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- Change in ministry: Michael Ehrich is the name of the new district apostle for the District Church of Southern Germany
Karlsruhe. For 25 years District Apostle Klaus Saur was responsible for the leadership of the New Apostolic District Church of Southern Germany. On Sunday, 23 April 2006 he was given a festive retirement. His successor is Michael Ehrich (46) from Karlsruhe.
Some 77,000 New Apostolic Christians witnessed the divine service in Karlsruhe, either live in the central church or by satellite transmission to New Apostolic congregations in Belgium, Greece, Israel, Macedonia, Lebanon, Luxemburg, Turkey, the Ukraine, and Cyprus. At the beginning of the service, the chief apostle sent a special greeting to the brethren in the Ukraine: “I have heard that you are celebrating Easter today. ... Indeed, the Lord is risen” (the believers there greet one another with the words “Christos voskres”—Christ is risen—on Easter)!
Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, who based the divine service on a passage from John 7: 38, cited Isaiah 52: 7 with reference to the retirement of District Apostle Klaus Saur: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation.” The chief apostle called upon all ministers to apply these words to themselves and become such messengers of “glad tidings” by imparting the joy contained in the gospel to others. He expanded this thought even further by calling upon all believers to impart joy in the Lord, radiate peace, and preach “good things.”
Before the retirement of District Apostle Saur and the ordination of his successor, District Apostle Michael Ehrich, the chief apostle made a few remarks about the relationship between the two men (District Apostle Ehrich is the son-in-law of District Apostle Saur). He explained that, just as no one should receive a ministry on account of his family relations, no one should be rejected because of his family relations either. “The ministry is holy to us!” He added that many prayers had been brought so that the right decision would be made.
Read a detailed report on the website of the District Church of Southern Germany.
24 April 2006