Organization
The leadership of the Old Apostolic Church is a body known as the Conference of Apostles. This body is responsible for all temporal and spiritual matters relating to the church. The conference of Apostles consists of all active and retired Apostles of the church. No single Apostle has a leadership role over other Apostles and the office of Chief Apostle or any other equivalent as is found in the New Apostolic Church or the Twelve Apostles' Church in Christ, is not recognized by the church. A Chairman is elected for a period of two years and do not have a vote, except in case of a tie.
The OAC is divided in districts for administrative purposes. There are currently nine districts, (Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Free State/Northern Cape, Gauteng, Northern Districts, Botswana/Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Germany. Each district is under the control of the Forum of Apostles, which consists of the Apostles working out of that District Office.
The District Office is under the administrative leadership of the District Secretary, who is usually a Fourfold Officer (Overseer, Prophet, or Evangelist). The District Office also has welfare officers and staff to administer the church's funeral fund.
Each Apostle is responsible for a specific area known as an Apostleship. An Apostleship consists of several Overseerships.
An Overseership is led by a troika of an Overseer, Evangelist and Prophet. An Overseership is divided in several Elderships.
An Eldeship, under the leadership of an Elder might be one or several congregations, and consists of several Priests and Underdeacons. The Priest is responsible for the spiritual welfare of the congregants and is assisted by the Underdeacon who leads Bible study and evangelistic testimony.
Some Elders and Priests may receive specific responsibilities such as Evangelistic, Prophetic, Youth, Senior Citizens, Hospital Chaplaincy or Military and Police Chaplaincy.
Ministers in the OAC are appointed and ordained by the Apostle through the laying on of hands. They are chosen through the discernment of spiritual gifts given by God, and though they do not receive any theological training, doctrine and scriptures are taught through the breaking of bread within the Church, and by teachings which are inspired by the Holy Spirit and by the Scriptures. All ministers are lay persons, and do not receive any salaries.
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