Italian Evangelical Alliance Turns 50 in 2024
The Italian Evangelical Alliance (AEI) is gearing up to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024. Established in 1974, the AEI has grown to represent a wide range of evangelical denominations across Italy, tracing its roots back to the 19th century.
The AEI's origins can be traced back to the first Evangelical Alliance set up in London in 1846. In Italy, Paul Geymonat, a Waldensian pastor born in Villar Pellice in 1837, championed the union of Italian evangelical churches in the 19th century. His efforts culminated in the founding of the AEI in 1974, following the influential Amsterdam and Lausanne congresses of 1971.
The AEI's first decade was marked by vitality and diversity. It published a quarterly periodical called 'Idea' and attracted a broad range of denominations, mirroring the entire Italian evangelical movement. However, after a dynamic start, the AEI faced a period of stagnation, testing its resilience. Despite these challenges, the AEI has remained a significant force, helping to curb the risks of compromise with Roman Catholicism within world evangelicalism, particularly in the 1980s.
The AEI's 50th anniversary in 2024 will celebrate its resilience, diversity, and impact on Italian evangelicalism. From its inception inspired by the first Evangelical Alliance in London, through its dynamic early years, and its crucial role in maintaining evangelical identity, the AEI continues to represent Italian evangelicals on the global stage.
