Die Altkatholischen Kirchen der Utrechter Union und die Kirche von Schweden – historische Begegnungen und aktuelle Entwicklungen

From the 19th century onwards, there have been encounters between Old Catholics and Swedish Lutherans, some through the relationships with Anglicans. Early on, Old Catholics tended to recognize in the Church of Sweden a kindred church. In 2005 an official dialogue between the Church of Sweden and the Union of Utrecht was initiated. The outcome of the dialogue was the document “Utrecht and Uppsala on the Way to Communion”, presented to the two churches in 2013. This document offers presentations of the two churches and outlines their common theological understanding. After a process of reception in both churches, the declaration of Communion proposed in the report of the dialogue was signed in 2016 by the Archbishops of Uppsala and of Utrecht. This agreement enables the two churches to welcome each other’s members and clergy as if they were their own. It also highlights that shared use of church resources and shared theological reflection could enrich both communities.