Waldensian Evangelical Church

The Waldensian Evangelical Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese, CEV) is a Protestant denomination active in Italy and Switzerland that was independent until it united with the Methodist Evangelical Church in Italy in the Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches. Founded in the 12th century by Peter Waldo as a proto-Protestant group, since the 16th century Reformation it has adopted Calvinist theology and blended into the wider Calvinist tradition. It is one of several Protestant denominations with pre-Reformation roots, and is appraised by various denominations of Protestantism as its major successor.

For the broader movement, see Waldensians. For current Protestant union in Italy after the union with Methodists in 1975, see Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches.
Waldensian Evangelical Church
Chiesa Evangelica Valdese
Seal of the Waldensian Church
TypeReligious sect
OrientationWaldensian
ScriptureChristian Bible
TheologyReformed theology
PolityPresbyterian
AssociationsUnion of Methodist and Waldensian Churches
Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
World Council of Churches
TerritoryItaly, Switzerland
FounderPeter Waldo
Origin12th century AD
Lyon, France
Congregations170 in Italy
7 in Switzerland
Members25.000
Official websitehttps://www.chiesavaldese.org/

The Church, after the Protestant Reformation, adhered to Calvinist theology and became the Italian branch of the Calvinist churches.[1][2] As such, the church is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.[3]

In 1967, the church had 30,000 members in Italy (plus some 15,000 affiliates in Argentina and Uruguay),[4] and was a founding member of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy (FCEI),[5] an ecumenical body comprising mainly historical Protestant denominations. In 1975 the CEV united with the Methodist Evangelical Church (5,000) to form the Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches.[2][6][7]

See also

References
  1. Consulenza sull'interfaccia e la realizzazione del codice. "Chiesa Evangelica Valdese - Unione delle chiese Metodiste e Valdesi". chiesavaldese.org. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  2. "Pope: Forgive Catholic persecution of evangelical Christians". 22 June 2015.
  3. "World Alliance of Reformed Churches". warc.jalb.de. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  4. Consulenza sull'interfaccia e la realizzazione del codice. "Chiesa Evangelica Valdese - Unione delle chiese Metodiste e Valdesi". chiesavaldese.org. Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  5. "F C E I - sito web ufficiale della Federazione delle Chiese Evangeliche in Italia". fedevangelica.it. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  6. Consulenza sull'interfaccia e la realizzazione del codice. "Chiesa Evangelica Valdese - Unione delle chiese Metodiste e Valdesi". chiesavaldese.org. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  7. "Per un patto tra la Chiesa Assemblee di Dio e la Chiesa valdese" (PDF). 20 September 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
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