The Anglican–Old Catholic International Coordinating Council (AOCICC) met in the central European capital city of Prague, Czech Republic, from 16 to 19 January 2019. The meeting was hosted by the Union of Utrecht. This was the seventh and final meeting of the Council under its current mandate (2013–2019).
The work of this meeting centred on:
- finalising the Report of the Anglican–Old Catholic International Coordinating Council 2013–2019to the Anglican Consultative Council and the International Bishops’ Conference;
- the importance of and progress made in Safeguarding in both Communions;
- formulating recommendations for the next mandate of the AOCICC.
The Council was invited to a meeting with Cardinal Dominik Duka OP, Archbishop of Prague, and Auxiliary Bishop Václav Malý at the Archbishop’s palace. Members of the council appreciated the opportunity to learn from them about the challenges the Czech Churches faced throughout the 20th century and to the present day. Worshipping together has always been integral to the meetings of the Council. Alongside the Daily Office (celebrated alternatively according to the Anglican or Old Catholic tradition), the Council celebrated the Eucharist in the Old Catholic tradition at the Old Catholic Cathedral of St Lawrence in Prague, at the invitation of the Dean the Revd ThDr. Petr Jan Vinš. The Council thanks him, the bishop of the Old Catholic Church of the Czech Republic, the Rt Revd PhDr Pavel Benedikt Stránský, and the Bishop’s Office in Prague for organising and hosting the meeting.
For further information, please contact the Revd Neil Vigers (neil.vigers@anglicancommunion.org) or the Revd Lars Simpson (lars.simpson@christkath-zuerich.ch).
Websites: www.anglicancommunion.org and www.utrechter-union.org
Members of the Council:
of the Anglican Communion
The Right Revd Michael Burrows, Co-Chair
The Revd Jennifer Adams-Massmann (not present)
The Right Revd David Hamid
Ms Jennifer Knudsen
The Revd Tony Litwinski
The Revd Canon Dr John Gibaut, Anglican Communion Office (not present)
The Revd Neil Vigers, Co-Secretary, Anglican Communion Office
Ms Lucy Cowpland, Administrator for Communications & Unity, Faith, and Order, Anglican Communion Office
of the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht
The Right Revd Dr Dirk Jan Schoon, Co-Chair
The Revd Professor Dr Angela Berlis
The Revd ThDr. Petr Jan Vinš
The Revd Lars Simpson, Co-Secretary