30th International Old Catholic Congress


The 30th International Old Catholic Congress will be held in Zurich from 9 – 13 August this year. The theme is “You shall go out with joy”, taken from Isaiah 55.12. Through this theme, the participants will explore an intriguing question: "How can a zest for life and humour be of potential benefit to our faith, our spirituality and our community?"

It is clear that the congress organisers hope to inspire a joyful vision for the church, to stimulate one's personal spirituality as well the life of church communities. The programme for the 5 days includes lectures, workshops, worship, recreation and excursions. It is geared for laity and clergy, and for all ages. The following main speakers, and the topics they will address are confirmed:
  • Bishop Dr Dirk Schoon (Netherlands): “The church as a Place of Joy – Yesterday and Today”
  • Henriette Crüwell (Germany): Does God Have a Sense of Humour?”
  • Bishop Dr John Okoro (Austria): “How Seriously Should I Take Life?”
  • The Revd Dr Michael Bangert (Switzerland): “Humour and Humility as the Basis for Christian Spirituality”
Anglicans have been in full communion with the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht since 1931, and are warmly invited to attend the Congress. I will be there as a member of our official Anglican-Old Catholic Co-ordinating Council. It would be very good to have a sizable group from our Diocese present so that we could share experiences of our fellowship with the Old Catholics. The Congress language is German, but translation is provided into English, French, Dutch, Polish, Czech and Italian.

There is a website for the Congress with full information here. A registration form can be completed online here.

Comments

  1. Archbishop Michael J. Hillis, D.D.9 June 2010 at 00:22

    Dear Friends,
    My grandparents were born and raised in Holland
    and immigrated to Holland, MI many years ago. They lived in Warfhuizen and worked in a boat
    factory there. Someday I hope to travel there to
    visit their birthplace. I am the Presiding Bishop for Reconciliation Old Catholic Church in
    Phoenix Arizona USA and am hoping we can begin a
    dialogue with our sisters and brothers in Holland
    as to unify our churches. My prayers are with
    all of you as you prepare to attend the 30th
    International Old Catholic Congress.
    Sincerely In Christ,
    +Michael J. Hillis, D.D.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Farewell to the Diocese in Europe

Image
Deacon Frances and I packed up our office yesterday and turned over our official files, emails and equipment. Thus a close working together for 22 years comes to an end. So it is hard to believe that today, St David's day, a new chapter begins, after 44 years of stipendiary ministry, 22 years as deacon then priest and 22 as a bishop.  Here are just a few memories from the last couple of months...   But now it is time to begin a new chapter.  O God, by whose command the order of time runs its course: forgive our impatience, perfect our faith and, while we await the fulfilment of your promise, grant us to have a good hope because of your Word,  even Jesus Christ our Lord. (St Gregory Nazianzus, 330 - 390)
Read more

Archbishop of Canterbury's Pentecost Letter: A European Consequence

Image
In his Pentecost letter, the Archbishop of Canterbury warned of certain consequences for provinces of the Anglican Communion which have failed to stand by the three moratoria . (No authorisation of blessings services for same-sex unions; no consecrations of bishops living in same-sex relationships; and no bishop authorising any ministry within the diocese of another bishop without explicit permission). One consequence would be that representatives from such provinces w ould not be able to participate in the formal international interchurch dialogues of the Communion. One of those dialogues is the Anglican-Old Catholic International Co-ordinating Council ( AOCICC ), the official instrument set up to deepen the relationship of communion established in 1931 between the Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht . As the member Churches of the Union of Utrecht are all European, the AOCICC is effectively a European body. (I am one of the members, appo...
Read more

Bishop Austin Rios of California

Image
It was a joyful, colourful, multicultural three-hour liturgy. At Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, the Revd Austin Rios was consecrated the bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of California. I have known Austin from his time as the Rector of St Paul's Episcopal Church in Rome, where he was a great friend and collaborator with our own Church of England All Saints Chaplaincy in that city. The liturgy, appropriately, marked the multiculural make-up of the diocese, with prayers, readings, hymns and songs in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Tonga and Mandarin. The final procession was led by a Chinese dragon! I was told that there were about 300 in the procession and 2000 present in the beautiful gothic cathedral on Nob Hill San Francisco. My good friend and ecuenical colleague from Rome Fr Keith Peckers SJ was also in attenance, so the Church of Rome and the Church of England were both represented! Among the bishop friends present were Bishop Mark Edington of the Episcopal Convocation in Europe, a...
Read more