Paraguay’s Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that would establish a National Day of the Evangelical Church in Paraguay. The measure, approved with amendments Aug. 26, now goes to the Chamber of Deputies for consideration.
The Senate’s action advances a process previously reported by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition. The original bill proposed Oct. 31 as the date for the observance, referencing the Protestant Reformation of 1517.
The Senate, however, amended the bill to designate the last Sunday of October each year instead. The official record of the Aug. 26 Senate session confirms that the amended bill was sent to the Chamber of Deputies.
The bill was introduced Aug. 12 by Sens. Orlando Penner, Lizarella Valiente, Blanca Ovelar and Gustavo Leite. It seeks to recognize and promote the historical, cultural, social, educational, humanitarian and spiritual contributions of evangelical churches in Paraguay.
According to the official report, Penner said the initiative was introduced at the request of the Association of Evangelical Churches of Paraguay and is intended to recognize the work of numerous congregations in serving society.
Not a national holiday or part of the school calendar
The Senate’s amendments narrowed the scope of the original proposal. The version approved by the Senate does not make the last Sunday of October a national holiday. Although the possibility had previously been discussed publicly, it was not included in the bill approved by the Senate, ABC Color reported.
The Senate also removed an article, proposed by Sen. Blanca Ovelar, that would have directed the Ministry of Education and Sciences, through its Vice Ministry of Worship, to add the observance to the national school calendar and promote activities to commemorate it. La Nación also confirmed the amendment.
As a result, if the Chamber of Deputies approves the Senate’s version, the observance would not be a national holiday and would not require schools to recognize or commemorate it.
Recognition and diversity
The Senate’s preliminary approval represents a significant development for a broad segment of Paraguay’s evangelical community. Evangelical churches have played roles in areas including education, health care, humanitarian cooperation, social assistance, communications and support for vulnerable communities. RCC highlighted this history as one of the foundations of the bill.
At the same time, the legislative debate revealed differences within Paraguay’s evangelical and Protestant communities.
During the Senate session, Sen. Yolanda Paredes called for consideration of the bill to be postponed and questioned the speed with which it was being considered. According to ABC Color, she also proposed holding a public hearing first, arguing that the proposal did not have sufficient support across all evangelical groups.
Sen. Rafael Filizzola likewise urged caution about Congress establishing a date for such a commemoration. According to Última Hora, he argued that, given the diversity within the evangelical community, churches should reach a consensus on how such an observance should be designated.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay and the Evangelical Church of the River Plate also expressed concerns. Both organizations welcomed official recognition of Protestantism but questioned the proposed name of the observance and aspects of the bill’s historical framing.
According to ABC Color, they asked lawmakers to consider calling it “Protestant Reformation Day” and to recognize the historical contributions of German-speaking Lutheran communities.
In its earlier coverage, Diario Cristiano quoted evangelical leaders who viewed the initiative as recognition of the service provided by many churches throughout Paraguay.
Pastor Adolfo Aguero Esgaib, vice president for international affairs of the Association of Evangelical Churches of Paraguay (ASIEP), previously said the significance of the proposal was not simply the creation of a new date on the calendar, but the opportunity to highlight the spiritual, social and community contributions of evangelical congregations.
The Senate’s action moves the proposal forward, although the amended bill differs from the original version. It changes the date, removes the provision concerning the school calendar and does not establish a national holiday.
Original reporting by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
