The New Apostolic Church is embarking on a historic week: believers from all around the world are turning their attention to the Pentecost celebrations in South Africa—and the ordination of a new Chief Apostle.
As early as today, Monday 18 May 2026, the first guests will arrive at Cape Town International Airport (CPT). Guests will continue to arrive through Tuesday and Wednesday.
If everything goes according to plan, all the Church leaders will gather in South Africa: Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider, Chief Apostle Helper Helge Mutschler, all 14 District Apostles from Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and the Western Pacific region, as well as the four District Apostle Helpers.
Over the past years, various setbacks such as visa issues and the rerouting or cancellation of flights have occasionally prevented or delayed travel of the one or the other.
Fanning out into the congregations
Late on Wednesday afternoon, 20 May 2026, the District Apostles and their assistants will fan out across the region and conduct divine services in 18 different congregations— by now a tradition at such gatherings.
The Chief Apostle, who will conduct the divine service on Sunday, has not been scheduled in any congregation. Three years ago, at the last Pentecost gathering in Cape Town, he made a surprise visit to the Tafelsig congregation, which had to vacate its church building for the global broadcast.
Behind the doors of the Church’s governing body
Business attire rather than black and white will set the tone on Thursday, 21 May 2026. In the morning, the Delegate Meeting of the New Apostolic Church International will convene. This is the association under Swiss law to which all active Apostles belong. The meeting will focus on annual organisational formalities.
In the afternoon, the District Apostle Meeting will convene—the highest decision-making body of the New Apostolic Church International. Among the ongoing priorities on the agenda is the revision of the Catechism. Since the publication of this foundational reference work, follow-up questions have been addressed and dozens of topics further clarified.
A breather before the highlight
On Friday morning, 22 May 2026, the Church leaders will reconvene to continue their meetings. The afternoon is set aside for small group discussions or one-on-one conversations, in which the Chief Apostle and the respective District Apostles attend to regional matters.
Saturday, 23 May 2026 is dedicated to relaxation. The day will begin with an excursion, followed by a concert in the afternoon in the Silvertown church. A choir, youth choir, and orchestra will present a varied programme featuring works by John Rutter, some African-American spirituals, South African traditionals, and works by New Apostolic composers. The concert begins at 5 p.m. local time (UTC+2) and will be streamed live on the New Apostolic Church’s YouTube channels.
Passing the baton
The highlight and concluding event will be the Pentecost service, on Sunday, 24 May 2026, starting at 10 a.m., which will also be broadcast worldwide across multiple channels. Until the early 1980s, the New Year’s Day service served as the primary occasion for the Church’s broadest international broadcast. Later, Pentecost, as the “birthday” of the church of Christ, became the central focus.
Pentecost also emerged as the preferred occasion for the handover of leadership in the international Church. In 2005, Chief Apostle Richard Fehr passed the ministry to his successor, Wilhelm Leber, who in turn handed it over to Jean-Luc Schneider in 2013, who is retiring this year. Designated to succeed Chief Apostle Schneider is Chief Apostle Helper Helge Mutschler, who will be ordained as the new Chief Apostle at the end of this week.