The Union of the apostolic Christians in France is founded in 1954, after the Swiss apostles Ernst and Otto Güttinger are excommuniqués néo-apostolic Église (ENA). The leader of the ENA, the apostle-patriarch Jean-Godefroi Bischoff déclamait in 1951 which it was not going to die before the return of Jesus Christ. This faith became a dogma and the members not wanting to follow it were excommuniqués; initially in Swiss then later with the Netherlands and in Germany.

The protest movement takes shape as of the August 22nd 1954 by a dissenting group of approximately 200 people of the area of Amnéville-the-Thermal baths, in the Moselle, whereas the apostle-patriarch remains with Mulhouse.

After being itself organized, this group spreads itself actively as of 1956 in the Moselle then the Union of the apostolic Christians finally is recorded with the Prefecture of Toulouse on March 1st 1961, with like drank: “religious teaching on the basis of institution of the apostolic Church of the Christianity of the first times”.

The Christians in France gathered in the Union and were been useful by the ministries of in Switzerland. In 1956 several apostolic groups reformed gathered in Düsseldorf and founded the Union of the Apostolic Communities.

After decades under the control of the Swiss , the French communities acquired more independence after ordination the December 15th 1991 of André Grein, a French apostle.

Since 2004 Norbert Schaeffer manages the union. From the June 1st, 2007 it is also spiritually responsible for the German communities in the Saar, which remain from now on share of the organization of the Apostolische Gemeinschaft .

The Communities

Currently five communities of a total of approximately 150 faithful gather Sunday morning for a simple worship and Wednesday evening for a meeting.

• Amnéville-the-Thermal baths

• Thionville
• Algrange
• Merlebach
• Toulouse

Community of Schiltigheim - Strasbourg was closed in 2005.

Publications

the Herald is the semi-monthly newspaper of the Union for the construction of the apostolic faith, duplicated for the members of French language, printed for those of German language since 1954.

Doctrines

At the beginning the doctrines of the union were not very different from that of the néo-apostolic church. But since the years the 1970 apostles made deep changes of doctrines.

The profession of faith is the Symbole of the apostles and the Symbole of Nicée - Constantinople.

The Church knows three sacraments:

• the Baptême by sprinkling of the children inserts in the alliance of grace. By him, the believer becomes a member of the holy Christian church. It is the baptism of spirit and fire.

• the Holy-Cène : by it, the believer adapts the merits of Jesus-Christ. She is celebrated each Sunday in the form of a host soaked in a little wine. These two substances must be devoted by a sacerdotal ministry. Even the infants can take part in cene.
• the Saint-Seal, makes that the Holy Spirit took possession of a believer. By the Holy Spirit God makes able the believer to recognize Jesus-Christ like her Sauveur.

Ministries

According to the hierarchy, the ministries in the Church are those of Apôtre, of bishop, old, evangelist, shepherd, priest, Diacre. Since 2004, the ordination of women is possible. Currently, eleven women exert a ministry (10 in Germany, 1 in the Netherlands). The last woman was ordered by a. Schaeffer at the beginning of the June 2007 for the community of Saarbrucken with Völklingen. Nowadays, the general ministry of each member becomes increasingly important.

Bonds

• http://www.united-apostolic.org - Web page of the Union of the Apostolic Communities in Europe
• http://www.apostolisch.de - Web page of the Apostolic Community in Germany
• http://www.apostolisch.ch - Web page of the Apostolic Union of the Christians in Switzerland
• http://www.apostolisch.nl - Web page of the Apostolic Community in the Netherlands