Cult, sect or denomination?

The New Apostolic Church (NAC) is a Christian denomination originating in 19th century Germany. It's considered to be a split from the British-based Catholic Apostolic Church (the “Irvingites”). NAC is currently stronger in sub-Saharan Africa than in Europe. Its current head is European, though: Jean-Luc Schneider. I believe he is Swiss.

This is NAC's catechism. I've read some of the chapters and skimmed others. Their eschatology is strikingly similar to that of U.S. Protestant fundamentalism, including a belief in the Rapture and the Great Tribulation. Their church organization, by contrast, is “high church”, and even includes apostles. The head of NAC is the Chief Apostle, who is able to receive new revelations from the Holy Spirit (compare Mormonism). The most important contains a kind of “baptism for the dead” (again, compare Mormonism). Judging by the catechism, the apostles appoint the priesthood, while it isn't overtly clear how the apostles themselves are selected. Authority seems to flow mostly in one direction: from the top, downwards.

NAC teaches the “real presence” or “consubstantiation” of the body and blood of Christ in the bread and wine used during Holy Communion. While the church says that salvation is by faith, most evangelicals would probably see its teachings as work-oriented, since they place strong emphasis on the sacraments and say that justification and sanctification are inseparable. It's interesting to note that the Apocrypha (including 2 Esdras and 3 Maccabees) are regarded as equally canonical as the “official” Old Testament.

Overall, NAC's beliefs sound like a “harder” version of Anglicanism and Lutheranism, but with a few unexpected twists!

Apparently, the New Apostolic Church is often criticized for being a “cult” by other Christians. Failed prophecies, expulsions of dissidents, collaboration with the Nazis, and an undue reverence for the Chief Apostle are some of the accusations leveled at this denomination. Overall, however, I think they sound pretty orthodox. The main problem is the sectarian attitude, with the apparent conviction that their particular group somehow holds the exclusive keys to the kingdom, and the only true apostolate. But then, such attitudes aren't completely unknown outside the NAC fold either…