International Old Catholic Bishops' Conference

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:

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.

The Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches

Unifying institutions	Old Catholic Archbishop of Utrecht International Old Catholic Bishops' Conference International Old Catholic Congresses

Member churches	Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany Old Catholic Church of Austria Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland Old Catholic Church of the Czech Republic Polish Catholic Church (see below for PNCC based in the United States)

Dependent jurisdictions	Old Catholic Church of Croatia Old Catholic Mission in France Old Catholic Church in Sweden and Denmark

Churches in full communion	Anglican Communion Philippine Independent Church

Churches no longer in communion	Old Catholic Church in Italy Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC; based in the United States)

External links

International Old Catholic Bishops' Conference

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