[Versione italiana] EVANGELICAL CHURCH of RECONCILIATION, ITALY

This name was adopted in 1995 by an evangelical/pentecostal church movement which came into existence in Italy in the early 1980s.

The Evangelical Church of Reconciliation is the result of the coming together of the evangelistic mission known as "Fiumi di Potenza" (Rivers of Power) - active in Calabria since the '60s and constituted as an "Ente Morale" (Government recognized charitable trust) in 1971 - and the "Centro Italiano di Comunione e Restaurazione" (Italian Fellowship and Restoration Center), founded in Caserta, near Naples, in the late '70s by a group of ministers of the Gospel who were seeking a renewal of spiritual and church life.

The church is a member of the Italian Evangelical Alliance (part of the World Evangelical Alliance and the European Evangelical Alliance), and identifies with its aims. (For an Italian evangelical site with numerous links, see La Piazza Evangelica.)

We subscribe to the doctrines of the historic Christian faith as summarised in the Nicene Creed, and to the evangelical outlook and values expressed in documents such as the Lausanne Covenant and the Manila Manifesto. In addition, our theology and practice particularly emphasise such aspects as:

• the Kingdom of God as a present-day reality;
• the Lordship of Jesus Christ over every aspect of life;
• the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit;
• the life of the Church as the Body of Christ, to which every member makes a vital contribution;
• the present reality and need for all the ministries of Ephesians 4:11, including apostles and prophets;
• joyful and expressive worship;
• brotherly relationships as the foundation of church life and as the key to unity, both within the local fellowship and between different churches;
• Church government by apostles trans-locally and by local church elders;
• the fatherly exercise of spiritual authority.

The church is led by Prof. Giovanni Traettino, recognized according to the New Testament as an apostle. The movement currently includes around twenty churches in various regions of Italy, from Piedmont in the North to Sicily in the South. For a list of addresses and contact information, click here.

Some of our initiatives:

Annual National or Regional Convocations.

Facoltà di Teologia Biblica «Gesù è il Signore». One- or two-year (Certificate) and 3-year (Diploma) biblical and ministerial courses by distance learning (in Italian). For further information click here.

Italian Alpha Course: Alpha is an evangelistic method which presents "basic Christianity" in a ten week course, now in use in 73 nations and in churches of all denominations (from Pentecostal to Roman Catholic). An Italian translation of the basic materials is now available and Italian Alpha courses have been organized in various locations.

Tempi di Restaurazione - Quarterly Italian-language magazine for Christians, with an emphasis on practical Christian living. Published from 1980 to 2001; an extensive archive of published articles (in Italian) is available on this site.

Istituto di Studi Storici e Teologici "G.F. ALOIS", Caserta.
Named after a 16th-century evangelical martyr from Naples, this organization promotes cultural, historical and theological events. President: Prof. G. Traettino. Address: Casella postale 106, 81100 Caserta, tel. 0823-328985.

"SOS Terzo Mondo Missioni" (Third World SOS). Co-operation and support for evangelical churches and missions in the Third World, and help and development projects channelled through them. Short-term sponsorship of evangelists and pastors in Africa and India.

"Fondazione Emmaus", Roccella Jonica (recognized 1986 by the Calabria regional authorities). Children's home, evangelical training and rehabilitation centre. Address: Contrada Ferraro, 89047 Roccella Jonica (RC).

The Evangelical Church of Reconciliation is also the promoter of an interdenominational prayer movement, Intercessors for Italy.

We have also helped to launch the Consultazione Carismatica Italiana (Italian Charismatic Consultation), a forum for fellowship and dialogue between evangelical Pentecostals and charismatics and charismatic Catholics.

We have friendly relations and cooperation with similar movements in many other nations. Some of them are:

• Comunidad Cristiana (Argentina);
• New Frontiers International (UK, Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Switzerland, Ukraine, UAE, USA, Zimbabwe);
• Manna Ministries (India);
• Hope of Bangkok Church (Thailand).

Page administered by Geoffrey Allen. Last revised 28 Feb. 2005

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