Apostolic Church of South Africa - Apostle Unity
Encyclopedia
The 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
. It is part of a branch of Christianity
called Irvingism, and is separate from Protestantism.
It is a member church of the United Apostolic Church
which was founded in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1956, after several apostles of the New Apostolic Church
were excommunicated for refusing to accept the teachings of the Chief Apostle
that Jesus Christ would return in his lifetime.
Its logo is a four R-symbol, which is also used by the Australian sister church, The Apostolic Church of Queensland
. The four "R"s stand for: RIGHT - ROYAL - RIGHTEOUS - RICH. RIGHT according to the Bible, ROYAL as the Bride to have membership with Christ, RIGHTEOUS in partaking of the body and blood of Christ and RICH in the promises Christ gave to his apostles.
Carl George Klibbe arrived in South Africa to begin his mission work for the Apostolic Church. He was ordained as an 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 another. 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. In 1913, Klibbe was excommunicated from the New Apostolic Church. He then founded the New Apostolic Church
(Africa). Klibbe later renamed the church the Old Apostolic Church
of Africa. Also in 1913, he ordained his son-in-law H. Velde as priest
in Swakopmund, Namibia. Velde was sent to Johannesburg. Later he was ordained as elder, and as an evangelist.
In 1920 Apostle H.F. Niemeyer died. He was succeeded by his son, Wilhelm Niemeyer. A break occurred between the young Niemeyer and Klibbe. In 1925, Apostle Wilhelm Niemeyer appointed Hendrik Velde as Apostle for Africa, and Velde and his followers founded a separate Church from Klibbe, named The Apostolic Church of South Africa. On September 27, 1956 Velde died after a traffic accident in Wynberg, Cape Town.
in 1926 after an agreement was reached between Klibbe and Kreunen, a member of the New Apostolic Church. Due to the "Botschaft" of the Chief Apostle Johann Gottfried Bischoff, the New Apostolic Church suffered serious conflicts in the 1950s. In 1954, the apostles Philippus Jacobus Erasmus (1904–1960) and D.C.S. Malan (1918–1968) were excommunicated. Heinrich Franz Schlaphoff (1894–1965) resigned from his office as Apostle. They administered a prosperous district of about 60,000 members. They founded the Apostolic Church and many members of the New Apostolic Church followed them.
.
On 14 May 1972 two new apostles were ordained: Johannes Philippus Erasmus (1943) and Josua Jeremia Joubert (1932). In 1978, Philippus Jacobus Erasmus retired. He died on 26 October 1986. In 1989, a mission was opened in the homeland of Venda. In February 1993, the congregations celebrated their centenary. At the end of July 1997, Apostle Joubert retired.
Some within the church believe there will be an influx of new members (mainly from the New Apostolic Church) in the near future and that all must be prepared to receive them. There is a renewed surge to make the truth about the great split that took place in the 1950s known to all. The delay in this influx not happening sooner can possibly be ascribed to the fact that it must first shed this stigma relating to its control and financial (mis-) management and prove that decisions are made with a clear view towards furthering the work of God and not to please man. Only by appointing competent people with the desired spiritual credentials and not natural relations will help it to move forward towards a sustainable independent future. It is still evident that the son of the current Apostle is the first in line to take over the reigns as Apostle.
During October 2011 a 'new and improved' constitution was signed into power with great 'fanfare' at the church headquarters in Crosby. This constitution ensures the future of the church and that no one person has the right to claim ownership thereof. A new Board of Executors as well as an Executive Financial Board was appointed. Critics contend that the constitution is flawed because one person (the current working Apostle) decides who will be members of these 'executive boards'. According to some sources, this has resulted in only direct family members and close allies of the Apostle being represented on these boards. Critics claim that tis has effectively left no transparency when it comes to the management of the funds of the church.
The church is divided into 8 districts with 34 parishes which are mainly situated in the provinces of Western Cape
and Gauteng
. The church's headquarters is located in Johannesburg
in Gauteng
province.
United Apostolic Church
The 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....
. It has roots in the Catholic Apostolic Church
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...
in the early 19th century. It was founded in 1955 as a schism of 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...
. It is part of a branch of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
called Irvingism, and is separate from Protestantism.
It is a member church of the United Apostolic Church
United Apostolic Church
The 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....
which was founded in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1956, after several apostles of 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...
were excommunicated for refusing to accept the teachings of the Chief Apostle
Chief Apostle
The Chief Apostle is the highest minister in the New Apostolic Church, and has existed since 1896.-History:The term "Chief Apostle" was first used officially to describe Jesus Christ in the New Covenant Scriptures, Book of Hebrews, Chapter 3, verse 1, where he is also called the High Priest...
that Jesus Christ would return in his lifetime.
Its logo is a four R-symbol, which is also used by the Australian sister church, 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...
. The four "R"s stand for: RIGHT - ROYAL - RIGHTEOUS - RICH. RIGHT according to the Bible, ROYAL as the Bride to have membership with Christ, RIGHTEOUS in partaking of the body and blood of Christ and RICH in the promises Christ gave to his apostles.
History of the Klibbe group
In 1889, EvangelistEvangelism
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 his mission work for the Apostolic Church. He was ordained as 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...
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 another. 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. In 1913, Klibbe was excommunicated from the New Apostolic Church. He then founded 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...
(Africa). Klibbe later renamed the church the Old Apostolic Church
Old Apostolic Church
The Old Apostolic Church is a Christian religious community, with historical roots in the Catholic Apostolic Church and the New Apostolic Church...
of Africa. Also in 1913, he ordained his son-in-law H. Velde as priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in Swakopmund, Namibia. Velde was sent to Johannesburg. Later he was ordained as elder, and as an evangelist.
In 1920 Apostle H.F. Niemeyer died. He was succeeded by his son, Wilhelm Niemeyer. A break occurred between the young Niemeyer and Klibbe. In 1925, Apostle Wilhelm Niemeyer appointed Hendrik Velde as Apostle for Africa, and Velde and his followers founded a separate Church from Klibbe, named The Apostolic Church of South Africa. On September 27, 1956 Velde died after a traffic accident in Wynberg, Cape Town.
History of the NAC excommunicated group
When Apostle Klibbe was excommunicated in 1913, a counter-Apostle Wilhelm Schlaphoff was appointed by Chief Apostle Hermann Niehaus. Schlaphoff formed an new branch of the New Apostolic Church in South Africa after the original South African branch declared independence in 1915. Since that time, two churches in South Africa have been named the New Apostolic Church. The independent branch became the Old Apostolic ChurchOld Apostolic Church
The Old Apostolic Church is a Christian religious community, with historical roots in the Catholic Apostolic Church and the New Apostolic Church...
in 1926 after an agreement was reached between Klibbe and Kreunen, a member of the New Apostolic Church. Due to the "Botschaft" of the Chief Apostle Johann Gottfried Bischoff, the New Apostolic Church suffered serious conflicts in the 1950s. In 1954, the apostles Philippus Jacobus Erasmus (1904–1960) and D.C.S. Malan (1918–1968) were excommunicated. Heinrich Franz Schlaphoff (1894–1965) resigned from his office as Apostle. They administered a prosperous district of about 60,000 members. They founded the Apostolic Church and many members of the New Apostolic Church followed them.
Union
The sudden death of Apostle Velde caused the cancellation of a previously arranged meeting with the excommunicated group. The Australian Apostle Zielke asked Elder Petersen of the Apostolic Church of South Africa to meet with the excommunicated Apostles Erasmus and Malan. In Cape Town, they reached an agreement on 23 November 1956 to merge the two churches. About 800 members and three church buildings were brought into the new Apostolic Church (Apostle Unity) from the Klibbe group. In July 1956, the excommunicated group joined the newly founded International Federation of the United Apostolic ChurchUnited Apostolic Church
The 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....
.
On 14 May 1972 two new apostles were ordained: Johannes Philippus Erasmus (1943) and Josua Jeremia Joubert (1932). In 1978, Philippus Jacobus Erasmus retired. He died on 26 October 1986. In 1989, a mission was opened in the homeland of Venda. In February 1993, the congregations celebrated their centenary. At the end of July 1997, Apostle Joubert retired.
Administration
According to rumors, testifying has almost entirely come to a standstill in this church. The main contributing factor is the church having a tremendous problem shedding the stigma that it is the ‘Erasmus’ church, implying that the church is run by the Erasmus family clan. Recent ordinations of close relatives within the Erasmus family have only strengthened this view. This is in line with comments published previously on this website but deleted since, criticizing the lack of independent decision making within this organization with particular reference to its finances and succession planning.Some within the church believe there will be an influx of new members (mainly from the New Apostolic Church) in the near future and that all must be prepared to receive them. There is a renewed surge to make the truth about the great split that took place in the 1950s known to all. The delay in this influx not happening sooner can possibly be ascribed to the fact that it must first shed this stigma relating to its control and financial (mis-) management and prove that decisions are made with a clear view towards furthering the work of God and not to please man. Only by appointing competent people with the desired spiritual credentials and not natural relations will help it to move forward towards a sustainable independent future. It is still evident that the son of the current Apostle is the first in line to take over the reigns as Apostle.
During October 2011 a 'new and improved' constitution was signed into power with great 'fanfare' at the church headquarters in Crosby. This constitution ensures the future of the church and that no one person has the right to claim ownership thereof. A new Board of Executors as well as an Executive Financial Board was appointed. Critics contend that the constitution is flawed because one person (the current working Apostle) decides who will be members of these 'executive boards'. According to some sources, this has resulted in only direct family members and close allies of the Apostle being represented on these boards. Critics claim that tis has effectively left no transparency when it comes to the management of the funds of the church.
The church is divided into 8 districts with 34 parishes which are mainly situated in the provinces of Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
and Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
. The church's headquarters is located in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
in Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
province.
Sources
- Introduction to The Apostolic Unity (Apostle Unity)
- Teks Boek vir Apostoliese Christene
- Wissen, Volker: Zur Freiheit berufen - Ein Portrait der Vereinigung Apostolischer Gemeinden und ihrer Gliedkirchen, Remscheid 2008, ISBN 978-3-86870-030-5
External links
- Apostolic Church of South Africa – Apostle Unity - http://www.apostle-unity.co.za
- United Apostolic Church - http://www.united-apostolic.org