Carl
George Klibbe (December 1852 – May 1931)
Carl (Karl) George
Klibbe was born in the Pomeranian village of Ossecken on December 25th, 1852. He was originally a
minister in the Lutheran Church.
Heinrich Friedrich
Niemeyer (1853 – 1920) was born in Schladen im Harz. He was “sealed” in 1864 by
“apostle” Carl Wilhelm Louis Preuss. He became a “priest” and in 1883 at age 30
he was sent as an “evangelist” by “apostle” Friedrich Krebs to Australia.
Carl George
Klibbe emigrated with his family to Scotland, and eventually from there to
Australia.
 |
| Carl George Klibbe |
In Hatton
Vale, a town in the state of Queensland, Carl George Klibbe met “evangelist”
Heinrich Friedrich Niemeyer once again, having met before in Germany. Carl
George Klibbe and his family were “sealed” in Australia.
Heinrich Friedrich
Niemeyer was ordained as an “apostle” by “apostle” Friedrich Krebs and “apostle”
F.W. Menkhoff in Germany on July 25th, 1886.
 |
| Heinrich Friedrich Niemeyer |
In 1889
“apostle” Heinrich Friedrich Niemeyer commissioned “evangelist” Carl George
Klibbe to travel to and establish the New Apostolic Church in South Africa.
Carl George
Klibbe and his family went via sailing ship from Australia to South
Africa and en-route his son Herman
(John) George was born at sea.
When they
landed in Cape Town he bought a small-holding at Bellville and later moved and
purchased a farm at Worcester because he depended on farming for his
livelihood. His testimony was limited to the sparse population of German
immigrants in Cape Town and Worcester because he could only speak German. When
his missionary work bore no fruit he turned his attention to Berlin, 60km from
East London.
In East
London there were many German-speaking people and in the year 1892 a
congregation emerged to become the first New Apostolic congregation in South
Africa.
As a result,
“apostle” Heinrich Niemeyer nominated Carl George Klibbe to become an “apostle”
and Carl George Klibbe was called to be an “apostle” by the “Apostle College”
in Europe in a letter dated July 8th, 1893.
The
congregation grew to 70 members who then built a chapel in Southernwood from
their own means.
In 1895 “apostle”
Friedrich Wilhelm Schwarz and “apostle” Friedrich Wilhelm Menkhoff died. In
1897 “apostle” Friedrich Krebs received the calling to lead the church as
“chief apostle”.
In 1901 a
shoemaker by the name of Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff visited the
congregation with his family. They were “sealed” by “apostle” Carl George
Klibbe in 1902. On December 25th, 1902, “apostle” Carl George Klibbe
ordained Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff as a “deacon” and commissioned him
to move to Cape Town in another attempt to establish the New Apostolic Church
there.
 |
| Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff |
Financial
difficulties followed for the congregation in East London, many members left
and the congregation was forced to sell the chapel they had built.
As a result
of the financial losses, “apostle” Carl George Klibbe left East London and
bought a farm in iMvani, a small railway siding 160km from East London.
 |
| iMvani 1903 |
In the
meantime “deacon” Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff arrived in Cape Town in
January 1903 and held services in his home at 41 Argyle Street in Woodstock. By
April 10th, 1904, he was able to invite “apostle” Carl George Klibbe
to “seal” new members in Cape Town.
In 1905 “chief apostle”
Friedrich Krebs died. He was then succeeded by “chief apostle” Hermann
Christoph Niehaus. In 1906 “apostle” Heinrich Friedrich Niemeyer from Australia
went to visit the “chief apostle” and encouraged “apostle” Carl George Klibbe
to do likewise.
The home of
“evangelist” Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff became too small and a hall in
Station road, Claremont, was hired until a nearby plot of ground was purchased
in Palmyra road. Here a church was built and dedicated by “apostle” Carl George
Klibbe on June 4th, 1906.
 |
| Palmyra road, Claremont, Cape Town |
Services
were almost entirely held in German and the church was sometimes called the
German Apostolic Church.
Two
immigrants from Holland in 1904, Christiaan and Jacobus Kreunen, were “sealed”
in Cape Town at the beginning of 1907. Christiaan Hendrik Kreunen, the eldest
brother, was ordained as a “priest” to assist “evangelist” Georg Heinrich
Wilhelm Schlaphoff in reaching the Dutch speaking residents in Cape Town.
Most of the
people in iMvani also spoke Dutch or Cape Dutch. Because of this, “apostle” Carl
George Klibbe requested “evangelist” Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff to send
“priest” Christiaan Hendrik Kreunen to assist him in iMvani. Without further
ado “priest” Christiaan Hendrik Kreunen and his family moved to Queenstown in
1907. He was later joined by his brother, Jacobus Kreunen.
In 1908
“apostle” Carl George Klibbe held a farewell service on his farm in iMvani and
set out on his journey to go meet the “chief apostle”, following the example of
“apostle” Heinrich Friedrich Niemeyer from Australia and the other “apostles”. He
left by ship from Cape Town and in his absence, “evangelist” Georg Heinrich
Wilhelm Schlaphoff cared for the church. It was many months later when a
jubilant “apostle” Carl George Klibbe returned back to South Africa.
Unfortunately
on his arrival back at his farm in iMvani he found that his crops had failed
and many of his livestock had died. He had to sell his farm and was left
destitute. Fortunately “priest” Christiaan Hendrik Kreunen offered him and his
family accommodation in his home in Queenstown.
The Church
was incorporated under Act 31 of 1909 (Transvaal) known as the New Apostolic
Church (Africa) under the leadership
of “apostle” Carl George Klibbe.
Financial
stress in Queenstown was a motivating factor to move elsewhere. Opportunities
looked better in Johannesburg and “apostle” Carl George Klibbe asked “priest” Christiaan
Hendrik Kreunen to accompany him to Johannesburg. Once again “apostle” Carl
George Klibbe resided with “priest” Christiaan Hendrik Kreunen in his home in
Jeppe. Services for the two families were also held in his home until a vacant
shop was rented for services. Because “priest” Christiaan Hendrik Kreunen
understood Dutch, a congregation was soon founded in La Rochelle and services
were conducted in an old bakery.
In 1910 in
Cape Town, “apostle” Carl George Klibbe ordained “evangelist” Georg Heinrich
Wilhelm Schlaphoff as a “bishop”. This ordination was later rescinded by
“apostle” Carl George Klibbe to “district elder” which caused some confusion,
and “district elder” Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff wrote to “chief apostle”
Hermann Christoph Niehaus for clarity on this matter.
In the
meantime “priest” Christiaan Hendrik Kreunen’s younger brother Jacobus got
married and “apostle” Carl George Klibbe called him to move to Pretoria.
Jacobus Kreunen moved to Pretoria in 1911. He was then ordained as “underdeacon”
and then as “deacon”. He was later ordained as “priest” as his congregation
grew and services were held in a hall in Schoeman street, Pretoria.
Back in Germany, the
“chief apostle” Hermann Christoph Niehaus tried to strengthen his position and
introduced new reforms whereof a conflict occurred. After a general “apostles”
meeting in 1911, “apostle” Heinrich Friedrich Niemeyer from Australia was
excommunicated.
Reasons for Apostolic
Church of Queensland breakaway:
1) Establishment of the
office of chief apostle
2) Personality cult that
formed around the chief apostle
What
happened in Germany and Australia seems to have had a knock-on effect on
“apostle” Carl George Klibbe. He started returning all mail received from
“chief apostle” Hermann Christoph Niehaus unopened, clearly indicating his
severance from the “chief apostle” and “apostle unity”.
An
invitation was extended to “district elder” Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff
by “chief apostle” Hermann Christoph Niehaus to visit Germany. In 1913
“apostle” Carl George Klibbe was informed that he was excommunicated according
to the Articles of Association of the New Apostolic Church (Africa) 1910.
On September
21st, 1913, Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff was ordained as an
“apostle” while visiting in Germany.
The
congregations in Jeppe and Benoni remained loyal to Carl George Klibbe, the
congregations in Pretoria and La Rochelle accepted the leadership under
“apostle” Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff.
On October 16th, 1913, Carl George
Klibbe sent a letter to his “fourfold officers” in which he clearly stated that
he believed that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again (Klibbe's letter).
In 1914 World War 1 was
declared. German subjects in South Africa were interned and forced to leave their
homes and face imprisonment in concentration camps. The war lasted until 1918.
There was
confusion and bitter conflict because there appeared to be two “New Apostolic”
churches, one led by “apostle” Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff and the other
led by the excommunicated Carl George Klibbe.
According to
the official Witwatersrand court settlement papers (pages 1 and 2):
“…Carl George Klibbe did in the
year 1915 sever all connection with and declared its independence from the New
Apostolic Church, whose headquarters is in Germany which is subject to the
jurisdiction of the Apostle College and Apostle Unity and under the leadership
of Herman Niehaus of Quelle, Germany…” (Court Case 432 of 1926).
1915 is 10
years after Hermann Christoph Niehaus became “chief apostle”; and Friedrich
Krebs was “chief apostle” even before Hermann Christoph Niehaus.
This matter
could only be settled in court and the German-based New Apostolic Church
eventually took legal action against Carl George Klibbe in 1926. The court
hearing was on December 26th, 1926. The Supreme Court of S.A.
(Witwatersrand Local Division - Case 432 of 1926) ruled that he was not to use
the name ʺNew Apostolic Churchʺ. As a result of this ruling, Carl George Klibbe
renamed his movement the ʺOld Apostolic Churchʺ. In June 1927 Carl George
Klibbe registered his church as “The Old Apostolic Church of Africa”.
Reasons for
OAC breakaway [Church History of the Old Apostolic Church for Sunday School]:
-
Niehaus’
ban on prophetic gifts (visions,
dreams and prophecies)*
-
Niehaus’
refusal to appoint “prophets”**
-
Niehaus’
acceptance of the literal interpretation of the Bible***
-
Acceptance
by Niehaus that the Second Coming is a future, literal event****
-
Establishment
of the office of chief apostle
-
Personality
cult that formed around the chief apostle
-
The
rise of German nationalism within the German church*****
Ernest
Frederick Wilhelm Ninow was ordained by Carl George Klibbe before his death (May
21st, 1931) as
“apostle” and successor, becoming chairman
(leading apostle – primus inter pares) and leader of the OAC (Old Apostolic
Church: History of the Western Cape District; Church History of the Old
Apostolic Church for the Sunday School). This position was only abolished in
1984. Nowadays a chairman is elected
for a period of two years only.
Is this a
case of the pot calling the kettle black? What’s in a word anyway?
- Chairman – person chosen to
preside (occupy chair of authority; exercise control, sit or reign supreme)
over meetings
- Chief – leader, ruler; head of
tribe, clan, etc.
- Leader – person that holds a
dominant or superior position, the one in charge
- Primus inter pares – Latin phrase meaning
“first among equals”
Maybe it’s six
of one and half a dozen of the other?
Additional
notes:
* Bans of prophetic gifts existed even before Niehaus as well as in the OAC.
The end of the Catholic Apostolic Church's “prophetical” element was underlined
by the adoption in 1843 of an elaborate new liturgy. During a meeting at Albury
in 1860, the German “prophet” Heinrich Geyer called two “evangelists” to be
“apostles”. After deliberation, the Catholic Apostolic Church “apostles”
rejected this calling and affirmed that no further callings to the “apostolate”
would be accepted. Then in the Hamburg Congregation, Heinrich Geyer the
“prophet” had already called the coal dealer Johannes F.L. Güldner as an
“apostle” in a private meeting four months before “apostle” Carl Wilhelm Louis
Preuss' death. Carl Wilhelm Louis Preuss had refused to recognize this calling
and, on his deathbed, designated “elder” Wichmann as his successor. In January, 1972 the
“apostle” Robert Lombard was excommunicated from the OAC in part due to a dispute with
the OAC apostolate concerning a revelation
received by “apostle” Robert Lombard [Harry H. Martin, I tell you the truth, 2009, page 58].
** The refusal to appoint “prophets” was even
before Niehaus. After 1872 “apostle” Friedrich Krebs, in his quest for the
“Unity of the apostles” abolished the callings by mouth of the “prophets” and
declared the office of “prophet” redundant, for “apostle” Friedrich Krebs would
from then on appoint the most important ministers himself.
*** The literal interpretation of the Bible
existed even before Niehaus. Edward Irving earnestly preached that the end of
the world was nigh and that the church had sinned grievously by not instituting
all the posts as he literally
interpreted them in Ephesians 4:11 - particularly the apostolate.
He pleaded for the immediate introduction of this post so that the “apostle”
designate could “seal” the believers for salvation. The Catholic Apostolic
Church’s ministry was exclusively male, based on their literal interpretation of the headship of the man over the woman as
laid down in the book of Genesis. A Catholic Apostolic Church “bishop”
was titled "angel" based on their literal interpretation of Revelation 1:20. The Catholic Apostolic
Church’s hierarchy of “angels”, “priests” and “deacons” was not considered
sufficient to perfect the “saints” based on their literal interpretation of Ephesians 4:11. Some examples of literal interpretation still applied in the OAC today are; the offer
box for the tithes (Malachi 3:10) with a hole in the lid being
placed on the right hand side of the pulpit (2 Kings 12:9), women wear hats
to church (1
Corinthians 11:5-6), the “elder” literally anoints the sick with pure olive oil (James 5:14), only married men are allowed to become officers
(1 Timothy
3:2, 1
Timothy 3:12) and preach (1 Corinthians 14:34, 1 Timothy 2:11-12), and of
course Edward Irving’s literal interpretation of Ephesians 4:11 on the need for
an “apostle”, “prophet” and “evangelist” (apostles today).
**** The Second Coming as a future, literal event
was accepted even before Niehaus. Edward Irving declared that there will be a
great outpouring of the Holy Spirit and then Jesus would literally return. The
main point of the Catholic Apostolic Church’s gospel was that the Church had
deviated from its origins and only through restoring the “Universal Church” to
its perfect state could the literal return of Christ be ensured. The Catholic
Apostolic Church believed that the Holy Spirit was to prepare them for the
literal return of Christ which they expected imminently. The liturgy of the New
Apostolic Church was originally consistent with the liturgy of the Catholic
Apostolic Church. In 1902 “elder” Julius Fischer came into
conflict with “chief apostle” Friedrich Krebs regarding the future second
coming of Jesus Christ. According to “elder” Julius Fischer, Jesus
Christ had already returned in the re-established “apostle” office and
according to him, there was no future second coming. As a result of his views,
“chief apostle” Friedrich Krebs removed “elder” Julius Fischer from office. In
the same way as Protestantism and Catholicism, the Second Coming of Christ as a
future, literal event is at the forefront of the New Apostolic doctrine. The
founding father of the OAC, “apostle” Klibbe also believed in the Second Coming as a future, literal event.
*****This is ironic as Carl George Klibbe
was born and raised in Germany, could only speak German and his first
congregations consisted mostly of German-speaking immigrants from Germany.
