New Apostolic Church
International

Zurich. Approximately 265,000 ministers serve in over 68,000 congregations worldwide in the New Apostolic Church. Over 90 percent of these are Priests, Deacons and Sub-Deacons. This high percentage ensures sufficient care of the individual souls and looks after the congregations.

Since the historical development in the 23 District Apostle Districts worldwide has taken different courses, depending on the country, the two ministries of Deacon and Sub-Deacon are not equally represented everywhere. Although they are two separate ministries, in the course of time their duties have increasingly converged.

The Chief Apostle and the District Apostles of the New Apostolic Church, subsequent to a District Apostles‘ Meeting, have decided upon a new direction for the Sub-Deacon's ministry: effective January 1, 2002, no more Sub-Deacons will be ordained. The ministry is not thereby abolished; however, in the future, it will no longer be filled.

Zurich, July 29, 2001