Tale in a book detailing how French evangelicals achieved unity through shared narratives
The National Council of Evangelicals of France (CNEF) has become a significant and visible component of Protestantism in the country, representing almost 70% of evangelical Protestants. This council, established in 2010, was the culmination of a long process that began in the early 2000s, aiming to connect, inspire, inform, and represent the diverse evangelical Protestant denominations in France.
The journey towards the formation of the CNEF was marked by several key events and decisions. Representatives of evangelical churches and works embarked on a process of meetings, discussions, mutual questioning, listening, and prayer, seeking to understand each other better and to end tensions between major evangelical Protestant bodies. A government policy against "sectarian movements" and the example of other countries with national Evangelical Alliances also played a role in shaping these conversations.
One of the decisive elements in the formation of the CNEF was the change in mentality among evangelical leaders. They began to look at each other in a different way, recognising each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. The restoration of relations between the Alliance Evangélique and the Fédération Evangélique, and the subsequent desire to combat fragmentation, were also key elements in this process.
The French Evangelical Alliance (AEF) played an active role in establishing the CNEF. The decision by the Alliance Evangélique Francaise to step aside and be absorbed by the CNEF, and the subsequent transfer of missions, enabled the CNEF to develop into a genuine evangelical alliance.
Since its inception, the CNEF has been actively engaged in socio-political debates, emphasising an impulse of the gospel in all regions of the country. The number of evangelical Christians in France has grown significantly over the years, from 50,000 in 1950 to 745,000 people today.
In 2024, a book titled "Batir des Ponts" was published by Excelsis, written by pastor and former general secretary of the AEF, SteÌphane Lauzet. This book provides insights into the formation of the CNEF and its key moments, as well as the role of various leaders and organisations in this process. It is written to inspire new generations of Christians and to preserve the memory of the efforts made to form the CNEF.
SteÌphane Lauzet has devoted part of his time to developing relationships and evangelical testimony in the French-speaking world since 2011. His book "BĂątir des Ponts" targets professionals and students in civil engineering and construction, focusing on those interested in bridge building and infrastructure development, but it also serves as a testament to the bridge-building efforts that led to the formation of the CNEF.
