Chief Apostle

The architect of the New Apostolic Church

He was not the first to hold this office, but the first with to bear the title. Chief Apostle Hermann Niehaus was born on 28 July 1848, 175 years ago. This is the story of the man who turned individual New Apostolic congregations into a church. More


A lifework of reforms

“If we want to preserve what we have, we will have to change many things,” was the guiding principle of Chief Apostle Richard Fehr, who died ten years ago today on 30 June 2013. Many of the innovations today can be traced back to his initiative. More


Fellowship in name, doctrine, and structure

The "father of unity" was followed by the organiser and protector of New Apostolic unity, namely Chief Apostle Hermann Niehaus. On 23 August 2022, we mark the 90th anniversary of his passing. This is the story of how the erstwhile farmer cultivated the church field. More


A heart for the people

Our understanding of baptism, the liturgy, and the Catechism were the milestones set by Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber during his time in office. He will celebrate his 75th birthday on 20 July 2022. His greatest strength is described by the people in this video. More


His mission: to protect and keep

He led the New Apostolic Church out of a crisis and brought it forward. Chief Apostle Walter Schmidt would have celebrated his 130th birthday today. Lest we forget, here is a look once more at how he managed to deal with the situation. More


The story of the man who was Chief Apostle for 30 years

These were difficult times in the history of the New Apostolic Church. They included two world wars, internationalisation, consolidation, division, and realignment—a little bit of everything. And he stood firm like a rock in the pounding surf: Chief Apostle Johann Gottfried Bischoff was born 150 years ago today. More


From the “new light” to the “message”

It is not all that uncommon for a pendulum to swing to the other side. This too is part of the story of Chief Apostle Johann Gottfried Bischoff, who died on 6 July sixty years ago—to the dismay of many brothers and sisters. More


Like a father

It was always there, a large capital “F” in his calendar. And it did not stand for “free”, but for the word “family”. This is how Chief Apostle Hans Urwyler regularly scheduled time for his loved ones. More


He went out of his way to love people

Chief Apostle Richard Fehr, his successors say, was an innovative thinker—someone who was very forward-looking. Under his direction many regional churches came into being across the world. Today he would have been 80 years old. More


Keeping the ship on course

“The programme is called: Maranatha – O Lord, come!” With these words, Chief Apostle Richard Fehr officially assumed office thirty years ago. A look at some of the highlights in the seventeen years he led the New Apostolic Church. More


Soft words, great impact: the dawn of a new era

Banished from the table of the Lord, excluded from the meal of fellowship: there was still such a thing up until the mid-1980s. But then along came Chief Apostle Hans Urwyler. He retired 30 years ago, and today we take a look back at his activity. More


His trademark: a way with people

He makes no fuss about his person. So why bother with an article on his seventieth birthday today? Because he was Chief Apostle? And because he carried out this ministry in a very special way? And because he is a very special person who enjoys being with people and who brings people together. We are talking about Wilhelm Leber. More


His mission: to protect and keep

He led the New Apostolic Church out of a crisis and brought it forward. Chief Apostle Walter Schmidt would have celebrated his 125th birthday today. How did he cope with this crisis? An attempt at an explanation. More


He created the global bond of faith

In the archives of the New Apostolic Church, there are extensive travel reports of Chief Apostle Ernst Streckeisen’s journeys between 1975 and 1978. Today, Ernst Streckeisen would have been 110 years old. More


A look back over Chief Apostle Leber's shoulder

Ten years ago today, Wilhelm Leber was ordained Chief Apostle. Together with the retired man of God, nac.today looks back on this special day in Fellbach, Germany. And Chief Apostle Leber lets us in on how it all came to pass... More


The father of personal responsibility

Soft yet firm, someone who blazed the trail and someone who guided others on it, that was Chief Apostle Hans Urwyler. Today he would have turned 90 years of age. More


Energetic and pragmatic

He was the father figure of the still young family of faith: 110 years ago to the day, Friedrich Krebs died. Even though he is considered the first Chief Apostle of the New Apostolic Church, the official title of Chief Apostle only started to be used later. More


Bewegender Abschied von Stammapostel i. R. Richard Fehr

Zürich. Am Trostgottesdienst, den Stammapostel Jean-Luc Schneider am Mittwochabend, 17. Juli 2013 in der Neuapostolischen Kirche in Zürich-Hottingen hielt, nahmen ein Großteil der Kirchenleiter der neuapostolischen Gebietskirchen weltweit teil. Gemeinsam mit den über 145.000 Glaubensgeschwistern, die via Satellit (Bild und Ton) verbunden waren, nahmen sie Abschied von Stammapostel i.R. Richard Fehr. More


Memorial service for retired Chief Apostle Richard Fehr

Zurich. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider called his predecessor in ministry a “wise man with great vision”. The majority of New Apostolic District Church leaders from around the world attended the memorial service for the highly respected and popular Chief Apostle, who had directed the affairs of the New Apostolic Church over the seventeen years from 1988 to 2005. It was in gratitude and sadness that they gathered in the Zurich-Hottingen church to take leave of Richard Fehr, who passed away on 30 June 2013, shortly before his 74th birthday. More


Obituary for Chief Apostle Richard Fehr

Zurich. It is with great sadness that New Apostolic Christians around the world have learned of the passing of Chief Apostle Richard Fehr, who had served in ministry for many years. Expressions of sympathy have begun to arrive from all parts of the globe. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider describes his predecessor in ministry as a man of great wisdom and vision. “He always had a feel for the global Church and promoted its internationality. His time in office always stood—and still stands—for openness and tolerance.” More


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