The Reformed Old Apostolic Church is a chiliastic sect with roots in the Catholic Apostolic Church and the Old Apostolic Church. It is part of a branch in Christianity called Irvingism [1] and is separate from Protestantism [2] with membership mostly restricted to the coloured communities, in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape in South Africa
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The Reformed Old Apostolic Church was founded in 1972 by Robert Lombard, a former Apostle of the Old Apostolic Church of Africa.[3]
Apostle Robert Lombard was ordained as an Apostle in the Old Apostolic Church in 1958 by Apostle William Campbell. Lombard was the first coloured, and the second non-white Apostle of the Old Apostolic Church. During his lifetime up until 1971 [3] he was responsible for the coloured and black communities of the Cape Province (Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape).[4] According to ROAC members this was due to racial segregation within the OAC. But during that time the segregational laws of the National Party Government was in effect and whites and coloureds was not allowed to have meetings in the same areas.
In 1971 Lombard was relieved of his responsibilities due to his health by the Apostelate of the OAC.[5] During his sickness he received a revelation from Jesus Christ that he must lead his people to the promised land, and that he would be healed. Lombard believed that he was appointed by Jesus Christ as a liberator of the members of the Old Apostolic Church, and that the church should become active in demolishing the "Apartheid" government's and already implemented apartheid or "separate development" within the church and not bend to political pressure due to the section 29 (c) of the Native Laws Amendment Bill, also known as the "Church clause". The Apostelate of the OAC refused to accept Lombard's interpretation of his revelation.[6]
In January 1972 Robert Lombard and two Overseers (Adolf Neethling and Gamba) broke away and formed the Non-White Old Apostolic Church. Lombart appointed Adolf Neethling to succeed him in January 1972, and died in June that same year.[3]
In a court case in 1975 the Non-White Old Apostolic Church church was forced to change its name to Reformed Old Apostolic Church. The reason stated was that the name "Non-White Olld Apostolic Church" confused the public into thinking that the church was a branch of the Old Apostolic Church. Today the church is widely known as ROAC, standing for the Reformed Old Apostolic Church.[2][7]
Demographics for the ROAC is not available.
The Reformed Apostolic Church of Freddie Isaacs, also known as the Cradock Apostle broke away from the ROAC.[8]
According to the ROAC, God is a generational God. God is constantly renewing Himself and the church with new ideas and revelations. "Renewal is unavoidable" is a common catchphrase within the ROAC. Renewal will take place, and without anybody's control.
The idea of a "Generational God" is not an original doctrine of Irvingism (not found in other Apostolic Churches). The original Irvingism held to the Classical Theism doctrine. The Reformed Old Apostolic Church adopted Process Theology and liberation theology.
The ROAC believed that after the resurrection, Jesus did not go to heaven, but went into the Apostles. Jesus is according to ROAC doctrine with-in (residing) the Apostles of the ROAC.[9]
Part of ROAC doctrine is the teaching that the dead can also reside within believers. This connect to their belief of Jesus residing within the believers.[9]
The ROAC practises baptism for the dead. During this ceremony, it is believed that the ancestors will enter a host body, whom will be baptised in the place of the deceased by the Apostle [9]
Apostol Lon