Building Bridges Across the Confessional Divide

Training Seminar in Vienna

10th - 11th September 2026

“…So That the World May Believe…” (John 17:21)

One of the most encouraging developments in recent years has been the growing collaboration between Catholics and Evangelical Protestants. The example of Christians from two distinct traditions working together serves as a powerful testimony to the truth and relevance of the Gospel in an increasingly secular world.

Building and sustaining effective partnerships of this kind is no simple undertaking. Sooner or later, important questions and challenges arise which, if not addressed thoughtfully, can weaken the very relationships we hope to strengthen. For example:

Theology

How do we address genuine doctrinal differences? Is it possible to bridge these gaps without compromising our respective convictions?

Church Teaching and Tradition

What does official Catholic teaching say about cooperation and shared witness with Christians from other traditions? How have Evangelicals approached these questions?

Language and Meaning

Do Catholics and Evangelicals understand terms such as evangelisation, conversion, and salvation in the same way? Where do our perspectives converge, and where do they differ?

Discipleship and Pastoral Care

When someone responds to the Gospel during a collaborative outreach or interconfessional event, how can we accompany them in ways that respect the integrity and pastoral responsibilities of both traditions?

Ministry and Methodology

What forms of ministry are best undertaken together, and what is better carried out within our respective churches and communities?

This two-day training event will help bring clarity to these and other related questions. In addition, it will provide practical tools and insights to help participants move from being observers of interconfessional cooperation to becoming confident and effective “bridge builders.”

Seminar Topics Include:

Why work together?
Recent developments that have changed the religious landscape in Europe
Why lasting ministry partnerships require more than goodwill and shared experiences
Dealing with theological “hot potatoes”
What about Mary?
Suggested guidelines for planning and leading interconfessional events
Principles for sharing the Gospel together
Understanding cultural and worldview differences
The importance of ministry “etiquette”
What do Evangelicals and Catholics each bring to the table?
Finding common ground
Examples of successful partnerships and what we can learn from them
Where do we begin?

In addition to lectures, there will be Q&A sessions and opportunities for small-group interaction designed to help participants put these principles into practice

Rob Clarke

Rob serves as the National Coordinator for CHARIS Ireland, a service established by Pope Francis to promote Life in the Spirit, foster Christian unity, and encourage outreach to those in need.

Originally from New Zealand, Rob was part of Youth With A Mission in Europe for 25 years. During that time, he helped launch RELaY, a European Catholic leaders' network. In 2010, he took up the leadership of Spirit Radio in Dublin, Ireland. Today, the station reaches more than 167,000 listeners each week across Ireland. He holds a Certificate in Theology from the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, UK, and is actively involved in initiatives that seek to strengthen understanding, cooperation, and unity among Christians. Rob is married to Anne, and they have six adult children.

Johannes Fichtenbauer

Johannes served for more than 20 years as Head Deacon and Director of Formation for Permanent Deacons in the Archdiocese of Vienna.

As co-founder and former chairman of Weg der Versöhnung, he was one of the pioneers of the reconciliation process between the Catholic Church and the Evangelical churches in Austria. In this role, he also serves as one of the leaders of the interconfessional initiative Together for Europe. Johannes and his wife, Christi, helped found the ecumenical community Umkehr zum Herrn in Vienna almost 50 years ago. He also serves as President Emeritus of the European Network of Communities, a family of more than 100 Catholic, Evangelical, and interconfessional communities and fellowships across Eastern and Western Europe.

Alfonso Cherene

Alfonso is a Brazilian Evangelical serving with YWAM in Spain for the past 45 years. Together with his wife, Debee, he founded Hope House Galicia, a multifaceted ministry that welcomes and serves seekers and pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago.

Alfonso and Debee have been instrumental in fostering what they describe as "a relational network of ministries" among Spanish Catholics and Evangelicals who share a desire to work together in bearing witness to the gospel and advancing God's kingdom throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

Bruce Clewett

Like the other speakers, Bruce is passionate about Christian unity and creating opportunities for believers from different church traditions to work together in fulfilling Christ's Great Commission.

Bruce is an American Evangelical who has served with Youth With A Mission in Europe since 1971, first in Germany and later in Austria. Together with Rob Clarke, he co-founded the RELaY network and Kerygma, a branch of YWAM with a primary focus on training and mobilizing Catholic young people for evangelization and mission. In 1998, Bruce joined Johannes Fichtenbauer in launching the European Network of Communities. Bruce and his wife, Esther, have three adult children and three grandchildren.

Seminar details:

Date: Thursday, 10 September 2026, 10:00 a.m. – Friday, 11 September 2026, 4:00 p.m.
Location: The Umkehr zum Herrn Community Center in Vienna
(Am Heidjöchl 6–8, 1220 Vienna)
Cost: Freewill donations are welcome to help cover the cost of the facilities, seminar materials, and meals. Snacks and a light evening meal will be provided on Thursday. To help keep costs low, we ask participants to assist with food preparation and clean-up.
Registration: Email bdc@kteams.org and put „Building Bridges Seminar“ in the subject line. Include your name and the church, movement, ministry, or organization you represent.
Organized by: YWAM Austria, Kerygma, and the Umkehr zum Herrn Community

Please Note: Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible if you plan to attend.