Birmingham. It was both an historical and joyfully emotional divine service in Birmingham. As of last Sunday, 15 February 2009, the District Church of Northern Germany has officially taken over the pastoral care and administrative responsibility for the New Apostolic congregations in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

For many years the congregations on the island were served from the Church in the USA. When the new District Apostle was ordained for the USA on October 2008, the first steps were also taken toward a reassignment of the congregations in the United Kingdom. District Apostle Leonard Kolb from the USA conducted the festive divine service marking the official handover in the Bethel Convention Centre in Birmingham. District Apostle Karlheinz Schumacher, Apostle Rüdiger Krause (both Northern Germany), and Apostle Reinhard Hecht (USA) were also present for the special occasion.

The divine service was based upon a Bible passage from Isaiah 41: 13. “Trust in God is to liberate us from fear,” said District Apostle Kolb. District Apostle Schumacher also underlined this thought before going on to emphasise that he had come with open, inviting hands, while also holding fast to the hand of the Chief Apostle.

At the end of the divine service, District Apostle Kolb officially transferred the care of the congregations in the United Kingdom from the USA to District Apostle Schumacher from Northern Germany.

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