Apostolic History Network

The network Apostolic history, a non-denominational and independent community of interest for the study of the history of the Apostolic faith communities, was formed following a meeting of those interested in history at 18-19. October 2008 Coswig (Anhalt). A non-profit sponsoring organization network was Apostolic history eV was founded on September 5, 2010 in Bielefeld.

• 5.1 Conference Proceedings, directly from the Apostolic Network History
• 5.2 The selection of literature or works of members of the network Apostolic History

Matter of concern

The network offers all interested in the history of the apostolic communities, for example in the field of Catholic Apostolic congregations, the New Apostolic Church or the United Apostolic Church a platform for exchanging information and material exchange. There are annual national meeting. The network operates interdenominational, the participants in the network belong to different denominations. The meetings and to participate in the network are open to everyone. The archive Brockhagen is regularly available since July 2012.

History

In 2008, interested parties met at the history of the apostolic communities across Germany for a first meeting in Coswig (Anhalt). The aim of the meeting was to present issues papers to exchange materials and socialize. As yet there was no such organization or platform, the participants completed first for an informal network. This happened a short time later by building a website and a closed mailing list. Next one networked through correspondence, material exchange and division of labor, which was coordinated through the Internet.

Germany -wide observance became the network during and after participation in the 2nd Ecumenical Church in Munich. We were offered there, among other substantive discussion groups, which went quite controversial and not insignificant responses in the different camps of the apostolic faith communities provoked.

Association was founded

On Sunday, 5 September 2010 it was decided the club founding of the association in a three-hour meeting in Bielefeld by 14 founding members, the name of the network should wear Apostolic history eV. As a board of this association Mathias Eberle ( Bielefeld, first chairman ), were elected Sebastian Müller- Bahr ( Kabelsketal, vice-chairman ) and Volker knowledge ( Dusseldorf, cashiers ). The new association is to coordinate the activities of the network Apostolic history and represent an organizational basis for research projects and events. In January 2011, creation, registration and recognition of charitable status had been completed. In the fall of 2012, the above-mentioned was Board unanimously re-elected.

Archive Brockhagen

The nonprofit organization operates since December 2011, the first research archive on the history of the Apostolic faith communities, the so-called archive Brockhagen. The freely available and independent archive has its headquarters in the former New Apostolic Church Brockhagen in Steinhagen in Bielefeld. Furthermore, regular public lectures and meetings are held at this location.

Finances

Participation in the network is free of charge, for membership in the association, a membership fee of 30, - Euro per half-year levied. The gatherings are funded by conference rates of the respective participants. Other public appearances, such as on the ÖKT 2010 will be paid by donations and the association's assets.

Criticism

The Protestant Association for Philosophical Questions (short: EZW ) ruled in December 2013 on the functioning of the network as follows:

" In contrast to the former interest-directed NAK history " from above " is a free club, a lay initiative of history buffs, which operates independently of church hierarchies in exploring the apostolic history. (...)

The network is international ( Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands) and across denominational (NAK, VAG, Reformed Church, Catholic Apostolic congregations ). This is remarkable, because the said apostolic groups relate to each other more or less spannungsgeladenem ratio, which is also aware of the parties. Despite the good personal togetherness, the network does not want but primarily act as a contribution to inter-religious reconciliation. Also, as an alliance for historiographical support the reform forces in the NAK or even the talking points for the dropout groups, it would be misunderstood. Mission and ambition of the network are to collect and historical- critical study of sources from all phases and branches of the apostolic history. (...)

Those who are familiar with the traditional New Apostolic history, noticed immediately the contrast: As far as history in the context of the radical Middle maintenance at all was of interest - and that is in large parts of the NAC is not the case nowadays - was mostly in konfessorischen ductus and in apologetic intention worked. In the network, however, there does classic historical source research and deters also faced with controversial issues and research results are not back ( Bischoff message Entschlafenenwesen ). "