The origins of the Apostolic Christian Church are found in the dramatic conversion experience of Samuel Heinrich Froehlich[1] (1803-1857) of Switzerland. Froehlich was baptized in 1832 and soon founded the Evangelical Baptist Church. The first American church was formed in Lewis County, New York in 1847 by Benedict Weyeneth (1819-1887), who had been sent by Froehlich at the request of Joseph Virkler, a Lewis County Mennonite farmer. In 1848 a church was formed in Sardis, Ohio. The church experienced primary growth in the midwest. Though sometimes referred to as the New Amish, these believers generally called themselves Evangelical Baptist. In 1917, the church adopted a uniform name - Apostolic Christian Church.
Though similar in name, the Apostolic Christian Church is not affiliated with the Pentecostal Apostolic Church or New Apostolic Church denominations.
Branches
There are currently at least three main divisions of this church in America. In the early 1900s a disagreement arose over the practice of some European customs (Namely, the wearing of a mustache) and the church split into two bodies (from 1901 to 1911). The change from the use of the German language to the English language in worship services initiated a second schism in 1932.
The Apostolic Christian Church of America has about 94 congregations in 23 states, including 2 churches in Canada, 4 in Mexico, and 2 in Japan. The total number of members is approximately 13,000. This church has a national Missionary Committee, a World Relief program, a Work Projects program, ten nursing homes for the elderly, a Home for the Handicapped in Morton, Illinois, and a Children's Home in Leo, Indiana.[2]
The Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene) has 50 congregations in the United States, with 2756 members, 14 congregations in Canada with about 850 members, 6 congregations in Australia with roughly 200 members, 16 congregations in Argentina with about 1200 members or so, as well as congragations in Brazil and Mexico. They have mission work in New Guinea, Argentina, Paraguay, and Africa. Though the minority of the split, this body remained in fellowship with the European churches. There is also a small congregation of Nazareans in Israel.
The German Apostolic Christian Church has around 8 or 10 churches in Illinois, Kansas, and Oregon with approximately 500 members. There is no recent documentation on this body.
The Christian Apostolic Church was the result of a 1955 schism from the German Apostolic Christian Church.[3][4]
The European bodies have also faced divisions. Although once united throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland, there are now two sides. During the 1980s members were pushing for more liberties, which resulted in a vast majority of churches leaving the more conservative congregations. They formed their own branch and adopted the name Evangelische Täufergemeinden. They currently have churches in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France. The small fraction that stayed call themselves Gemeinde Evangelische Taufgesinnter (Nazarener) with churches in Germany and Austria and about 400 members. The latter maintain strong ties with the rest of the Nazarene congregations.
The remainder of Europe is made up of independent congregations in communion:
In Hungary their official name is Krisztusban Hív? Nazarénusok Gyülekezete (Congregation of Nazarenes Believing in Christ)
Religious practices
Members seek to obey the Bible, the infallible Word of God.
The conversion experienced by each member varies in timing and detail, but all include repentance for one's sins, making restitution, confessing sins to God and an elder of the church, and finding peace with God. The word "convert" is used throughout the denomination to describe anyone who begins repentance but has not been baptized into the church; it does not imply conversion from another denomination or religion, but from the carnal to the spiritual state. Converts give a testimony before the members of the church prior to the public baptism service, telling the story of their personal conversion experience. Because baptism is identified with a "death to sin" in Romans 6 and other New Testament writings, congregational recognition of the convert's repentance and death to sin is desired prior to baptism. After the baptism service, there is a laying on of hands by one or more elders and an accompanying prayer.
Worship, biblical practices and tradition
Worship
The King James Version of the Bible is the English translation used for church services.
Worship services are held on Sunday while various churches also conduct additional mid-week services.
Sunday services are as follows:
Public worship services in the morning and afternoon, usually of the following format:
The congregation sings several songs before the service starts
A minister opens to a random Old Testament passage, and sometimes discusses it briefly
The minister selects a hymn to be sung by the congregation, and subsequently says a prayer
The minister opens to a random passage in the New Testament - this passage serves as the basis of most of the sermon, although the Old Testament passage (or fore-reading) is often referred to as well
A second minister provides some closing or summarizing thoughts and either selects a closing hymn or asks the congregation to suggest one
A closing prayer is usually said by someone in the congregation
A meal is generally served between the morning and afternoon services
Midweek services consist of a single service, generally of the same format as the Sunday services
Some congregations conduct Bible studies and classes as part of the routine church schedule. In addition, some local fellowships have outside study groups and classes among members. There is no standard format across all churches.
Female members are expected to wear a Christian headcovering during prayer and worship. Wearing of a head covering when praying outside of church, when with other believers, and at other times is encouraged to varying degrees among the congregations, but the Biblical basis is universally recognized.
Within the Apostolic Christian Church of America, singing is a cappella in four-part harmony, although the Apostolic Christian Churches (Nazarean) often include instrumental accompaniment.
The Zions Harfe (Zion's Harp) is the primary hymnal used during worship services. The Zion's Harp was assembled in the 19th century by a European elder and includes numerous hymns written by that elder, along with other hymns not generally used in other American denominations. Because the Apostolic Christian Church of America and the Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarene) were separated before both sides began using English in worship services, the Zion's Harps used by the two denominations have lyrics somewhat differently translated from the German.
Another hymnal used in church services, the Hymns of Zion, includes arrangements and lyrics more commonly used in other denominations, but also includes several written by a members of the American congregations.
Biblical practices and tradition
Communion is served once a year at varying times, usually near Easter. Services are open only to members, and are preceded a period of self-examination and restitution.
The Holy Kiss is the greeting used in Apostolic Christian churches, based on the epistles of Paul and the general epistle of 1 Peter, which was addressed to members scattered throughout various nations.
Intrareligious marriage and intrafaith marriage is encouraged for all members. In the Apostolic Christian Church of America and the Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean), dating is not allowed.
Combatant military service is refused.
Members object to the taking and swearing of an oath, based on Christ's teachings.
Leadership
The leadership of an Apostolic Christian church consists of the "elders" of local congregations. The term "elder" has a somewhat different meaning than in other denominations, as each congregation generally has (at most) one elder. The elder of each congregation has the oversight of the local congregation but is subject to the authority of the other elders throughout the denomination.
Elders
Elders of local congregations are ordained by the Elders of the other congregations, usually after a ballot is taken from the local congregation. Elders are usually selected from the current ministers serving in the local church. Elders perform both religious rites and also conduct ministerial duties.
The Elders of each church serve as equal members within the collective "Elder Body" of all elders who make decisions regarding the doctrine of the denomination.
Deacons and Ministers
Ministers' duties include preaching in their home congregations and in other congregations.
Ministers (including elders and deacons) do not pursue seminary or other education in preparation for the ministry and serve without compensation. An unpaid lay ministry is not considered a doctrinal issue, but a preference for it is recognized is Paul's writings.
A minister who is ordained as a deacon may assist the local elder with meeting with new converts, performing baptisms, and other duties usually carried out by the elder alone. Deacons are ordained mostly in larger congregations.
Evangelische Täufergemeinden (German) - a league of European churches that were individually founded by Froehlich or at least have some related heritage. Although there are European Froehlich churches that have fellowship the Apostolic Christian Church of America, those that have joined this league do not.
References
Footnote
"Froehlich" is for all intents and purposes an anglicization of Fröhlich, although use of "oe" (or a similar digraph with a smaller "e" atop the "o") to denote the same sound actually predates the use of the umlaut in written German.
Encyclopedia
top
