Frankfurt. The name of the new leader of the New Apostolic Church of Hesse/Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland is Bernd Koberstein. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber ordained him a District Apostle yesterday in Frankfurt. Before the ordination, the Chief Apostle discharged his predecessor in ministry, District Apostle Hagen Wend, into retirement with festive words. So it is that the New Apostolic Church in Central Germany—which also serves another 20 New Apostolic District Churches in Southern Europe, Northern and Western Africa, as well as the Near and Middle East—has been given a new spiritual leader.

Frankfurt, 11 January 2009, 10:00 AM – The festive divine service in the Congress Centre of the Main-metropolis begins. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber and the District Apostles of Europe have come to bid farewell to their friend, Hagen Wend (65), who is taking leave of active ministry. He has worked as a minister of the New Apostolic Church for 42 years, of which he has spent the last 13 as District Apostle and Church president of the NAC-Hesse/Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland. After the celebration of Holy Communion, the international Church leader retires him from active ministry and thanks him for his extensive and dedicated work.

Thereafter, Bernd Koberstein (56) is ordained to the District Apostle ministry. The Chief Apostle then goes on to ordain a new Apostle in Clément Haeck from Luxemburg, as well as a new Bishop, namely Pascal Strobel from Saarlouis.

Professing the Lord with courage

Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber chose a Bible text from Isaiah 33: 6 as the basis of the divine service: “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure.” His advice to the congregation was to profess the Lord even more courageously. “Although we cannot exactly describe our times as stable, we can counteract the general instability around us with the inner certainty that we are secure in the hand of God in all circumstances,” said the Church leader. He also called upon his listeners to deal with one another lovingly and without prejudice. No one is to be marginalised, and each one is to find his place in the fellowship of God’s children.

Please read our detailed report on the website of the NAC Hesse/Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland.