From a solitary figure, a lasting relationship has grown—one that has connected congregations in Libertyville, Illinois, and Milan, Italy, for more than two decades.
The figure I have in mind is a strong and humble man who served as a faithful elder of the Waldensian Church of Milan, Italy, pictured above, over the course of a lifetime. Gianni Rostan stood on a street corner in Milan on the day a microbus arrived with the first group of American church leaders to visit the Waldensian Church of Italy following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. At the time, I was serving as Pastor of Orangewood Presbyterian Church in Phoenix, Arizona. Our Synod Executive was encouraging congregations to build relationships—what the Italians called “twinning”—and I was invited to explore that possibility with my congregation.
Not long after that visit, I was called to serve the First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville, Illinois, where I have now been for more than two decades. With the blessing of the Arizona congregation, the possibility of a deeper connection with Milan traveled with me. What followed was a slow and faithful process of discovery—visits exchanged, relationships formed, and trust built—until a formal relationship between our congregations began to take shape.
Over the years, that relationship has taken many forms. Pastors from Milan and Libertyville have exchanged pulpits, sharing in preaching and worship. Our congregation has welcomed Waldensian pastors on sabbatical through programs supported by the American Waldensian Society and the Tavola Valdese. Youth from Milan have visited Illinois, discovering congregations in the United States that share their commitments and values—and even learning how to cheer at Wrigley Field.
In turn, youth from Libertyville have traveled to Milan and the Waldensian valleys, participating in service and fellowship alongside their Italian hosts. Members of our congregation visiting Milan for business or leisure have made it a point to worship with the church there. Even in the challenges of the pandemic, our leadership bodies gathered across distance, meeting by Zoom with members of the Milanese Concistoro to share insights and encourage one another as we navigated an uncertain time.
Through all of this, our congregation has been enriched by the historic witness of the Waldensian Church. Their story—marked by resilience, faithfulness, and courage—has deepened our own understanding of what it means to live as a community of faith. Their public witness has encouraged us to speak with greater clarity and compassion in times of challenge and change.
There is, of course, an interesting contrast between our settings. Libertyville is a suburban community in the northern reaches of the Chicago area, shaped by a measure of socio-economic privilege. Our friends worship in the heart of a global city, just a few blocks from the Duomo in Milan. Over time, we have learned not only to recognize these differences but to receive them as gifts—each congregation bringing its own perspective, context, and strength to a shared journey of faith.
While some of the original hopes for this connection have evolved with changing times and leadership, what has endured is something deeper: a relationship marked by mutual appreciation, learning, and friendship. Our congregation continues to grow in its commitment to ministries of justice, reconciliation, and shared faith, shaped in part by the example of the church in Milan.
More recently, we have been grateful to share our Pastoral Resident, Alex Barnes, with the church in Milan. During several weeks together, Alex experienced a vibrant and welcoming congregation whose ministry extends beyond its walls into the broader civic and interreligious life of the city. That experience has enriched our own life together as we continue to grow in our calling to be a welcoming community for all God’s people. In the weeks ahead, Alex will share more about that time of learning and formation.
Over the years, this connection has also been expressed in the simple joys of friendship—shared meals, laughter, worship, and even a growing appreciation for Italian football. What began with a solitary act of welcome has become a relationship that has shaped lives, broadened perspectives, and deepened faith.
The concept of “twinning” may not have unfolded exactly as originally envisioned. Yet, through it all, God has been active among us. What has emerged is not a program, but a living relationship—one that continues to bear fruit in ways both expected and surprising.
We would welcome conversation with any congregation seeking to grow in this kind of relationship through the American Waldensian Society.
In addition to being a member of the board of the American Waldensian Society, the author of this article, the Rev. Dr. Brian Paulson, is pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Libertyville, Illinois. First Presbyterian Church has lent support to Mediterranean Hope’s pioneering work in Calabria and on the island of Lampedusa as well as with Ukrainian refugees. This support is one expression of a partnership between the First Presbyterian Church in Libertyville, Illinois, and the Waldensian Church of Milan.
