Ministers should know what they are talking about. The faithful not only expect advice and answers from ministers in all kinds of matters, but also expect them to react with empathy when problems arise. Training can help in this.
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Photo: Sascha Meier
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Photo: Sascha Meier
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Photo: N.S./USchn/K.M.
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Photo: N.S./USchn/K.M.
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Photo: N.S./USchn/K.M.
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Photo: N.S./USchn/K.M.
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Photo: N.S./USchn/K.M.
Seminars for Deacons
The focus was on pastoral care. This is an important aspect of Church life and needs to be learned. In the District Church Switzerland this not only takes place during regular church life, but also in all-day seminars. On Saturday, 17 November 2018, 17 Deacons and a Priest had an intensive look at their pastoral mission. The seminar was conducted by District Evangelist Adrian Plüss at the offices of the New Apostolic Church Switzerland, supported by Bishop Thomas Wihler. The seminar focused on the subject: “Pastoral care: what it is, what it isn’t.” Besides fundamental questions, the participants also explored specific topics related to pastoral care. In particular, pastoral care in difficult life situations, the use of the Bible, as well as prayers in pastoral care.
Guest status for NAC Northern and Eastern Germany in Thuringia
The assembly of delegates of the Association of Christian Churches (ACC) in the state of Thuringia voted unanimously: the New Apostolic Church Northern and Eastern Germany will be awarded guest status. This process had started already several years ago. In 2017, the responsible Apostle Rolf Wosnitzka had an opportunity to present the work of the New Apostolic Church to the assembly of delegates of the ACK.
In April 2018 he submitted the application for admission to the ACK Thuringia as a guest with an advisory vote, which was unanimously accepted at the delegates’ meeting of the ACK Thuringia on 27 November 2018.
The New Apostolic Church now holds guest memberships in eight regional chapters of the ACC in Germany: Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Hamburg, Hesse/Rhenish Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia.
Sunday services at 10 a.m.
Beginning January 2019, divine services in the congregations of the District Church Western Germany on Sunday will start at 10 a.m. District Apostle Rainer Storck announced that many discussions had preceded this new ruling. Midweek services can either start at 7.30 p.m. or 8 p.m. This will be decided by the district rectors and congregational rectors.
This ruling is a step towards standardisation in Germany: the divine services in the District Churches Berlin-Brandenburg and Northern and Eastern Germany begin at 10 a.m.