Old Apostolic Church
Encyclopedia
The Old Apostolic Church is a Christian religious community, with historical roots in the Catholic Apostolic Church
and the New Apostolic Church
. The Old Apostolic Church is part of a branch of Christianity called Irvingism, and is separate from Protestantism.
, that was founded in 1832 by Henry Drummond, Edward Irving
, and others.
After the death of three Catholic Apostolic Apostles in 1855 the apostolate declared that there was no reason to call new apostles. Two callings of substitutes ("Jesus calleth thee Apostolic Messenger. He would use thee Coadjutor for him whom He hath gathered to Himself.") were explained by the apostolate in 1860 as Coadjutors to the remaining apostles. After this event another apostle was called in Germany in 1862 by the prophet Heinrich Geyer. The Apostles did not agree with this calling, and therefore the larger part of the Hamburg
congregation who followed their Bishop F.W. Schwartz in this schism were excommunicated
. Out of this sprang the Allgemeine Christliche Apostolische Mission (ACAM) in 1863 and the Dutch branch of the Restored Apostolic Mission Church
(at first known as Apostolische Zending, since 1893 officially registered as Hersteld Apostolische Zendingkerk (HAZK)). This later became the New Apostolic Church
.
In 1889 Evangelist
Carl George Klibbe arrived in South Africa to begin mission work for the New Apostolic Church. He was ordained Apostle
in 1893 by Apostle H.F. Niemeyer of Australia. At that time the office of Chief Apostle was not yet established and each Apostle functioned independently from one other. Due to the personality cult of Chief Apostle Hermann Niehaus, Niemeyer separated himself from the German branch of the Church and founded The Apostolic Church of Queensland
in 1912.
The South African branch also severed all contact with the German branch. The following reasons are given by the Old Apostolic Church for this act:
Niehaus tried to remove Klibbe from office and a counter-Apostle, Wilhelm Schlaphoff was appointed. In 1913 Klibbe was excommunicated from the New Apostolic Church. For some time, there were two conflicting organisations in South Africa using the name New Apostolic Church
; the registered church under the leadership of Klibbe and a breakaway group under the counter-Apostle Schlaphoff.
Finally, in 1926, an agreement and settlement was reached between the two churches. The church that became independent in 1915 would change its name to the Old Apostolic Church, so that Schlaphoff could register the New Apostolic Church(Africa). The name "Old Apostolic Church" was chosen due to Klibbe's dedication to the original doctrine At the time of Klibbe's death on 22 May 1931 the Old Apostolic Church had more than 1 million adherents. Apostles Ernest Fredrick Willhelm Ninow, Carl Fredrick Willhelm Ninow and William Campbell were appointed by Klibbe before he died.
In mid 2006 three Apostles and their followers of the German church Apostelamt Jesu Christi
joined the Old Apostolic Church. In the beginning of 2007 this German branch of the OAC was registered as Altapostolische Kirch e.v. (Deutschland).
At present the Old Apostolic Church is estimated to have around 2 million members in Africa and 30 000 in Europe. Congregations can be found in South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, USA, Canada, British Isles, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. The Old Apostolic Church is independent from the New Apostolic Church and the United Apostolic Church.
The OAC is divided in districts for administrative purposes. There are currently nine districts, (Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Free State/Northern Cape, Gauteng, Northern Districts, Botswana/Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Germany. Each district is under the control of the Forum of Apostles, which consists of the Apostles working out of that District Office.
The District Office is under the administrative leadership of the District Secretary, who is usually a Fourfold Officer (Overseer, Prophet, or Evangelist). The District Office also has welfare officers and staff to administer the church's funeral fund.
Each Apostle is responsible for a specific area known as an Apostleship. An Apostleship consists of several Overseerships.
An Overseership is led by a troika of an Overseer, Evangelist and Prophet. An Overseership is divided in several Elderships.
An Eldeship, under the leadership of an Elder might be one or several congregations, and consists of several Priests and Underdeacons. The Priest is responsible for the spiritual welfare of the congregants and is assisted by the Underdeacon who leads Bible study and evangelistic testimony.
Some Elders and Priests may receive specific responsibilities such as Evangelistic, Prophetic, Youth, Senior Citizens, Hospital Chaplaincy or Military and Police Chaplaincy.
Ministers in the OAC are appointed and ordained by the Apostle through the laying on of hands. They are chosen through the discernment of spiritual gifts given by God, and though they do not receive any theological training, doctrine and scriptures are taught through the breaking of bread within the Church, and by teachings which are inspired by the Holy Spirit and by the Scriptures. All ministers are lay persons, and do not receive any salaries.
The Old Apostolic Church, like most main-stream churches, believes in the Apostles Creed
For some years, a relationship was maintained with the German Apostelamt Jesu Christi (AJC), a church with similar views. This relationship was broken when three AJC Apostles and several congregations formed the German branch of the Old Apostolic Church in 2006.
. It is intrinsically separated from government (as opposed to a theocracy, or an "established" or state church). The Old Apostolic Church does not define government policy, nor have governments define church policy or theology, nor seek or receive government endorsement or funding for its general mission.
Members of the Old Apostolic Church are not allowed to become registered members of any political parties, stand for election, or openly declare their political views. The OAC do not support any political parties. Members are however allowed to vote.
Members must obey all laws of the countries in which they reside.
The leadership of the Old Apostolic Church did make some submissions to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa), and was the only Apostolic (Irvingist) Church to do so. The church policy stipulates that all assistance will be given to government.
The Old Apostolic Church's view on non-participation in politics has led to two schisms. In 1972 several coloured members formed the Reformed Old Apostolic Church, and in 1968 several black members formed the Twelve Apostles Church of Africa.
e Ou Vertaling (Hersiene Uitgawe) is used in Afrikaans speaking congregations. In Germany the 1912 Luther Bible is used.
Before the introduction of the first Bible in Afrikaans in 1933, the Dutch Bible was used mostly among Afrikaans speaking members.
The Old Apostolic Church do not believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible and that the natural needs to be considered to understand the spiritual. The Bible should be interpreted spiritually or allegorical. The Bible is understood in a Natural and Spiritual way and Spiritual interpretation is preferred. The stories in the Bible are historical events, but are lessons that have to be interpreted in the same way as the parables in the Gospels.
The Bible is not the only source of authority (Sola Scriptura
), it must go hand in hand with the Holy Spirit
to interpret the text. The Bible cannot give salvation but can lead the way to salvation which is by the Grace of God. According to OAC beliefs no more texts can be added to the Bible. Focus is placed on the fact that the Holy Bible states that it is the the prophecy of the book to which nothing can be added or removed rather than the more commonly followed view that it is the changing of the written text itself. Holy Bible Revelations 22:19. The importance being mostly on the fact that it is the prophecy of the book that is of highest importance. (Revelations 22:7, 22:10, 22:18, 22:19 KJV)
Salvation is by the Grace of God, which is according to the OAC is in Jesus Christ, and not in the Bible, though the Bible is used in teachings and testimonies. The church is not founded on the Bible, but on Jesus Christ, and the scriptures testify of Jesus Christ.
and Holy Sealing.
The OAC also believes that these sacraments can be given to the departed. This is performed by an Apostle
by giving the sacraments to two substitutes (normally a Fourfold Officer and his wife). According to OAC belief, the dead do not enter the body of the substitute, or reside within any members, as only one soul (the mind of the person) and one spirit (Holy Spirit
) can be present within a body.
Catholic Apostolic Church
The Catholic Apostolic Church was a religious movement which originated in England around 1831 and later spread to Germany and the United States. While often referred to as Irvingism, it was neither actually founded nor anticipated by Edward Irving. The Catholic Apostolic Church was organised in...
and the New Apostolic Church
New Apostolic Church
The New Apostolic Church is a chiliastic church, converted to Protestantism as a free church from the Catholic Apostolic Church. The church has existed since 1879 in Germany and since 1897 in the Netherlands...
. The Old Apostolic Church is part of a branch of Christianity called Irvingism, and is separate from Protestantism.
History
The Old Apostolic Church's roots are found in the Catholic Apostolic ChurchCatholic Apostolic Church
The Catholic Apostolic Church was a religious movement which originated in England around 1831 and later spread to Germany and the United States. While often referred to as Irvingism, it was neither actually founded nor anticipated by Edward Irving. The Catholic Apostolic Church was organised in...
, that was founded in 1832 by Henry Drummond, Edward Irving
Edward Irving
*For Edward Irving, the Canadian geologist, see Edward A. Irving.Edward Irving was a Scottish clergyman, generally regarded as the main figure behind the foundation of the Catholic Apostolic Church.-Youth:...
, and others.
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
congregation who followed their Bishop F.W. Schwartz in this schism were excommunicated
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
. Out of this sprang the Allgemeine Christliche Apostolische Mission (ACAM) in 1863 and the Dutch branch of the Restored Apostolic Mission Church
Restored Apostolic Mission Church
The Restored Apostolic Mission Church was a bible-believing, chiliastic church society in the Netherlands, Germany, South Africa and Australia. It came forth from the Catholic Apostolic Congregation at Hamburg that separated itself from the mother-church in 1863...
(at first known as Apostolische Zending, since 1893 officially registered as Hersteld Apostolische Zendingkerk (HAZK)). This later became the New Apostolic Church
New Apostolic Church
The New Apostolic Church is a chiliastic church, converted to Protestantism as a free church from the Catholic Apostolic Church. The church has existed since 1879 in Germany and since 1897 in the Netherlands...
.
In 1889 Evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
Carl George Klibbe arrived in South Africa to begin mission work for the New Apostolic Church. He was ordained Apostle
Apostle
An apostle is a messenger and ambassador.Apostle and apostles may refer to:-Religion:* Apostle , one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, named in the New Testament...
in 1893 by Apostle H.F. Niemeyer of Australia. At that time the office of Chief Apostle was not yet established and each Apostle functioned independently from one other. Due to the personality cult of Chief Apostle Hermann Niehaus, Niemeyer separated himself from the German branch of the Church and founded The Apostolic Church of Queensland
Apostolic Church of Queensland
The Apostolic Church of Queensland is an Australian church which has its roots in the restoration movement of the Catholic Apostolic Church of the early 19th century. It was founded 1883 in Queensland, Australia by H. F...
in 1912.
The South African branch also severed all contact with the German branch. The following reasons are given by the Old Apostolic Church for this act:
- Niehaus' ban on prophetic gifts (visions, dreams and prophecies),
- Niehaus' refusal to appoint Prophets,
- Niehaus' acceptance of the literal interpretation of the Bible,
- establishment of the office of Chief Apostle, and
- personality cult that formed around the Chief Apostle.
Niehaus tried to remove Klibbe from office and a counter-Apostle, Wilhelm Schlaphoff was appointed. In 1913 Klibbe was excommunicated from the New Apostolic Church. For some time, there were two conflicting organisations in South Africa using the name New Apostolic Church
New Apostolic Church
The New Apostolic Church is a chiliastic church, converted to Protestantism as a free church from the Catholic Apostolic Church. The church has existed since 1879 in Germany and since 1897 in the Netherlands...
; the registered church under the leadership of Klibbe and a breakaway group under the counter-Apostle Schlaphoff.
Finally, in 1926, an agreement and settlement was reached between the two churches. The church that became independent in 1915 would change its name to the Old Apostolic Church, so that Schlaphoff could register the New Apostolic Church(Africa). The name "Old Apostolic Church" was chosen due to Klibbe's dedication to the original doctrine At the time of Klibbe's death on 22 May 1931 the Old Apostolic Church had more than 1 million adherents. Apostles Ernest Fredrick Willhelm Ninow, Carl Fredrick Willhelm Ninow and William Campbell were appointed by Klibbe before he died.
In mid 2006 three Apostles and their followers of the German church Apostelamt Jesu Christi
Apostelamt Jesu Christi
Apostelamt Jesu Christi is a German Christian church with historical roots in the Catholic Apostolic Church and the New Apostolic Church...
joined the Old Apostolic Church. In the beginning of 2007 this German branch of the OAC was registered as Altapostolische Kirch e.v. (Deutschland).
At present the Old Apostolic Church is estimated to have around 2 million members in Africa and 30 000 in Europe. Congregations can be found in South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, USA, Canada, British Isles, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. The Old Apostolic Church is independent from the New Apostolic Church and the United Apostolic Church.
Schisms from the Old Apostolic Church
The following groups broke away from the Old Apostolic Church:- 1925 "Apostolic Church" under the leadership of Heinrich Velde, the son in law of Apostle Klibbe. This group became part of the Apostolic Church of South Africa - Apostle UnityApostolic Church of South Africa - Apostle UnityThe Apostolic Church is the South African branch of the United Apostolic Church. It has roots in the Catholic Apostolic Church in the early 19th century. It was founded in 1955 as a schism of the New Apostolic Church...
and the United Apostolic ChurchUnited Apostolic ChurchThe member churches of the United Apostolic Church are independent communities in the tradition of the catholic-apostolic revival movement which started at the beginning of the 19th century in England and Scotland....
. - 1968 Twelve Apostles Church of Africa, due to doctrinal differences under the leadership of Helper-Apostle Ndlovu after he was removed from office.
- 1972 Reformed Old Apostolic ChurchReformed Old Apostolic ChurchThe Reformed Old Apostolic Church is a chiliastic sect with roots in the Catholic Apostolic Church and the Old Apostolic Church. It is part of a branch in Christianity called Irvingism and is separate from Protestantism with membership mostly restricted to the coloured communities, in the...
under the leadership of Apostle Robert LombardRobert LombardRobert William Lombart was the first coloured apostle of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa and founder of the Non-White Old Apostolic Church, that later became known as the Reformed Old Apostolic Church.-Life:...
, broke away due to the unwillingness of the Old Apostolic Church leadership to take part in political debate concerning racial segregation, and a leadership dispute with other OAC Apostles concerning revelations received by Lombard. It was first established as the Non-White Old Apostolic Church but forced to change its name in a court case in 1975
Organisation
The leadership of the Old Apostolic Church is a body known as the Conference of Apostles. This body is responsible for all temporal and spiritual matters relating to the church. The conference of Apostles consists of all active and retired Apostles of the church, and is led by the Chairman who is appointed for a term of two years. The Chairman may not serve more than two terms.The OAC is divided in districts for administrative purposes. There are currently nine districts, (Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Free State/Northern Cape, Gauteng, Northern Districts, Botswana/Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Germany. Each district is under the control of the Forum of Apostles, which consists of the Apostles working out of that District Office.
The District Office is under the administrative leadership of the District Secretary, who is usually a Fourfold Officer (Overseer, Prophet, or Evangelist). The District Office also has welfare officers and staff to administer the church's funeral fund.
Each Apostle is responsible for a specific area known as an Apostleship. An Apostleship consists of several Overseerships.
An Overseership is led by a troika of an Overseer, Evangelist and Prophet. An Overseership is divided in several Elderships.
An Eldeship, under the leadership of an Elder might be one or several congregations, and consists of several Priests and Underdeacons. The Priest is responsible for the spiritual welfare of the congregants and is assisted by the Underdeacon who leads Bible study and evangelistic testimony.
Some Elders and Priests may receive specific responsibilities such as Evangelistic, Prophetic, Youth, Senior Citizens, Hospital Chaplaincy or Military and Police Chaplaincy.
Ministers in the OAC are appointed and ordained by the Apostle through the laying on of hands. They are chosen through the discernment of spiritual gifts given by God, and though they do not receive any theological training, doctrine and scriptures are taught through the breaking of bread within the Church, and by teachings which are inspired by the Holy Spirit and by the Scriptures. All ministers are lay persons, and do not receive any salaries.
Ecumenism
The Old Apostolic Church is not an exclusivist church and does not believe that it is the only path to salvation. The Old Apostolic Church believes that one is saved by grace and that the Grace of God.The Old Apostolic Church, like most main-stream churches, believes in the Apostles Creed
For some years, a relationship was maintained with the German Apostelamt Jesu Christi (AJC), a church with similar views. This relationship was broken when three AJC Apostles and several congregations formed the German branch of the Old Apostolic Church in 2006.
Politics
The Old Apostolic Church is a free churchFree church
The term "free church" refers to a Christian denomination that is intrinsically separated from government . A free church does not define government policy, nor have governments define church policy or theology, nor seeks or receives government endorsement or funding for its general mission...
. It is intrinsically separated from government (as opposed to a theocracy, or an "established" or state church). The Old Apostolic Church does not define government policy, nor have governments define church policy or theology, nor seek or receive government endorsement or funding for its general mission.
Members of the Old Apostolic Church are not allowed to become registered members of any political parties, stand for election, or openly declare their political views. The OAC do not support any political parties. Members are however allowed to vote.
Members must obey all laws of the countries in which they reside.
The leadership of the Old Apostolic Church did make some submissions to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa), and was the only Apostolic (Irvingist) Church to do so. The church policy stipulates that all assistance will be given to government.
The Old Apostolic Church's view on non-participation in politics has led to two schisms. In 1972 several coloured members formed the Reformed Old Apostolic Church, and in 1968 several black members formed the Twelve Apostles Church of Africa.
The Bible
The Old Apostolic Church recognises and uses the Authorised King James Version as primary text. All Bibles used must be comparable to the Authorised King James Version. The AfrikaansAfrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
e Ou Vertaling (Hersiene Uitgawe) is used in Afrikaans speaking congregations. In Germany the 1912 Luther Bible is used.
Before the introduction of the first Bible in Afrikaans in 1933, the Dutch Bible was used mostly among Afrikaans speaking members.
The Old Apostolic Church do not believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible and that the natural needs to be considered to understand the spiritual. The Bible should be interpreted spiritually or allegorical. The Bible is understood in a Natural and Spiritual way and Spiritual interpretation is preferred. The stories in the Bible are historical events, but are lessons that have to be interpreted in the same way as the parables in the Gospels.
The Bible is not the only source of authority (Sola Scriptura
Sola scriptura
Sola scriptura is the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. Consequently, sola scriptura demands that only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid...
), it must go hand in hand with the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
to interpret the text. The Bible cannot give salvation but can lead the way to salvation which is by the Grace of God. According to OAC beliefs no more texts can be added to the Bible. Focus is placed on the fact that the Holy Bible states that it is the the prophecy of the book to which nothing can be added or removed rather than the more commonly followed view that it is the changing of the written text itself. Holy Bible Revelations 22:19. The importance being mostly on the fact that it is the prophecy of the book that is of highest importance. (Revelations 22:7, 22:10, 22:18, 22:19 KJV)
Salvation is by the Grace of God, which is according to the OAC is in Jesus Christ, and not in the Bible, though the Bible is used in teachings and testimonies. The church is not founded on the Bible, but on Jesus Christ, and the scriptures testify of Jesus Christ.
Sacraments
The OAC believes that there are three sacraments; Holy Communion, Holy BaptismBaptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
and Holy Sealing.
The OAC also believes that these sacraments can be given to the departed. This is performed by an Apostle
Apostle
An apostle is a messenger and ambassador.Apostle and apostles may refer to:-Religion:* Apostle , one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, named in the New Testament...
by giving the sacraments to two substitutes (normally a Fourfold Officer and his wife). According to OAC belief, the dead do not enter the body of the substitute, or reside within any members, as only one soul (the mind of the person) and one spirit (Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
) can be present within a body.
Sources
- Tang, M.J.: Het Apostolische Werk in Nederland.
- History of the New Apostolic Church in South East Africa
- History of the Apostolic Church of Queensland
External links
- http://www.oldapostolic.com The Old Apostolic Church Official Page
- http://www.oldapostolic.eu Old Apostolic Church: European Mirror Web Page
- http://www.oldapostolic.net Unofficial Web Page
- http://www.vasvat.co.za Old Apostolic Church - Drug Addiction and Welfare Program
- http://www.oldapostolics.com Old Apostolic Church Social Network