Cooperation in working groups

To strengthen collaboration, the Five Orders of St John share their experience in various projects and working groups. These cooperation groups work on topics such as communications and profile, youth projects, and the protection of their identity.

Since 1974 there has been a formal co-operation between the Four Orders of the Alliance of the Orders of St. John and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Initially, the intention was to fight the false orders and to protect the brand.

The Cooperation Group of the Orders of Saint John 

Today the leading body is the Co-operation Group of the Orders of St John with three separate Working Groups, each dedicated to a specific area. In addition, the Prelates of the five orders meet regularly (internally referred to as the „Pro Fide Group“ or also the „Prelates Group“).

The Committee on the Orders of St John 

In 1975 the mutually recognized Orders established the Committee on the Orders of Saint John as their first working group to protect their heritage and charitable output against various private organisations, who without any basis claim to have the same historic roots but are not recognized as such by the Five Orders. 

The Young Members Co-operation Group 

In 2014 the Cooperation Group decided to set the Young Members Cooperation Group (up to the Age of 45) with the role is to promote and provoke a discussion about the following questions: the future of the Orders with a 30 year perspective and what could be accomplished within a cooperation of all Five Orders, in particular with regard to youth projects.

The Charity Co-operation Group

In 2020 the five Orders established the Charity Cooperation Group to proactively coordinate any cooperation of the Five Orders which have committed to review its activities and assess possibilities for collaboration with any of the other four Orders. The Orders agreed that there is a need for a platform to show existing and encourage new common projects. Better and more frequent communication among each other has been identified as necessary, according to the principle: “Stay on the ground and build up relationships with local organisations.”