Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy

The Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy (Chiesa Evangelica Luterana in Italia, Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Italien, abbreviated CELI or ELKI) is a Lutheran church in Italy, founded in 1949.[1] The CELI, which includes both German- and Italian-speaking communities, is a member of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy (FCEI) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).[2]

The first Lutheran community in Italy was formed in Venice in 1650. Within the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, Lutheran churches were formed in Trieste (1778), Merano (1861) and Bolzano (1889). Under Prussian influence, communities were formed also in Rome (1819), Naples (1826) and Florence (1899), while other German-speaking citizens established churches in Milano (1850), Sanremo (1870) and Genoa (1896). Lutheranism flourished in Naples and Torre Annunziata thanks to the missionary work of pastor Idelmo Poggioli. All the aforementioned communities were gathered in the CELI in 1949 or afterwards. In 1967 the CELI was a founding member of the FCEI. Under the CELI's supervision, other churches were formed, notably in Catania (1991), Verona (2008) and Turin (2009).[1]

The CELI consists of 17 communities, some of which cover entire regions,[3] and more than 7,000 baptized members.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.chiesaluterana.it/celi/storia-della-celi/
  2. ↑ http://www.chiesaluterana.it/celi/relazioni-ecumeniche/
  3. ↑ http://www.chiesaluterana.it/
  4. ↑ http://www.fedevangelica.it/fcei/fcei041.php

External links