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About the New Apostolic Church

New Apostolic Church

The New Apostolic Church is an international Christian church. The foundation of its teachings is the Holy Scripture. It developed from the Catholic Apostolic Church in 1863 and is led by apostles, just like the first Christian congregations.

 

The New Apostolic Church recognizes three sacraments: Holy Baptism, Holy Sealing, and Holy Communion. Baptism with water is the first and fundamental act of the triune God’s grace upon a human being who believes in Christ. Through the act of Holy Sealing, the baptized believer is filled with the Holy Spirit. This occurs through prayer and laying-on of hands of an apostle. The body and blood of Christ are imparted in the sacrament of Holy Communion.

 

The return of Christ to take home His bride is a central component of New Apostolic doctrine. Other significant elements are missionary work and love for one’s fellow human being. The New Apostolic Church emphasizes the personal accountability of its members for their actions. The individual is responsible to God for his behaviour. The gospel of Christ and the system of values inherent in the Ten Commandments provide clear orientation in this respect.The New Apostolic Church is politically neutral and independent. It is financed by the voluntary donations of its members. Nearly nine million Christians around the world currently profess the New Apostolic faith.

Vision and Mission ↑

Vision ↑

A church in which people feel at home and, inspired by the Holy Spirit and their love for God, align their lives to the gospel of Jesus Christ and thus prepare themselves for His return and eternal life.

Mission ↑

Reaching out to all people in order to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ an to baptise them with water and the Holy Spirit. Providing soul care and cultivating a warm fellowship in which everyone shall experience the the love of God and the joy of serving Him and others.

 

Serving and Leading ↑

Preamble ↑

With this guideline the New Apostolic Church wants to create a uniform basis for serving and leading within the Church. This guideline is intended to be mandatory for all and to help the individual, through Christian charity, understanding and esteem, to contribute to the unity of the Church and the community.

Leading in the New Apostolic Church is never an end in itself, but should help all of the faithful to achieve the goal of faith, which is to belong to Christ’s bride at the First Resurrection and to attain eternal fellowship with God. Here the principles of Jesus Christ’s teachings are binding.

Serving and leading must be guided by obedience to things divine, by fervent prayer, and by acting in the fear of God. This will enable cooperative endeavors based on trust and a feeling of belonging. The leaders of the Church attach great importance to assuring this style of leadership is practised everywhere.

Introduction ↑

The gospel of Jesus Christ has timeless validity. Notwithstanding the Church leaders assess very carefully whether received methods of serving and leading are still in line with today’s demands. They are well aware of their responsibility to retain what has proved its worth.

The changing attitude many people have towards work and leadership require greater empathy, willingness to talk, and cooperative readiness. By acting and thinking responsibly, the gifts and capabilities of the individual can unfold for the interest and the good of the Church as well as for his own well-being.

Serving and leading in the New Apostolic Church will be explained under the following headings below:

Requirements for those entrusted to lead

  • Authority
  • Leadership style
  • Delegating
  • Communication
  • Overcoming conflicts

When, in the following, we speak of those entrusted to lead, we include: the Chief Apostle, District Apostles, Apostles, Bishops, district ministers, congregation rectors; specially commissioned Brothers and Sisters such as chairpersons of working groups and committees.

Requirements for those entrusted to lead ↑

To fulfill the functions of those entrusted to lead spiritual qualities like:

  • Profound faith
  • Fear of God
  • Love of one’s fellow man are necessary,

as well as qualities of leadership like:

  • Openness
  • Honesty
  • Discretion
  • Ability to communicate and take criticism
  • Self-confidence
  • Enthusiasm and self-sacrifice
  • Resilience

Those entrusted to lead should always be ready to assess their own leadership style and to continue to develop their ability to lead. In line with Christian understanding, they respect the religious views of all persons. They do not deprecate other cultures, customs, and practices. Rather in their encounters with others they show due respect. They do not demand more from ministers and Brothers and Sisters than they are prepared to do themselves.

The credibility of those entrusted to lead requires that they keep their commitments, that their actions are plausible, and that their decisions are well-founded. Here a passage from James (1:22) provides a valuable orientation:

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only; deceiving your own selves.

Authority ↑

Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. The Chief Apostle is the head of all Apostles; he leads the Church, together with the Apostles. Jesus Christ said:

John 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

We must distinguish between inner and outer authority. Outer authority is the exercise of power due to the individual’s position. Inner authority, on the other hand, is primarily characterized by:

  • Personally embracing and practising our teachings and instructions
  • The ability to convince through a credible manner and through imparting teachings and instructions in a well-founded way
  • Spiritual, humane, and professional competence
  • Personal integrity and reliability

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