Richard Fehr

Richard Fehr (15 July 1939 – 30 June 2013) was the seventh Chief Apostle (international church president) of the New Apostolic Church from 22 May 1988 to 15 May 2005.[1]

Life

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Richard Fehr originally worked as a typesetter and married his wife on 8 September 1960. They had one son.[2]

Term in office

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Date Position gained
15 November 1961 Subdeacon
11 November 1962 Deacon
18 August 1963 Priest
30 May 1971 Evangelist and congregation chief
12 April 1973 District Elder
18 July 1976 Bishop
25 May 1980 Apostle
7 June 1981 District Apostle of the Switzerland district
22 May 1988 Chief Apostle
15 May 2005 Retirement

He was ordained Chief Apostle by his predecessor Hans Urwyler at his bedside in the hospital. Because of the severe disease which made Chief Apostle Hans Urwyler unfit for service in July 1987, he entrusted Richard Fehr with his substitution and ordained him Chief Apostle Helper on 28 August 1987. On 3 May 1988, Fehr was ordained Chief Apostle by the very ill Urwyler. Fehr officially assumed this office on 22 May 1988 in Fellbach, Germany.

Fehr later ordained Wilhelm Leber his successor on 15 May 2005 in Fellbach and officially asked him for his own retirement.

Health deterioration and death

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Since the end of this mandate, he started to experience some health problems. In 2010 he suffered a stroke, which resulted in partial paralysis. After a short time of rehabilitation he progressed a little, in words of Leber.[3]

Finally, he died on the evening of 30 June 2013.[4]

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  1. ^ "Video of "Pentecost 2005": Chief Apostle changeover in Fellbach". New Apostolic Church International. 2005-05-15. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Spring 2011 ~ Religious Instruction Lesson #3" (PDF). New Apostolic Church USA. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Announcement: Chief Apostle Richard Fehr has suffered a stroke". New Apostolic Church International. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Chief Apostle Richard Fehr has passed away". New Apostolic Church. Retrieved 2 June 2013.