Apostolic Christian Church

The Apostolic Christian Church is a religious body in the United States and Canada that originates from the anabaptist movement.

The origins of the Apostolic Christian Church are found in the dramatic conversion experience of Samuel Heinrich Froehlich¹; (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.

Members seek to obey the Bible, which is believed to be the infallible word of God. Beliefs include salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; water baptism by immersion; closed communion with bread & fruit of the vine; the holy kiss; Christian head covering for women; sanctification; and moderation in attire. The church allows members to serve in the military, but not to bear arms. The truth may be affirmed, but swearing of oaths is forbidden. Elders serve at the choice of the congregation, and perform all rites and ministerial duties. Deacons serve as assistants to the elders. In many congregations, singing is a cappella.

Even though the churches across the United States remain in very close fellowship, there has been a great deal of cultural variation, and many of the distinctives mentioned here vary from congregation to congregation and also vary between the various divisions of this diverse group. There are currently three divisions of this church in America. In the early 1900s a disagreement arose over the practice of some European customs 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.

• Apostolic Christian Church of America - about 94 congregations in 23 states, including 2 churches in Canada, 2 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.
• Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean) - 50 congregations in the United States, with 2756 members, and 14 congregations in Canada with about 850 members. They have mission work in Brazil, New Guinea, Argentina, Paraguay, and Africa. Though the minority of the split, this body remained in fellowship with the European churches.
• German Apostolic Christian Church - around 8 or 10 churches in Illinois, Kansas, and Oregon with approximately 500 members. There is no recent documentation on this body.
  • Christian Apostolic Church - a 1955 schism for the German Apostolic Christian Church created this group.

The Western European church is one united body:

• Evangelische Täufergemeinden - German-Swiss federation of Evangelical Baptists

External Links

• Apostolic Christian Church of America (http://www.apostolicchristian.org/) - official Web Site
• Akron Area Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean) (http://www.acorn.net/aacc/)
• Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean) of Richmond, VA (http://www.acc-richmond.org/)
• Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean) of Woodcliff Lake, NJ (http://www.wclacc.org/)
• Ontario Christian Fellowship (Nazarean) of Ontario, Ohio (http://www.ocfchurch.org/)
• Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean) of Pasadena, California (http://www.pasadena-apostolic.org/)
• Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean) Foundation (http://www.accfoundation.org/)
• Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean) Foundation Missions (http://www.accm.org/)
• Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean) Mission Board of Canada (http://www.accmbc.org/)
• Evangelische Täufergemeinden (http://etg.ch/) - official Web Site in German

References

• Handbook of Denominations, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood
• Marching to Zion: A History of the Apostolic Christian Church of America, by Perry Klopfenstein
• Profiles in Belief: the Religious Bodies in the United States and Canada (Vol. II), by Arthur Carl Piepkorn
• Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States, 2000, Glenmary Research Center

Footnote

• 1. Froehlich is also spelled as Fröhlich.