, or if s/he is unable to do so by the deputy chairperson or the treasurer. If no board member is present, the meeting determines the chairperson of the meeting. In the case of elections, the chairing of the meeting for the duration of the ballot and the preceding discussion is transferred to an election committee.
2. The chairperson of the meeting determines the type of voting. The vote must be carried out in writing if one third of the attending members entitled to vote request this.
3. Voting by proxy is permitted if the proxy is a full member and has provided the Executive Board with written proof of their voting rights in electronic or text form before the start of the General Meeting. A proxy may not hold more than two powers of attorney.
4. The General Meeting has a quorum if at least a quarter of the ordinary members of the association is present in person or is represented by an effective proxy. If the lack of a quorum is determined at the General Meeting, a second General Meeting will be convened at the earliest one hour later and with the same agenda. This repeat meeting has a quorum regardless of the number of members present. This is to be pointed out in the invitation.
5. The General Meeting generally passes resolutions with a simple majority of the valid votes cast; abstentions are considered invalid votes. However, a majority of three quarters of the valid votes cast is required to amend the statutes. A majority of nine tenths of the votes cast is required to dissolve the association and to change the purpose of the association.
6. The General Meeting and the Executive Board nominate candidates for election to the new Executive Board.
7. In elections, the members with the most votes are elected to the board. The Executive Board determines the respective functions internally.
8. Minutes are to be taken of the resolutions of the General Meeting, which are to be signed by the respective secretary.

§ 15 Dissolution oft he association

1. The dissolution of the association can only be decided in a general meeting with a majority of nine tenths of the valid votes cast.
2. Resolutions by circulation are not permitted.
3. Unless the general meeting decides otherwise, the chairperson and the deputy chairperson are jointly authorized liquidators.
4. In the event of the dissolution of the association, withdrawal of legal capacity or the cessation of tax-privileged purposes, the assets in turn fall to ICOMOS e.V. Germany, based in Berlin. For its part, the beneficiary association must use the assets directly and exclusively for charitable purposes.