"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19).

The Working Group on Migrants and Churches "Being One Church Together" was established in 2000 in order to deal with the increasing number of Protestant migrants in Italy, especially in the big cities. This phenomenon is a big challenge both for Italian Protestants and for those coming from other countries.

According to a survey, 200 out of 300 congregations of the FCEI member churches experience the presence of migrants. Some churches are doing better with new members coming from abroad. This fact has caused various changes within the Italian congregations at various levels: music, liturgy, reflection on the Statutes, the faith education of children and youth and the training of ministers, preachers and youth workers.

The Working Group issues an e-mail bulletin, which contains information and material on topics related with the presence of migrants in the churches. The bulletin can be requested for free by e-mail .

The FCEI co-operates closely with the Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME).

Contacts:
Gruppo di lavoro Essere Chiesa Insieme (ECI)
Co-ordinator Martin Ibarra
Federazione delle Chiese Evangeliche in Italia (FCEI)
Via Firenze, 38
I-00184 Roma
Italy
tel. +39 06 48 90 51 01
fax +39 06 48 91 69 59
e-mail: essere chiesa insieme