“Today marks a milestone for the evangelical Christian community in Argentina, with the approval by the honourable Senate of the nation of the law that institutes the National Day of Evangelical and Protestant Churches”, said ACIERA (Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of the Republic of Argentina).

During the ordinary session led by the vice-president Victoria Villarruel, the 67 senators in attendance unanimously supported the initiative, along with other proposals from the Foreign Affairs and Worship Committee.

The project, which had already been admitted for processing in the Parliament under the file 32/23, is the result of a consensus between several proposals presented by four national deputies, representatives of different political forces and expressions of faith.

Historical importance of October 31

Some days earlier, the president of ACIERA, Christian Hooft, had explained the reasons for this initiative to the senators.

Hooft stressed “the historical importance of 31 October, the date in 1517 when the German monk Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church, marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, which had a profound impact on the Western world, transforming the practice and understanding of religion”.

“The ideas of Luther and other Reformers such as John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli spread rapidly throughout Europe, giving rise to intense religious conflicts but also emphasising freedom of conscience and personal interpretation of the Bible”, he added.

For Hooft, “to declare October 31 as the 'National Day of Evangelical and Protestant Churches' is to recognise the importance of this religious tradition in Argentinian history and society. It is a gesture of respect and support for inter-religious dialogue, fostering diversity and plurality in the nation”.

Furthermore, he added, it is an “opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities such churches face today, as well as to recognise the importance of their work in promoting values such as equality and freedom of thought in society”.

15.3% of Argentinians identify as evangelicals

Hooft explained that today, the evangelical Christian faith has around 700 million followers worldwide. In Argentina, “according to data from 2019, 15.3% of the population identifies as evangelical, with over 25,000 churches across the country”.

These faith communities “play a key role in the spiritual and social life of the nation, promoting values such as solidarity, love for others, justice, life, freedom and peace”, said the president of ACIERA.