The roots of the Lay Forum go back to a resolution of the International Old Catholic Youth (IAKJ) 1990: "In order to strengthen the unity of the Union of Utrecht, we would like an international Old Catholic Lay Council to be created." The Old Catholic Congress in Geneva in 1990 did not approve the creation of such a lay council, but agreed to an open Lay Forum that would be open to interested lay people from all countries without particular delegates.

Since then, every year - except in the Congress years - lay people from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands (and in the beginning also Poland) have met for a Lay Forum lasting several days. Many participants return year after year, because they have experienced how much inspiration they receive through the exchange beyond national borders for their work in church and community. Spirituality, the roll of lay people in the liturgy, lay people in the Union of Utrecht, the identity of our church,... these are some of the themes the Lay Forum has discussed. The participants have always been clear that "according to Old Catholic understanding, we can only carry on the Apostolic Succession in the full community of lay and clergy, men and women."

The theme of the Old Catholic Congress in Prague, 2002 was "Being Old Catholic in the 21st Century". This theme will be carried further in the Lay Forum 2003 when we discuss "What does it mean to lay people to be church in the 21st century?" With this variation of the theme of the Old Catholic Congress we want to discover how we lay people live out and experience Church today, and what developments we hope for and consider possible. How do other churches receive the present motto in the Swiss church: 'Small is beautiful'? Is there a renewal movement in other local churches, and what does it look like? Where is lay participation encouraged today, and where could it be encouraged more in the future? Synodality, that is the co-responsibility of everyone in the church according to their talents and mission, is considered by many to be the main characteristic of our Old Catholic churches. What role does it play in our parishes, our dioceses? Do lay people have (take) a share in the responsibility at all levels?