For the first time, Italy’s Waldensian Church has a woman moderator. The Rev. Maria Bonafede was elected with a majority vote by the 180-member synod at its meeting last August. It was the first time in the 800-year history of the Waldensians that a woman leader had been chosen.
Bonafede, 51, described her election a “call and a mission.” Her predecessor Rev. Gianni Genre, who did not stand for re-election, emphasized that “the time was ripe for a woman” in this position. Her election was strongly symbolic and brought “a new sensitivity” to the church in its internal and external relations.
Bonafede studied philosophy and theology. From 1988 she was a pastor of the Waldensian Church at Piazza Cavour in Rome, and prior to that pastor in Milan. She is married and has one son. (138 words)
If you want to edit this article yourself and adapt it to a given format, follow our editing information
