Evangelical churches in France

THE evangelical church is gaining a growing influence in France with more then 400,000 believers according to the Fédération Evangélique de France.

The Guardian newspaper reports from a service in Paris, where the usual songs and music play, while pastor Franck Lefillatre talks to the congregation.

But the French belief of laïcité and a frim split between church and state has seen some worry about the growing popularity of the faith.

Watchful eyes have been cast across the Atlantic to the US and the influence that evangelical churches have in everyday life and as a force for change, both good and bad.

But the Fédération Evangélique de France say that the European traditions that the church comes from have a more important influence, highlighting that French Protestants and evangelicals fought for the division of the church and state.

The Fédération Evangélique de France website also features a directory of evangelical churches in France.

Comments

[David]

I would be interested to know how the Reformed Church of France, teh country's major mainstream Protestant denominatio, is reacting to the reported growth of American-style "Evangelicalism." Can someone provide information?

[David]

The Reformed Church has been slow to embrace Evangelicals as true Protestants given their wide variety of worship styles and some "less than conservative" views of Scripture. However, if the French Protestant Federation is any indication, they are becoming much more accepting of Evangelicals in France. Their current president Claude Baty is actually a former Evangelical pastor.

It's also important to note that French Evangelicals have little to do with the American style of Evangelicalism. While theologically they are closely related, in practice, because of the laïcité in France (which, as the article states, was welcomed by Protestants due to the Catholic monopoly on faith in God), they are much less political and, I believe, a bit less "preachy" or prone to give moral lessons than their American counterparts.

[David]

Thank you for your interesting response to my question. I know little about the modern Reformed Church in France but I am interested due to Huguenot ancestry.

I am glad to hear they have a "less than conservative" view of scripture when compared to the American evangelical types. It would be dreadful to have the heresy of Bible literalism and right-wing extremism entering French protestant thought.