| Methodist Evangelical Church in Italy | |
|---|---|
| Chiesa Evangelica Metodista in Italia | |
| Type | Protestant |
| Orientation | Methodist |
| Scripture | Christian Bible |
| Theology | Methodist theology |
| Polity | Congregationalist |
| Associations | Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy World Council of Churches |
| Territory | Italy |
| Origin | 1962 |
| Members | 4,000 |
| Official website | Official website |
TheMethodist Evangelical Church in Italy (Italian:Chiese Evangelica Metodista in Italia), known also asItalian Methodist Church (Chiese Metodista Italiana), is aProtestant church in theMethodist tradition active in Italy that is infull communion with the historicalWaldensian Evangelical Church in theUnion of Methodist and Waldensian Churches.[1] It part of theWorld Methodist Council.
The first Italian Methodist churches were founded byBritish andAmerican missionaries in the 19th century. The missionary work became difficult during theFascist regime, but finally in 1946 the Methodist Evangelical Church of Italy was born as a district of theAnnual Conference of theMethodist Church of Great Britain. In 1962 the Methodist Church became fully independent and its structure was organized with a non-episcopalcongregationalist polity.[2]
In 1975 the Methodist Church wasunited with theWaldensian Evangelical Church, resulting in theUnion of Methodist and Waldensian Churches.[2][3] The two churches have since been one church, governed by one synod, but they have maintained their own identity, ecumenical relations, administration and projects. In fact, contextually with the formation of the Union, theAction for the Methodist Evangelical Churches in Italy (Opera per le Chiese Evangeliche Metodiste in Italia) was established in order to maintain ecumenical relations and those with world Methodism, administer Methodist properties such as churches, and finance the work of pastors and deacons.[4]
As of today,[when?] the Methodist Evangelical Church in Italy includes 4,000 members and 50 congregations.[5]