The Old Apostolic Church (OAC) is a church with roots in the Catholic Apostolic Church.

History

The Old Apostolic Church's roots are found in the Catholic Apostolic Church that was established in 1832 as an outflow of the Albury Movement.

Establishment in Africa

The founder of the Apostolic Church in South Africa, Carl George Klibbe, was born on 24 December 1852 in Pomerania at the Baltic Sea and was a preacher in the Lutheran Church when he had contact with the Apostolic doctrine in a town named Schladen in Germany where he met Heinrich Niemeyer for the first time. It was years later in 1886, after Klibbe moved to Hatton Vale in Queensland, Australia, that he and his family were convinced of this doctrine and sealed by the same person Apostle H. F. Niemeyer.

OAC after Apostle Klibbe

At the time of Klibbe's death on 22 May 1931, The Old Apostolic Church had more than 1 million adherents. Apostles Ernest Fredrick Willhelm Ninow, Carl Fredrick Willhelm Ninow and William Campbell were appointed by Klibbe as his successors before he died, with EFW Ninow as the Chairman and Leader of the church. At present, the Old Apostolic Church is estimated to have around 2 million members in Africa. Congregations can be found in South Africa, Eswatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, USA, Canada, British Isles, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. The Old Apostolic Church is independent from the New Apostolic Church and the United Apostolic Church.

Schisms from the OAC

The following groups broke away from The Old Apostolic Church:

Views

Politics

Members of the Old Apostolic Church are not allowed to become registered members of any political parties, stand for election, or openly declare their political views. The OAC do not support any political parties. Members are however allowed to vote according to their conscience. Officers are strictly forbidden to endorse any political party and may be removed from office if they do endorse any party. Members must obey all laws of the countries in which they reside, even if the member is to suffer anguish. The leadership of the Old Apostolic Church did make some submissions to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa), and was the only Apostolic (Irvingist) Church to do so. This submission was not an admission of guilt, and the Church was not accused or found guilty of contravening any laws or international laws. The church policy stipulates that all assistance will be given to government as required by law.

Bible

The Old Apostolic Church recognises and uses the Authorised King James Version. All Bibles used must be comparable to the Authorised King James Version. The Afrikaanse Ou Vertaling (Hersiene Uitgawe) is used in Afrikaans-speaking congregations. In Germany the 1912 Luther Bible is used. The Old Apostolic Church Confession states: "We believe in the Holy Scriptures, the Old and the New Testament, and in the fulfillment of the promises contained therein".

Bibles in use

The following Bible translations are officially sanctioned by the Conference of Apostles for use in the church: All other Bible translations in other languages may be used, with the permission of the local Forum of Apostles if it compares with the Authorised King James Version.