Association of Apostolic Congregations
The Association of the Apostolic Communities (abbreviated VAG , or English United Apostolic Church ) is a collective term for legally and financially independent apostolic communities. In 1956 the "Association of the Apostles of the Apostolic Congregations" was founded in Düsseldorf.
The member churches came into being at different times and for different reasons as splits from the New Apostolic Church . In later years the communities whose apostles had come together were often referred to colloquially and especially by the New Apostolic side as VAG . This term was also used within the apostolic communities in the 1980s and 1990s, although it is factually incorrect. Because there was never a union of congregations or communities, but only of their church leaders.
The abbreviation VAG today correctly describes the "Association of the Apostolic Communities in Europe", since the non-European communities differ significantly in terms of doctrine.
Members
The VAG in Europe currently consists of the following four communities:
- Apostolic Community (Germany)
- Gemeente van Apostolische Christenen (Netherlands)
- Union des Chrétiens Apostoliques (France)
- Association of Apostolic Christians (Switzerland)
The Reformed Apostolic Congregation Federation, founded in 1921, merged with the Apostolic Community in 1994. Before that he was also part of the VAG.
The current Apostolic Congregation of the Saarland belonged to the Apostolic Community from 1956 to 1967 and thus also to the Association, as did the Old Apostolic Congregation in Austria , which has since vanished from 1987 to approx. 1995.
The association of the apostles of the apostolic congregations includes not only the church leaders of the four European communities but also those of the Australian Church with its affiliated mission churches and those of the South African Church. Often these communities are also included in the VAG, but this is not entirely correct in factual terms.
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Apostolic Church of Queensland (Australia)
- United Apostolic Church India
- Philippines United Apostolic Church
- United Apostles Church Kenya
- Unity Apostles Church New Zealand
- United Apostolic Church Pakistan
- Myanmar United Apostolic Church
- Apostolic Church of South Africa - Apostle Unity (South Africa)
The Igreja Evangelica Apostolica in Brazil as well as the diaspora congregations in Argentina and the USA, which were looked after from Germany, have been dissolved. The currently 80 or so churches in the Philippines are built up and looked after by Australia. The Australian congregations have also taken over the United Apostolic Church of India from the Europeans and are rebuilding and expanding the mission in India. Missions to Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, Myanmar and Canada are also operated from Australia.
Teaching, offices and management
The four European and - until 2005 - the Indian particular Churches are very closely linked in doctrinal and organizational issues. Since January 2012, congregational and divine service regulations have been in effect in all European communities. The European apostles have met three times a year, for a number of years together with the bishops, for conferences. There are now rather loose connections to the Australian and South African communities; there are differences in theological questions. Also, not all European apostles belong to the international association anymore.
In 2003, the European apostles made the decision to ordain women , which was first implemented in Germany in 2004 with the ordination of female deacons. In 2016 there are deaconesses, priestesses, shepherds and an elder in Germany and the Netherlands.
Web links
- Official website of the Association of the Apostolic Communities of Europe (VAG)
- apostolisch.ch Association of Apostolic Christians (Switzerland)
- apostolisch.de Apostolic Community (Germany)
- apostolisch.nl Gemeente van apostolische Christenen (Netherlands)
- APwiki , Free Encyclopedia on Apostolic Faith Communities
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- Volker Wissen: Called to freedom. A portrait of the Association of Apostolic Congregations and their member churches. Remscheid 2008, ISBN 978-3-86870-030-5