FGEI

WHO WE ARE

FGEI was founded in 1969 as a result of the wish of Waldensian, Methodist and Baptist youth movements to get together in a common interdenominational federation.

Nowadays FGEI is a network which keeps youth groups from Baptist, Methodist and Waldensian congregations (BMW) in touch with one another. Its members acknowledge their faith in Jesus Christ through their commitment in everyday life, their own personal experience and the joy of meeting up. Whoever may wish to share one’s questions, doubts or hopes would be welcome.

Youth of FGEI often organize local and national meetings and training camps. They also discuss the present political situation and reflect upon the motives of the members of the community by participating in the activities of the Church in many different aspects.

WHAT WE DO

Reflections on faith and politics are the main features of the federation’s activities. Nowadays, witnessing Jesus Christ’s teachings from one person’s experience and questioning on the gospel, even when the Gospel itself is not fashionable, require close attention to other people’s lives and a deep reflection on the reality which we are living in.

Youth’s commitment in their communities and the urge for reporting the contemporary importance of the evangelical experience, lead FGEI to propose new liturgical experiments and to carry on looking into contemporary theology.
Once every two years and a half the “Congresso” (General meeting) plans the Federation’s activities, discuss various topics, defines the national situation. Friends get together and guests are greeted while work is in progress.

The Congresso votes the members of the “Consiglio” (Executive Committee). During its mandate, the Consiglio, together with local groups, will coordinate the usual activities of the Federation, will support relationships between youth groups, BMW churches and other national or international institutions and will carry on the decisions of the Congress organising particular events.

Consiglio‘s visits to other youth groups and communities are also important activities as regards the introduction of FGEI to other people and the creation of new contacts.

Some important moments of the Federation are the “Campo Studi” (a national seminar for youth formation) and the “Campi formazione” (three training seminars, organised in the north, centre and south districts), as well as the several events that can be organised by the local groups.

FINANCE

FGEI main income is basically provided by self funding and by Italian Churches donations. FGEI’s cash money is mainly used for funding inter-regional and national camps, journeys and various projects.

COMMUNICATION INSTRUMENTS

FGEI’s information and debate instruments are “Notiziario FGEI” (a special insert of the Italian Protestant Weekly Journal Riforma), “Gioventù Evangelica” (the federation magazine) which normally deals with Bible studies, readers’ comments, debates and discussions, and the website www.fgei.org, of course an important opportunity for the Federation’s members to join new contacts and to share reflections, resources, experiences.

RELATIONSHIP WITH FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS

FGEI is member of EYCE, WSCF and is in contact with EBF and EMYC.

In these years relationships with foreign ecumenical organizations are going on with the participation in training courses and seminars as participants or IPC, or hosting some events in Italy.

In the 2006, five members or friends of the Federation could take part at EYCE seminars. The experiences evaluations were very positive and put into practise trough articles on the Federation’s communication instruments or the national protestant journal, visits to young local groups and churches, or personal engagement on the topics with local actions.