KELI (League of Christian Esperantists International)

KELI was founded in 1911, during the Universal Congress of Esperanto in Anvers. We come from very diverse backgrounds, mostly protestant churches. Our bimonthly magazine, Dia Regno (Index 1998 / Index 1999) (editor), started to appear regularly in 1908, when Paul Hübner was sure that five people would subscribe. Now we serve as a tool among members in 48 countries from diverse faiths, Adventists to Quakers, Lutherans, Calvanists, Anglicans and people of the Orthodox faith.

In the beginning, it was important to have basic literature. In 1912, the New Testament was published and then in 1926 the entire Bible with the Zamenhof's Old Testament translation - not privately, but in the British and Foreign Bible Society. That way, it is possible to continally have Esperanto Bibles in every Christian Bookstore throughout the entire world. Also, an edition having the deuterocanonical books (translator Gerrit berveling, Netherlands) was published in 2003. In 1971, KELI had an official hymnal "Adoru Kantante" (Worship by Singing) with 262 songs (mostly classics), from many countries and languages, with four part harmony - a beautiful book, done professionally. Eventually, conferences have used more modest looking song collections, "Tero kaj Ĉielo Kantu" (Earth and Heaven Sing) with 161 songs, since people preferred more modern music. Ekumena Diservolibro, Adoru, containing texts, prayers and hymnals appeared in June 2001.

After the war, KELI started to organize an annual conference with concerns about working out a program about work, study, entertainment, the conference country and local churches. More and more, because of good communication with IKUE, the Roman Catholic Esperanto-Union, the annual conferences happened together, for the first time in 1968 in Limburg/Lahn. They attracted between 90 and 200 people, many of which were IKUE or KELI members:

At Universal Congresses, IKUE and KELI try to have communion together if possible. Often, they are among the great amount of vizited programs of the congress week.

From the start, KELI supported the actions for the blind by the Dutchman, Jacques Tuinder, known under the name Agado E 3, or now E-vid-ente. Now, our help focuses on Albania, but does not forget other aspects of misery for people with poor sight.

The task of KELI goes in two directions: to inform the Church and other Christian groups about Esperanto, and to inform the Esperanto community about Christianity.

The secretary of KELI is Mr. Pavel Polnicky, Lidická 939/11, CZ 290 01 Podĕbrady, telephone +420 723672335). In 2004, Philippe Cousson, 26 rue de Pré Ventenet, FR-86340 Nouaillé Maupertuis, France, telephone + 33 (0)5 49 46 80 21, became the president of KELI.

last modification : 12/09/2023

Kotizoj 2024

KELI (League of Christian Esperantists International)

`Kotizoj 2024`