As well as Matthias who was chosen to replace Judas to make up the twelve, Paul was also an apostle but not of the twelve and also Romans 16:7 mentions two more apostles - Andronicus and Junia. So does that not set a precedent?
And 1 Corinthians 12:28 says, "And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues." So to me 'church' here is more than just those that were alive at that time. Church to me means all those who Jesus prayed for in John 17.
It's no wonder the Church doesn't seem to have a voice in much of the world today as it denies the fact that God is never changing and provides for the Church today, the Body of Christ, in just the same way he did in the early days. Why wouldn't he?