Over the next few days, the focus of the New Apostolic world will be on Cape Town in South Africa. The Chief Apostle and the District Apostles have gathered in the city for the International District Apostles’ Meeting. They will conduct divine services, attend a concert in Silvertown, and celebrate the birthday of the church on Pentecost.

Jesus, women, and the apostolate… While the biblical findings are indisputable, they do not provide clear answers. How does the New Apostolic Church treat this? Here is the first interim conclusion on the question of what the New Testament says about the ordination of women.

The name Magney is well-known in New Apostolic circles in Germany: there were two Apostles with that name. The younger of the two was confirmed by the older one some eighty years ago. And the older Magney died in a bombing raid eighty years ago today. Today we pay tribute to a pioneer.

A no to the ordination of women? There is only one Bible verse that could corroborate this. But this passage contradicts other biblical passages and their respective justifications. Are these ultimately only cultural prescriptions?

New Apostolic Christians in Germany, Spain, and Guinea learned some very different things on their tours of discovery through history, religion, and responsibility for their own faith.

There is only one passage in the Bible that actually prohibits women from preaching the gospel. But according to biblical scholars, this statement did not come from Apostle Paul at all. How does the Church deal with this?

Destruction, homelessness, hunger: of all the countries hit by the cyclone, Malawi was battered the worst. Relief efforts are underway also by New Apostolic aid organisations. What do the people need? District Apostle Kububa Soko wanted to see for himself.

Those who want to serve God and enter His kingdom must be sanctified to do so. Of course, this sanctification comes from God. But it won’t work without our making an effort. The Chief Apostle recently explained what this means.

Church life, doctrinal aspects, and a children’s corner… the latest issue of the community magazine is jam-packed with exciting topics. This edition of the magazine takes its readers to Brazil and South Africa, among other places, and it features the full-text version of the divine service in which the Chief Apostle explained our motto for 2023.

Skills and knowledge take you further. This also applies to faith and life in our congregations. And the possibilities are many: they range from events marking International Day of Education to global learning during a whole year on a foreign continent.

So what is it to be? Speak or keep silent? When it comes to the role of women in a divine service setting, 1 Corinthians contradicts itself—at least apparently. But if you look at things in context, you begin to understand what it is all about.

“This is an exciting programme, isn’t it?” This is how Chief Apostle Schneider ended his latest sermon in Fellbach in Germany. And the points in this programme? These are the work of faith, the labour of love, and patience of hope.

Disciple, herald, and emissary. When it comes to the role of women Jesus Christ was far ahead of His time. This was also evident in the early Christian churches. Here are seven examples of leading functions that only later became ministries, even for men.

This is my church and I am proud to be part of it. This is how many New Apostolic Christians feel about their church and gladly share their faith by testifying of it in various ways and making it visible to other people.

He was a man of words and action. Who this was? District Apostle Karl Kühnle. Today he would have been one hundred years old. Today we pay tribute to a Swabian who set out to bring his faith to Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Arabian Peninsula.

Yes, Jesus called only men to be Apostles. But this does not answer the question of why a ministry cannot also be conferred on women. Because His choice had absolutely nothing to do with that. Christ Himself says so quite clearly.

Same value, same dignity, and the same mandate: this is based on God’s will as Creator. But ancient Judaism practised inequality. With Jesus Christ it was completely different: the gospel tells us about female students and disciples and other women who proclaimed His teaching to others.

From Germany via Canada to Venezuela, and from there through Central and South America: this is the story of Apostle Lorenz Hans Muth. He was a pioneer in the classical sense and would have been one hundred years old today, 30 January 2023.