About us
The Vienna Community Church was founded in 1957 to serve the needs of the international English-speaking community, which was growing with the establishment of United Nations organizations in Vienna. Because of the diversity of Christian backgrounds within the international community it serves, the VCC has a broad and somewhat special mission in Vienna. While formally recognized by the Protestant Churces in Austria, the congregation is international and interdenominational in composition and ecumenical in spirit, broadly tolerant of conservative, traditional and liberal theology. We seek to provide an atmosphere in which all people, Christian and non-Christian, Austrian and non-Austrian, native English-speakers and those who speak English as a second language, may be renewed to meet the challenges of living in a cosmopolitan community. The congregation therefore comprises members from many countries world-wide and many different Christian denominations. Our members represent students, permanent residents from all walks of life (both Austrian and expatriate), and permanent or temporary residents employed by embassies, the United Nations agencies that have offices here, or international businesses that use Austria as a base for Eastern European operations.
Christian worship, education and fellowship are a vital part of our ministry to people of all ages. The church is dependent on the generosity of its members, who keep the church alive and lively by sharing their time and talents for the community. Many in our congregation are musicians who offer their talents to the VCC by performing at our services either individually or with the church choir each week. Others offer their support by assisting in the organization of the Sunday Services or in the administration of the church.
The VCC is not only dependent on its congregation's support for its effective organization and successful ministry, but is also dependent on their financial support since no assistance is received from any government body. As the church receives, so does it give. In addition to the yearly percentage given by the VCC to the Charities & Missions Team for distribution, our members support charity and emergency relief projects both in Austria and all over the world.
The VCC extends a warm welcome to all who wish to become members regardless of their denomination or the duration of their stay in Vienna. Membership may be gained by baptism or reaffirmation of faith and does not necessitate the renouncing of membership in the home church abroad. A VCC member becomes part of a large family and proclaims his support of this family both by attending the Sunday Service, giving whatever time is possible and by giving his vote at the twice yearly congregational meetings helping in the administration of the church.
For students, singles and families alike, the VCC becomes a haven in the midst of an often hectic and insecure way of life and becomes a source of friendship and neighbourliness.
Vienna Community Church Covenant
The VCC agrees upon the following main points as indication of the basic convictions of its membership:
- We believe in God, the Heavenly Father, whose goodness is our blessing and whose wisdom is our law.
- We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Divine Lord and personal Saviour, whose life and death and resurrection redeem and inspire all who accept Him .
- We believe in the Holy Spirit, by whom we are led in the ways of righteousness and love .
- We believe in the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God, which reveal to us His will and are our guide in faith and practice.
- We believe in the Kingdom of God as the divine rule in human society and we believe the Church to be Christ’s body of believers.
- We believe in the power of prayer, in baptism and Holy Communion as sacraments and in the life everlasting. Upon this foundation of our faith we covenant with one another and with God to live and labour together as true disciples of Jesus Christ.
Vienna Community Church Constitution and By-Laws
Associations
The Vienna Community church is formally recognized and associated with the Protestant (Evangelical) Churches in Austria and is also associated with the American and Foreign Christian Union.