The Spanish Evangelical Alliance (AEE) held a virtual meeting with members to open a space for collective reflection on the entity’s future. Over a dozen thematic initiatives are being planned for 2027.

The online gathering had a participatory approach with open space for questions and answers. It included the presentation of the results of a survey the AEE had conducted amongst its members to better understand their feelings as the anniversary approaches.

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Four pillars: “Let’s continue making history together”

Juan Carlos Parra, the AEE’s new general secretary since this year, presented the anniversary plans, which is structured around the slogan “Let’s keep making history together” and is based on four pillars: grateful remembrance, discernment of the present, public witness and future mission.

The main event will take place in Madrid on 21 and 22 May 2027, with a second event to mark the end of the anniversary celebrations in December in Barcelona.

Throughout the year, the various working groups will organise forums, round-table discussions, and online and in-person events in other medium-sized Spanish cities with the aim of building a shared narrative that honours the organisation’s legacy and charts its future.

Among the projects is the presentation and distribution of a video documentary on the Alliance’s history and future. Work is underway on a unified calendar so that the dozen Working Groups of the Alliance– which focus aspects such as Christian leadership, historical memory, women and society, family, childhood, bioethics and missions, youth amongst others – can lead public initiatives throughout the year.

Called upon to “strive and be courageous”

Marcos Zapata, president of the AEE, opened the session with a reflection on the importance of continuing the mission begun by the Alliance’s founders a century and a half ago, emphasising that the organisation continues to serve today as a space for collective evangelical reflection based on history, credibility and the participation of leaders from different churches and denominations, with living out the Gospel and mission as a common goal.

Francisca Capa, president of the NGO Alianza Solidaria, shared a brief devotional based on the first chapter of Joshua —the passage in which God calls his people to be strong and courageous as they face a new phase— to provide a biblical framework for the current situation facing the AEE and to encourage those present to embrace the spiritual and practical endeavour that characterises the Christian mission at all times and in every era, and which is of fundamental importance in Spain’s current circumstances.

Daniel Oval, who serves as Coordinator of the Working Groups, then presented the Alliance’s current structure.

International reach

Xesús Manuel Suárez, head of International Relations at the AEE, outlined the organisation’s international dimension, noting that it works actively within the framework of the European Evangelical Alliance and the World Evangelical Alliance and is regarded in other countries as an example of perseverance and impact despite having limited financial resources.

Upcoming milestones include hosting the 2027 General Assembly of the European Evangelical Alliance in Spain, as well as collaborating on the 10th Ibero-American Congress for Life and the Family.

Member survey and discussion session

Joel Forster, director of Evangelical Focus, presented the results of a survey previously sent out to members. The findings show that members particularly value the AEE’s collaboration, network of relationships and biblical, constructive voice, but also call for greater visibility, practical relevance and more active participation by young people and immigrants.

The survey identified four main areas of concern: the information reaching members does not always lead to genuine engagement; there is a call for greater involvement in drafting press releases; the Alliance must increase its presence in local churches; and it needs to better clarify its unique identity in relation to other organisations within the Spanish evangelical ecosystem.

For the majority of respondents, the 150th anniversary is a turning point: an opportunity to honour the faithfulness of the past and usher in a new, more intergenerational and participatory era.

The meeting concluded with a wide-ranging discussion in which members shared their expectations and proposals. The Spanish Evangelical Alliance is actively working to finalise the calendar of events, which will be published on its website and on its social media channels (Instagram).