The Bonn agreement reads as follows:

• Each Communion recognises the Catholicity and independence of the other, and maintains its own.

• Each Communion agrees to admit members of the other Communion to participate in the Sacraments.

• Intercommunion does not require from either Communion the acceptance of all doctrinal opinion, sacramental devotion or liturgical practice characteristic of the other, but implies that each believes the other to hold all the essentials of the Christian Faith.

The third paragraph makes it clear that intercommunion does not affect the independent lives of the churches, but rather that it affirms their unity in the riches and fullness of Christ.

What does this mean in practice?

Lay people

The members of both churches may participate in each other's pastoral, congregational and sacramental life.

Priests

Since the orders of each church are recognised by the other, priests and deacons of Anglican and Old Catholic Churches can fully participate in each other's ministries. Old Catholic clergy can serve Anglican congregations and vice versa.

Bishops

Bishops participate in the consecrations of bishops of both churches and have regular consultations at many levels. They also administer the sacrament of confirmation in each other's churches.

The Union of Utrecht is represented at the Lambeth Conference and in the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC).