New Apostolic Church Approves Women in Ministry for First Time in 160-Year History

The New Apostolic Church has taken a significant doctrinal step by affirming that women can be entrusted with ministerial authority and a ministerial mandate, marking the first time in its 160-year history that it has addressed this issue directly. The decision, made on 2 June 2022, was reached during the District Apostle Meeting in Buenos Aires, where the resolution stated that women can hold ministerial roles based on gender equivalence and equality before God. This shift represents a broader effort to update the Church’s understanding of ministry and leadership.

The decision was the result of extensive discussions involving approximately 330 Apostles. These deliberations included the development of teaching materials, training documents, and a video address to explain the change to members worldwide. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider announced the decision in a broadcast, emphasizing that the apostolate—comprising the Apostles in oneness with the Chief Apostle—has determined that women can be entrusted with ministerial authority at all levels of ministry and leadership functions, wherever it is accepted in society and the congregation.

This decision is not linked to broader gender debates, which vary globally. Instead, it emerged from the Church’s ongoing process of doctrinal clarification. Chief Apostle Richard Fehr initiated the groundwork for this reform, and his successor, Wilhelm Leber, continued the effort, culminating in the publication of the Catechism. Chief Apostle Schneider’s task was to address the long-standing question of who can bear a ministry, a matter that had remained unresolved until now.

Since 2014, the District Apostles have studied fundamental questions about ministry, including what constitutes a ministry, what occurs during ordination, and how the Church structures its leadership. These discussions led to reforms in the ministerial structure that took effect in 2019. With the foundational questions of what and how addressed, the Church now turns to the question of who, affirming that women are equally capable of bearing ministerial authority.

Traditionally, the New Apostolic Church has only ordained men, but its literature had never provided a clear doctrinal justification for this practice. The Church recognized the need to examine and clarify its stance, leading to the current decision. This development reflects a commitment to aligning doctrine with contemporary understanding while maintaining the Church’s core beliefs and values.

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