Apostelamt Jesu Christi

Could a church be born from disagreement? Here at the Apostelamt Jesu Christi in Dresden, that very question hangs in the air. This unassuming building holds within it the echoes of a complex and fractured history, a story of splintering and reconciliation that began in the very cradle of Irvingism. The Apostelamt Jesu Christi traces its lineage back to the Catholic Apostolic Church and the New Apostolic Church, movements that arose in the 19th century. But the story truly begins with Julius Fischer, a man who felt a divine calling and formed the Apostelamt Juda in 1902. One of his key figures was Hermann Krüger, who established congregations in Berlin and Frankfurt. After Fischer’s death in 1923, disputes over succession led Krüger to form his own branch, initially calling it Apostelamt Simeon. Eventually, it became the Apostelamt Jesu Christi we see today. The Apostelamt Jesu Christi distinguishes itself by having all apostles equal, unlike the hierarchical structure of the New Apostolic Church. These apostles even bear biblical names, a testament to their deep scriptural roots. The story takes another twist with the Berlin Wall. This physical barrier split the church, necessitating two headquarters, one in Cottbus and one in West Berlin. In 1986, seeking to unify the two sides, the Gemeinschaft der Apostel Jesu Christi was founded. Reunification finally came in 2005, with a symbolic joint service in Hannover. However, even today, the two parts remain legally distinct entities. The Apostelamt Jesu Christi hasn’t shied away from dialogue with other Christians. It achieved guest status in the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen (ACK), the ecumenical council of the German Democratic Republic. It’s a remarkable feat, marking it as a unique presence in the ACK. Even now, the Apostelamt Jesu Christi continues its path, seeking unity and understanding within its own branches and with the wider Christian world. The story of the Apostelamt Jesu Christi is one of ongoing evolution.