The Anglican–Old Catholic International Coordinating Council (AOCICC) has met in Vienna, Austria, to discuss shared work on refugee support, care for creation, safeguarding and ecumenical relations.

The Council met from 14 to 16 July at the Old Catholic Parish of Vienna-East, known as the Christuskapelle and was hosted by the Union of Utrecht. Members heard reports from the 19th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council, which met in Belfast from 28 June to 4 July, and from the Old Catholic International Bishops’ Conference, held in Konstancin-Jeziorna, Poland, in June.

The Council discussed the results of a survey examining how Anglican and Old Catholic congregations and dioceses are responding to the pressing challenges of supporting refugees and caring for creation. The survey found that 63 per cent of respondents were actively working with refugees. Of these, 80 per cent received no funding for this work. Most of the initiatives involved cooperation with other churches and civic organisations. The survey also found that 68 per cent of respondents observed Creationtide and 57 per cent had made at least some environmental commitments. However, 75 per cent did not participate in a formal eco-church programme. The Council said the findings suggested a gap between informal environmental engagement and participation in formal programmes, while acknowledging that some responding congregations did not own their church buildings.

Discussions also covered the different safeguarding requirements in Anglican and Old Catholic churches and dioceses. Members considered the arrangements that apply when clergy move between the two traditions, including licensing, educational expectations and ecclesiastical residency. The Council noted that expectations were not always clear and said it would recommend that churches publish official guidance.

Members also considered how the Anglican Communion and the Union of Utrecht might mark a series of significant Christian anniversaries between 2030 and 2033. The year 2033 will mark 2,000 years since the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Council considered a range of possible ways of marking these anniversaries, which it will commend to the Anglican Communion and the Union of Utrecht.

Click to read the full communiqué.