Apostolic Church (denomination)

The Apostolic Church is a Pentecostal Christian denomination which can trace its origins back to the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival. Despite the relatively recent origin of the denomination, the church seeks to stand for first century Christianity in its faith, practices, and government.cite book |last=Turnbull |first=Thomas Napier |title=What God Hath Wrought: A Short History of the Apostolic Church |year=1959 |publisher=The Puritan Press |location=Bradford |pages=11]

The purpose of the denomination is summed up by one prominent Apostolic writer as:

"to make known world-wide the forgiveness of sins through the atoning death of Christ; the baptism in water by immersion; the baptism of the Holy Spirit with signs following; the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit; the five gifts of our Ascended Lord; and the vision called in the New Testament, 'the Church which is His Body'."

The world-wide vision of the church is evidenced by a strong missionary concern. The movement which commenced in Welsh-speaking villages of south Wales had, by the end of the twentieth century, grown to over six million members in more than 70 nations. [cite book |last=Weeks |first=Gordon |title=Chapter Thirty Two: Part of a History of the Apostolic Church 1900-2000 |year=2003 |pages=227] The largest national church is The Apostolic Church of Nigeria, with over 4.5 million members and a national convention centre that seats over 100,000.

Ablaze UK (formerly The International Apostolic Convention) has taken place annually over the first week in August since 1916. Until 2002 it was located at the village of Pen-y-groes, Camarthenshire, and since then in the city of Swansea.

Pen-y-groes is the site of the Apostolic Church School of Ministry (founded as the Apostolic Church International Bible School in 1933), [cite book |last=Weeks |first=Gordon |title=Chapter Thirty Two: Part of a History of the Apostolic Church 1900-2000 |year=2003 |pages=140] the oldest Pentecostal college in Great Britain. There are now also Bible Schools in eleven other countries. [cite book |last=Weeks |first=Gordon |title=Chapter Thirty Two: Part of a History of the Apostolic Church 1900-2000 |year=2003 |pages=228]

Church history

On 5 November 1909, William Oliver Hutchinson, started the first Pentecostal Church in Britain (The Emmanuel Mission Hall, Bournemouth). It soon became the headquarters of a large network of Pentecostal assemblies, known as Apostolic Faith Church.

Rev Daniel P. Williams the founder of the ‘Apostolic Church’ became an Apostle in the new movement. In 1916, Williams and a number of the Welsh assemblies broke away creating the Apostolic Church in Wales (ACW). Since 1916, the two groups have developed along very different doctrinal paths.

In 1917, a second group centred around Birmingham affiliated to the ACW. The following year, the ‘Burning Bush Pentecostal Congregation’ in Glasgow, came into co-operation with the ACW but remained independent. In the same year, a group using the name ‘Apostolic Church’ in Hereford also came into co-operation with the ACW.

In 1920 Ben Fisher who was the leader of an independent Pentecostal congregation in Belfast, N.Ireland, invited DP Williams to minister in his church. The group then affiliated to the ACW becoming their first mission field.

H.V.Chanter was the leader of the Apostolic Church of God (ACG); a large group of Pentecostal congregations with HQ in Bradford. During 1921, Mr Chanter attended the Christmas convention of the ACW in Pen-y-groes, Wales. A prophetic word given in Bradford directed the leaders, to invite the Welsh leaders to join them for a meeting. They met 1922, with another wider meeting arranged for Easter. At the Easter convention, leaders from most of the ACW congregations and those affiliated with them met in Bradford.

Four main groups formed an administrative union: The Apostolic Church in Wales; The Burning Bush congregation; The Apostolic Church in Hereford; and the Apostolic Church of God. Penygroes was declared to be the governmental centre, Glasgow be the financial centre and Bradford the missionary centre.

Theology

The Apostolic Church is not part of the Oneness Pentecostal Movement. "Apostolic Church" is a common term describing churches and groups within the Oneness Movement. These groups have no connection with the Apostolic Church denomination, which holds evangelical doctrine on the Trinity and Baptism.

The theological beliefs of the Apostolic Church are summarised in its statement of faith, known as the Tenets.

# The unity of the Godhead and the Trinity of the Persons therein.
# The utter depravity of human nature, the necessity for repentance and regeneration, and the eternal doom of the finally impenitent.
# The virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, triumphant resurrection, ascension and abiding intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ: his second coming and millennial reign upon earth.
# The justification and sanctification of the believer through the finished work of Christ.
# The baptism of the Holy Ghost for believers, with signs following and water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
# The nine gifts of the Holy Ghost for the edification, exhortation and comfort of the Church, which is the Body of Christ.
# The sacraments of baptism by immersion, and of the Lord’s Supper.
# The divine inspiration and authority of the Holy Scriptures.
# Church government by Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors, Teachers, Elders and Deacons.
# The possibility of falling from grace.
# The obligatory nature of tithes and offerings.

The Apostolic Church in Australia, New Zealand and Ascension Fellowships International in USA all go by a revised set of tenets. The meaning of words can change subtly through time and it was therefore felt the tenets needed updating. The addition of “the resurrection of the believer in an incorruptible body” was accepted at the time of the original but now needed clear expression. The change in order reflects an order more commonly used in evangelical churches.

# The one and living God, externally existent in three persons in unity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
# The divine inspiration and authority of Holy Scripture.
# The inherent corruptness of man through the Fall; the necessity of repentance and regeneration by grace and through faith alone, and the eternal separation from God of the finally impenitent.
# The virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, triumphant resurrection, ascension and abiding intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ. His second coming and millennial reign upon earth.
# Justification and sanctification of the believer through the finished work of Christ, and the resurrection of the believer in an incorruptible body.
# The ordinances of baptism by immersion and of the Lord’s Supper.
# The security of the believer as he abides in Christ.
# The Baptism of the Holy Spirit for believers with signs following.
# The nine gifts of the Holy Spirit for the edification, exhortation and comfort of the Church, which is the Body of Christ.
# Church government by apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, elders and deacons.
# The privilege and responsibility of bringing tithes and offerings to the Lord.

Equippers Network

Equippers forms a significant network of churches within the Apostolic Church of New Zealand. The group is global with individual churches in Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Tonga and United Kingdom. The network comes under the Apostleship of Bruce & Helen Monk, based in Equippers Church London.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.apostolicdoctrine.com/ Apostolic Doctrine]
* [http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Christianity/Denominations/Pentecostalism/Apostolic_Church/ The Apostolic Church DMOZ Category]
* [http://www.apostolicworld.com/ Worldwide Apostolic Church]
* [http://www.actionoverseas.org/ Actionoverseas - Apostolic Church Mission]