District Apostle Zbinden (born 1958) will retire next year. In order that his successor can familiarise himself with the extended field of work, he will be appointed as a District Apostle Helper. The assignment will be carried out by the president of the New Apostolic Church International, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider, during his visit to the congregation of Berne-Ostermundigen on 17 September.

Thomas Deubel is 59 years old, married, and has two children. He lives in the district of Bienne in Switzerland. He has served as a minister in the New Apostolic Church since 1984 and has been an Apostle since 2014. For many years Thomas Deubel worked in various positions in a bank, and from 2008 to 2014 he worked as secretary for the Church president of the New Apostolic Church Switzerland. His future working area as District Apostle includes the countries of Switzerland, Bulgaria, Gibraltar, Italy, Cuba, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria.