NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY
The Deputy of the Fuehrer Chief of Staff
Munich, Brown House, 27 July 1938
III Entered 11 Aug 38 6691
[Stamped]
Rosenberg Chancellery
[Stamped] Entry No. 2896k 3 Aug 38
REGULATION NR 104/38
(Not to be published)
Requested to be returned from III, Returned 22 Aug
[in pencil]
With regard to the constantly emphasized neutrality of the party with the churches, it is pertinent to eliminate, as far as possible, the existing frictions. Since pastors, as political and subordinate leaders have shown in the past that they were not able to make decisions when the job of trusteeship was added to the danger of having them drawn into church conflicts, the Deputy of the Fuehrer has decreed the following:
1. Pastors are to be released immediately from their party function as standard bearers [Hoheitstraeger].
2. Pastors are to be interchanged little by little according to replacements at hand as political or subordinate leaders of the congregations.
3. As of now, it is forbidden to continue appointments of pastors to positions in the Party, to their congregations, and to groups associated with church activities.