Is there a need for women in pastoral care? There sure is! This is the conclusion reached by an official work group in the New Apostolic Church Western Germany—and the group has concrete figures to demonstrate the need for a response to this demand in the congregations.

The New Apostolic Church recognises the equality of the sexes. An essay in the new issue of community summarises findings by the District Apostle Meeting from the biblical account of creation. Here is the summary of a summary.

“Sown into the heart”—this was the motto of the Christian churches at the Federal Garden Show in Erfurt, Germany. All around the world, Christians are sowing positive things into the hearts of their fellow human beings. For example, our Apostles sow love, and our young people are sowing the notion of taking responsibility for the creation.

“Bah, was that ever a boring evening!” The Priest had announced his visit and blabbed on and on about nothing more than personal preferences. The verdict on that visit was devastating. Real pastoral interest looks quite different.

There was certainly plenty of buzz on the social media sponsored by the New Apostolic Church. The subject of women in ministry generated hundreds of comments. And the reactions could hardly have been more different.

Some call it the Eucharist, others the Lord’s Supper. For some it is ministers acting in Christ’s stead, for others it is the universal priesthood. For some it is a transformation, for others the body and blood of Christ are joined to the substance. Here it is Christ, there it is a symbol. Although Holy Communion is celebrated in all churches, it is celebrated differently everywhere.

Wilhelm Sebastian was a man who was entrusted with special missions. He was barely 25 years old when he was sent from Hamburg to Brunswick to establish a congregation there. One of the special assignments given him is still of importance to the Church today.

The deliberations on the topic of women in ministry are entering the next round. This is what the Chief Apostle says in his annual interview of 2021. He gives a concrete roadmap and an update on the current status of the discussions.

Taking a seat at the Lord’s table—that can involve a lot of hurdles: all Christian churches attach conditions to participation in Holy Communion. Anyone who decides to visit another denomination can easily get tangled up.

“I believe in…the one, holy, universal, and apostolic church…” Such is the New Apostolic Church’s understanding of church. But what exactly does it mean by that? The sermons in June shed some light on the matter.

“A church in which people feel at home…” This is precisely what can be accomplished when members commit themselves to their congregation and work together. It was in this manner that the congregations of Kelkheim and Bad Soden (both in Germany) became acquainted with one another—and found their way into a brand new fellowship.

Just imagine, Pentecost is here, and no one is going! This year, the New Apostolic world will instead meet by satellite and internet in order to celebrate the birthday of the church of Christ. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider will take to the airways from Switzerland for the festive divine service.

Now that we have answered the what, how, where, and when, we still have to ask the question of who: who is permitted to dispense Holy Communion? And this time, the Christian churches actually all seem to have very similar answers—albeit with differing justifications.

Jesus is the bread of life. This knowledge held a special significance for District Apostle Gottfried Hinz, because Jesus and bread also played a very important role in his life. Today he would have been 140 years old.

The New Apostolic Church in Malaysia celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year, and it all began with a love story. The story takes us from Malaysia via England to Germany and back again.

The past year brought many new challenges. How did we deal with them? Have they managed to distance us from God? What lies ahead of us? District Apostle Kububa Soko (Zambia) answers these questions in his own way.

Suddenly in charge and in trouble. This is what Hendra Tansahsami experienced time and again. As District Apostle he merged the two New Apostolic sister churches in Indonesia. Here is a look back in tribute to a man who would have been 100 years old today.

Silesia, with its beautiful landscape on both sides of the river Oder still existed in those days. This region, together with the city of Berlin, constituted the working area of the fourth entry in the register of the Apostles of the New Apostolic Church: Johann August Ludwig Bösecke. It was on this day 200 years ago that he was born.