Acceptance and Dialogue

For centuries Italy has been a country of emigration. Today, of the nearly 58 million inhabitants, over two million are legal immigrants and their growth rates are destined to increase. Italy has become a multicultural country, marked by a new and profound religious pluralism.

The Waldensian and Methodist churches are convinced that welcoming strangers is an evangelistic duty and for this reason they are actively engaged in the defense of the rights of immigrants and their families. They have opened the doors of their churches and joyfully welcomed brothers and sisters of other Protestant traditions and many willingly became part of the Waldensian-Methodist family. As members of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy they support “To Be Church Together.” This program encourages exchange and cooperation between Italian and immigrant churches.

The Waldensian and Methodist churches are also actively engaged in various interfaith dialogue initiatives, above all with the Jewish and Muslim communities. In Italy, as in other European countries, Islam is the second largest community of faith. Waldensians and Methodists have also supported the interfaith monthly magazine Confronti (www.confronti.net) since its beginning.