His heart was broken by the Church

Even his opponents called him an Apostle of love: eighty years ago, District Apostle Jan Jochems from the Netherlands retired—following years of tension. 

Jan Jochems was born in a small village south of Utrecht (Netherlands) on 29 July 1879. He grew up in modest circumstances and later became a primary school teacher. It was there that he first came into contact with the New Apostolic faith through one of his students and the student’s father.

Jan Jochems was sealed at the age of 32. Five years later, he was ordained as a Deacon. He was entrusted with further ministerial responsibilities and then served as a District Elder from 1931 and as a Bishop from 1933. During this period, he also wrote a textbook for confirmation instruction running to more than 700 pages.

On 15 January 1939, Jan Jochems was ordained as an Apostle—initially to assist District Apostle Johannes Hendrik van Oosbree. Yet the years ahead were to be anything but peaceful.

From friend to foe

Johannes Hendrik van Oosbree was one of Chief Apostle Hermann Niehaus’s closest advisors. At times, Niehaus saw him even as Assistant Chief Apostle for the countries outside of Germany.  It was from Apostle van Oosbree that the Chief Apostle adopted the idea using wafers sprinkled with wine for Holy Communion.

Under Chief Apostle Johann Gottfried Bischoff, however, relations deteriorated progressively. Van Oosbree developed ideas that deviated ever more from New Apostolic doctrine. Bischoff, on the other hand, was committed to re-establishing the traditions of the Church.

The break and a clear response 

What followed was a gradual separation. And Apostle Jochems made it clear to District Apostle van Oosbree: “From the moment you no longer follow the Chief Apostle, I can no longer follow you either (at least for the time being). I can no longer remain a member of a community that lacks its very foundation, namely the unity of the Apostles.”

Amid all these developments, Apostle Jan Jochems remained deeply concerned for the believers: “He was very popular with many brothers and sisters because of his love and his passionate way of looking after those entrusted to his care,” wrote one of his opponents about him. 

What ultimately unites us 

The final break came on Easter 1946: Van Osbree had died, having named Lambertus Slok as his successor in his will. Around 26,000 members joined him, while around 5,000 members remained with Jochems.

The schism took a heavy toll on Apostle Jochems. His health deteriorated rapidly. On 21 July 1946, he retired, and Berend Frederik Paasman assumed the leadership. Jochems never recovered and died on 10 February 1947.

Some 70 years later, representatives of the New Apostolic Church and the Apostolic Genootschap came together for a joint day of retrospect. One of the speakers recalled what had distinguished Jan Jochems during his lifetime: his love. Love, he said, is the guiding principle that unites all apostolic traditions.