International Old Catholic Bishops' Conference
Encyclopedia
The International Old Catholic Bishops' Conference or International Bishops' Conference of the Union of Utrecht
is the convocation of bishops in the Old Catholic Churches of Europe that are in communion with the Archbishop of Utrecht
. It is similar to the Lambeth Conference in the Union's sister church, the Anglican Communion
. Like the Lambeth Conference, it is not a legislative body.
The IBC was founded in 1889 by the bishops of the Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands
, the Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany
, and the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
.
According to the Union of Utrecht, the primary responsibilities of the IBC are:
The Conference meets yearly.
Utrecht Union
The Union of Utrecht is a federation of Old Catholic Churches, not in communion with Rome, that seceded from the Roman Catholic Church over the issue of Papal infallibility. The Declaration of Utrecht solidified this movement in 1889...
is the convocation of bishops in the Old Catholic Churches of Europe that are in communion with the Archbishop of Utrecht
Old Catholic Church
The term Old Catholic Church is commonly used to describe a number of Ultrajectine Christian churches that originated with groups that split from the Roman Catholic Church over certain doctrines, most importantly that of Papal Infallibility...
. It is similar to the Lambeth Conference in the Union's sister church, the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
. Like the Lambeth Conference, it is not a legislative body.
The IBC was founded in 1889 by the bishops of the Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands
Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands
The Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands; , is the mother church related to the Old Catholic Churches. It is sometimes called Ancient Catholic Church, Church of Utrecht or Dutch Roman Catholic Church of the Old Episcopal Order...
, the Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany
Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany
The Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany is the German member body of the Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches. It is permitted to levy the German church tax on its members. Its Episcopal see is in Bonn, as is its theological faculty. Its memberships is concentrated around...
, and the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
The Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland is the Swiss member church of the Union of Utrecht, also known as Old Catholic Church, originally founded by the jansenists, with a later influx of discontented Catholics following their disappointment with the First Vatican Council. It has 14,000...
.
According to the Union of Utrecht, the primary responsibilities of the IBC are:
- maintaining community among the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht
- taking a stand in controversial questions of faith and related ethical behaviours as well as in church order
- making statements on faith and basic principles in the name of the Union of Utrecht in certain situations
- regulating the relationships with other churches and religious communities
- accepting a church into the Union of Utrecht
- accepting a bishop into the IBC
The Conference meets yearly.