This paper summarises the situation for the movement Sentieri Antici Valdes (SAV) (Old Waldensian Paths) in July 2014.
Context
The justification and wider context of SAV is the wider negative situation in Waldensian church in relation to the Christian Gospel, which has effectively cut believers off from taking sacraments such as communion and baptism, even from Church attendance. The reasons of this situation are complex n that the church has gone far further than other mainstream churches in Europe in embracing socio-political agendas and promoting a political spirit even in the churches as as if the Church is solely aligned with left-wing secular ideological institution, even draping flags over pulpits and porches of churches.
We believe that the modern Waldensian Church today has little or nothing in common with the Reformation or with the historic Waldensian church, which resided in three valleys of Piedmont from 12th century and survived centuries of persecution. Although official Waldensian pastors are required to sign a Confession which appears to support Reformational creeds, these are not observed in practice, but held only formally as an "historical heritage" with little or no impact on church life, preaching and teaching theological Liberalism and doctrinal revisionism.
The modern Waldensian church today typically reflects modern cultural fashions and trends. Its synod has recently made the decision to sell the Waldensian Hospital (funded originally by English Anglicans and others) and to take a liberal position well beyond that of the Synod of the Church of England. This situation may be due to ordaining people without conversion or having very little experience of Christianity over the last twenty years on top of the liberal effect on pastors of higher education in Genvea and German universities, well as the employment of German pastors in the Waldensian Church. Rev William Gilly foresaw as early as 1840 that contact with the Swiss and German liberalism would destroy the Waldensuia Church.
Buildings in Torre Pellice
The Waldensian religious buildings in Torre Pellice that were established through a public subscription in England, the fundraising work of the Vaudois Committee and through personal donations e.g. from Rev William Gilly, Bishpo Barrington, General Beckwith and others. These are namely the College and Library in Torre Pelllice, as well as the pastoral lodgings. These building meant for the true inheritors of the Vaudois, have effectively been ‘hijacked’ by extreme liberal Waldensians. The same could be said of the Vaudois church buildings. This could be seen as the result of a failed risk assessment by the British founders, not setting up the establishment no such as a way that no group apart from genuine Christians would be legally eligible to administer them.
The English founders of these buildings were concerned about the marginalisation, poverty and lack of education of the Vaudois in the 1830s, and not so much about their spiritual condition. Today, SAV members are very concerned about the spiritual condition not just of the people of the Waldensian Valleys but of all reformed believers in Italy who are unable to access pastors teaching the true Bible, notably since the Waldensian Church, which was designed to fulfil that need has become apostate. More widely believers are very isolated and have to keep their faith alive via websites, such as that of Rev Paolo Castellina’s www.riforma.net.
There is a case for combining SAV as both a project to support the “wounded” of the Waldensian Church, but also to support of isolated reformed believers across Italy, primarily for restoring the teaching of the Reformation, which the Vaudois fully embraced at Chanforan. Val Pelllice also has an iconic status in relation to the Church in Italy, widely recognised.
The Statues of SAV:
http://oldwaldensianpaths.blogspot.co.uk/p/statutes-of-old-waldensian-paths.html
Summary of aims:
A movement not a church, but open to those from other traditions than Waldensian in italy and abroad.
Promoting the teaching of the Reformation and the authority of the Bible
Challenging false teaching e.g. of those purporting to teach the truth but not adhering to the authority of the Bible.
HIghlighting the heritage and history of the Waldensians and their place of memory and buildings.
Offering pastoral support and a network for isolated believers through events in Val Pelllice and excursions.
Benefits of SAV:
Clearly the benefits are cannot yet be evaluated in full but in the long term is key benefits might be:
linking up isolated believers and offering them a chance to meet at events promoting reforemd teaching e.g. in Val Pelllice
offering woudned Waldensians a place of healing and refuge
Lectures and research into Waldensian history and visits to places of memory
Uncovering more of the rich links between England the Italy ad possibly bringing in further support from the friend of the Vaudois, English Protestants.
Evaluation of progress of SAV so far.
Some SAV events are set out here:
http://oldwaldensianpaths.blogspot.co.uk/p/documentary-concerning-our-august-2013.html
They included a social event in Torre Pelllice with Salvation Army (which takes an ecumenical approach
A service in a church in Torre Pelllice
Meeting and service at the House of Gianovello and a walk in mountains
Online prayer meetings
Meeting at Operation Mobilisation in June 2014
PLeanned avents for August 2014 are set out here
SAV websites
Face Book SEntieri Antici Valdese (243 members)
English SAV website
http://oldwaldensianpaths.blogspot.co.uk/
Newsletters
INSERT details
Contacts
List any known details of who moest members are and what the link is to most of them
Founding Members
Sen. Malan, Waldesian lineage, Italian politician, resident of Luserna
Daniela MLucioichelin Salomon; Waldensian lineage, active community members in Val Pellice
Past. Esteban Janavel-Gignous: Waldensian lineage, pastor in Argentina
Past. Paolo E. Castellina; Reformed Piedmontese pastor living in UK
Antonino Altavilla; student at Ligonier Ministries (reformed) in USA
Key Skills
Sen. Lucio Malan - Italian politician, speaking skills, resident of Luserna, high profile member
Daniela Michelin Salomon; Waldensian lineage, very active community member in Val Pellice, writer, web ministry, singer and musician
Rev Paolo Castellina - theologian, ordained pastor and web master
Alison Bailey Castellina - research into Waldensian links with UK, music, articles on English website “Old Waldensian Paths”, project planner.
Leadership skills and decisionmaking
Leadership is split between the three key members, Lucio Malan, Paolo Castellina and Daniela and serious consideration should be made in relation to any new members of the active key group e.g. in relation to their theological bent and background.
Buildings : Operation mobilisation in Bobbio Pelllice have made available their lecture facilities.
Budget for events
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Potential gifts, donations, membership fees:
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Critical Risks
The critical risk are high in probability and high in potential impact to the work of the group.
Take over by pentecostal membership of SAV with its own agenda
Arguments over aims, theology and communications resulting in breakdown of relationships in SAV key group
Opposition from the Waldensian Church on members of SAV -. they ahve already banned them from a forum on the basis of membership of SAV
Pressure from various groups to be more ecumenical and meet other groups in the valleys “half way” diluting the truth
Lack of funding to hold meetings and events
Of these the key risks are
pressure from pentecostal members to take over the running of SAV for their own
INSERTSentieriagenda, or place their own people in leadership roles, or turn meetings and services into disorderly events, in opposition to reformed order in services (or some objection to singing psalms or hymns etc)
Managing Risks
breakdown in relationships
Strategy or plan to counter the most serious risks Antici Valdese - Discussion Paper July 2014
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