Hans Urwyler
Hans Urwyler Samuel ( born February 20, 1925 in Bern, † November 17, 1994 in Bern ) was the sixth Chief Apostle ( international church president ) of the New Apostolic Church.
Biography
He was born into a neuapostolisches parents and grew up in Switzerland. His maternal ancestors came as Huguenots in Switzerland. His grandfather Hans Plüss was one of the first New Apostolic Swiss bishops.
After leaving school he trained as a machine mechanic. After commercial training and the visit of the cantonal pilot Biel he started his own business along with a college friend in the automotive industry.
As a teenager he was a conductor in his home town of Schwarzburg. Here he also met his wife Hedi Wenger, with whom he joined in 1949 the marriage and emerged from the two sons.
After Chief Apostle Ernst Streckeisen who died unexpectedly during a mission in South Africa, Hans Urwyler was selected in an international Apostle Meeting on 18 November 1978, Chief Apostle.
During his tenure, the New Apostolic Church has experienced strong growth. Chief Apostle Urwyler undertook in addition to his many European trips 28 overseas trips and ordained over 130 Apostles. He suggested in 1986 increased ownership of the New Apostolic Christians for their life of faith and love, helpfulness and understanding for those brothers and sisters on whose life the general rule is different (eg, homosexuality, life in marriage-like relationships and divorce) and regulated in this context admitted to Holy Supper.
In 1985, in the Wiesbaden area to a wider cleavage under Apostle Hermann Gottfried Rockenfelder, who founded the Apostolic community Wiesbaden with about 1,000 followers.
After a trip to Africa in July 1987, he suffered a severe stroke, from which he never fully recovered. On August 28, 1987, he ordained in the presence of several European District Apostle in the hospital of Bern the Swiss District Apostle Richard Fehr to Chief Apostle Helper and thus his deputy. On 3 May 1988 he was ordained this, again in the presence of several District Apostles from Germany, France, Canada and Zambia, in the hospital of Bern to the Chief Apostle and retired himself.
His last years were marked by a serious illness. He died after a further stroke in 1994, surrounded by his family.