OLD CATHOLICS

Who are we?  We are a federation of several non-papal, autocephalous national Churches in Europe and North American united in the Union of Utrecht on the basis of the faith of the undivided Church of the first ten centuries.  We are thus definitely Catholic in faith, order and worship, but reject the Papal claims of infaliability and supremacy.  We are in full communion with the Churches of the Anglican Communion.  Old Catholics have participated in the World Council of Churches since its beginning and have official dialogue with both the Orthodox Churches and Roman Catholic Church.  Among them the Archbishop of Utrecht holds a primacy of honor not dissimilar to that accorded in the Anglican Communion to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

ANGLICANS

Who are they?  They are a world-wide group of autonomous, episcopally governed churches which are in communion with and accord a primacy of honor to the see of Canterbury.  Anglicans affirm that scripture contains all things necessary for salvation; the creeds as the sufficient statement of Christian faith; the sacraments of baptism and holy communion; and the historic episcopate.  They embrace a wide spectrum of theological views: evangelical, liberal, and catholic, reflecting the diverse influences which have formed them over the centuries.  Anglicans seek to hold this diversity in unity despite the inevitable tensions inherent in such an undertaking.

THE BONN AGREEMENT

The terms of the Bonn Agreement (1931) which led to full communion between Old Catholics and Anglicans, and which continues to be a pattern for further intercommunion relations between the churches, reads as follows:

1.  Each Communion recognizes the Catholicity and independence of the other, and maintains it.s own.

2.  Each Communion agrees to admit members of the other Communion to participate in the Sacraments.

3.  Intercommunion does not require from either Communion the acceptance of all doctrinal opinion, sacramental devotion or liturgical practice characteristic of the other, but implies that each believes the other to hold all the essentials of the Christian Faith.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN PRACTICAL TERMS?

Lay People:  The members of both churches may participate in each other's sacramental life and enjoy the benefits of pastoral and congregational life.

Priests:  Since the orders of each church are recognized by the other, priests and deacons of Anglican and Old Catholic Churches can fully participate in each other's ministries.

BIshops:  Bishops participate in the consecrations of bishops of both churches and have regular consulations at many levels.