The nineteenth annual conference on the church history of the Apostolic Church was organized by the Apostolic History Network from October 16 to 18, 2026, in Brauweiler, Kerpen, and Cologne-Lövenich. The conference focused on the history of the Apostolic Church in the Rhineland from its beginnings to the present. Thirty-five participants from four countries took part in an extensive and varied program.
As usual, those staying overnight met on Friday evening (October 16) for a cozy get-together, where there was much joy at seeing old friends again, but new participants were also welcomed. One network member celebrated his birthday that day—and it would not be the last one that weekend.
The actual conference program then began on Saturday morning (October 17) at the Central Archive of the NAK West (Link) in Pulheim-Brauweiler. Archivist Alfred Krempf welcomed those present and had prepared a short program. In the “Walter Schmidt Room,” attendees watched a video about the archival work of the Central Archives (see on YouTube Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3). In addition, the various sections of the archives were open to those interested. Dominique Baur demonstrated the facility’s digital capabilities. Attendees were also able to browse through books and archival materials, and a variety of fascinating conversations ensued.
At 1:00 p.m., the group set off for their next destination: the New Apostolic Church Kerpen-Stadt (congregation page, chronicle, formerly Horrem). As the local organizer and a network member, congregation leader Frank Bredemeier welcomed the participants. He also provided some interesting insights into the eventful history of the congregation and the building in Horrem.
On behalf of the network’s board, Mathias Eberle provided, as usual, an update on the network’s development. The organization continues to be pleased with rising membership numbers. At the time of the meeting, 196 people were members of the network—and one more person joined during the event. During the meeting, it was also announced that the mortgage on the archive building had been paid off. Four network members received a small token of appreciation for their more than ten years of membership in the network, presented by Chief Financial Officer Volker Wissen.
After a lunch lovingly prepared by the local congregation, the main program began. No recordings were made of the presentations. However, there are plans to publish presentation slides and additional content here at a later date.
First, Mathias Eberle began with the presentation “Religious Revival in the Rhineland: Friedrich Wilhelm Menkhoff’s Training of Deacons in Duisburg, 1849–1852,” which traced the life story of this Evangelical-Apostolic pioneer, with a focus on his time in Duisburg. This was followed by a brief presentation titled “The Beginnings of the Catholic Apostolic Congregations in the Rhineland,” which provided an overview of the origins and current situation of Catholic Apostolic congregations and church buildings in the region.
Volker Wissen then delivered his presentation titled “The Apostolic Congregation in the Rhineland: Regional Focuses and Influential Figures.” In doing so, he highlighted the initial heterogeneity of the Apostolic Community, which was founded in 1955, and shed light on the influence of key figures of that time and subsequent generations.
After a coffee break, Dominique Baur presented the “History of the New Apostolic Church in the Cologne Area.”
He highlighted the humble beginnings in the 19th century and traced the developments up to the ecumenical opening in the 21st century.
Afterward, Siegfried Richter, Bishop of the Church of the Apostolic Ministry of Jesus Christ, took the floor to present his comprehensive lecture titled “The Development of the Apostelamt Jesu Christi in the Rhineland.” The emergence of this regional branch of the AJC did not begin until after World War II and was by no means straightforward. For the participants, the insights provided were fascinating and new—until now, there had been no tangible materials on this topic.
The official conclusion of the day was the “Musical Finale,” which was hosted this year by Andreas Ostheimer. Hans Kuritz, the network’s vice chair, had set some well-known song lyrics to Anglican melodies this past summer. From the resulting small booklet, the participants sang four songs together. This was followed by a get-together in the local parish hall and a cozy conclusion to the evening. During this time, everyone was able to once again enjoy the parish’s warm hospitality.
On Sunday morning (October 18), those staying overnight had breakfast at the hotel and took the opportunity to congratulate another participant at the gathering on a milestone birthday. Afterward, everyone had the opportunity to attend one of several worship services offered in the region. A larger group attended the service of the Apostelamt Jesu Christi in Cologne. Several participants were also present at the NAK Kerpen-Stadt—there, after the divine service, the congregation was presented with a certificate for a previously arranged return visit to the Brockhagen Archive in the summer of 2027.
At noon, everyone met again in the familiar surroundings of Cologne-Lövenich, enjoying the authentic brewery atmosphere they had come to know on Friday evening. After a lunch of “Cologne-style tapas,” Alfred Krempf delivered his fascinating lecture “Hadj Alemán—The Story of the New Apostolic Joseph Klems from Düsseldorf,” whose eventful life story—from a petty criminal in the Rhineland to a Moroccan insurgent—has been adapted for film and novels on numerous occasions.
Finally, at 2:30 p.m., the network held its general meeting on site. No elections were on the agenda this year. Plans were made for the network’s upcoming 20th annual meeting, which is scheduled to take place in northern Germany in the fall of 2027, as well as for the network’s participation in the 2027 NAC South German Youth Day in Stuttgart.
Around 4:00 p.m., the last participants bid farewell to this conference, which was both very harmonious in atmosphere and intellectually stimulating. See you next time!
Please see the German version of this article for many pictures.