Church Authority

The Old Catholic Church maintains episcopal governance: the church is led by bishops (episcopoi) in apostolic succession from the apostles. This threefold ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons is affirmed as essential to the church's structure and continuity with apostolic practice. Authority is exercised collegially through synods and councils, not autocratically through a single pope.

Apostolic succession is affirmed as valid and real: the Old Catholic Church maintains valid orders and sacraments through unbroken succession from the historic episcopate. The Church of Utrecht separated from Rome in 1724 over issues of Jansenism and papal claims; the Old Catholic Church emerged in 1870 when Old Catholics rejected Vatican I's definition of papal infallibility and papal universal jurisdiction. The church preserves authentic Catholic faith, order, and sacraments while rejecting Roman papal claims.

Decisions are made through synodical processes. The International Congress of the Old Catholic Church (established 1889) provides coordination among autonomous national churches. Each national Old Catholic Church is self-governing yet maintains communion with others. The church's teaching is determined by Scripture, apostolic tradition, ecumenical councils (up to Nicaea II in 787), and the ongoing development of doctrine under the guidance of the Holy Spirit—not by papal decree.