Warsaw Lutheran Theological Centre by Rev’d Paul Collings
Thursday Morning 15th September 1988
1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.
God works far and above what we expect
Diplomacy was the order of the day as we hosted a meeting at the Lutheran Theological College as we received a cross section of Polish Society’s movers and shakers. The list was impressive including His Excellency, Sir Stephen Barrett, the British Ambassador to Poland, the Polish Government Ministers of religion and international affairs, the head of the Polish Independent Catholic Church, Senior Roman Catholic Clergy as well leaders from the Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Evangelical and Pentecostal Churches.
Colonel Booth, publicly thanked Brian Hart for 8 years work across Poland as he brought contributions from the UK to support the welfare work of Catholic and Protestant Churches. He also announced that on Brian’s next visit in a few weeks he would return a large X-ray machine along with a GEC technician to instal the equipment, no longer required by a UK hospital, to a hospital in Poland.
Aware of the sensitivities of having communist government officials and church leaders in the same room, the Colonel pointed out that Highgate Cemetery in London contains the graves of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army and Karl Marx, who some would claim to be the architect of communism and that both had had an impact upon the world.
It was wonderful to see church leaders, government officials and members of the band in conversation. I recall having a conversation with a visiting Russian official with my linguist colleague speaking in french to one of the Polish contingent who in turn translated the conversation into Russian.
However, the impact of that gathering did not fully dawn upon us until we were travelling back through Germany some days later. You see, at that time, Poland was on the edge of significant change in terms of government that would lead to a greater freedom for it’s people. Discussions where at the planning stage that would eventually lead to the downfall of Martial Law and lead to a more democratic government. This in turn would start a wave that would cross Europe including the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The Solidarity Movement, and the Catholic Churches as well as other political entities were already part of the ‘Round Table’ negotiations, As we crossed into Germany, word came that a representative group of the Protestant churches where also invited to sit around the table and that this was in no small way down to that Thursday morning diplomatic meeting. Even to this day, I still feel humbled, that through such a simple meeting, far reaching consequences affecting so many could follow.
God of reconciling hope, as you guided your people in the past guide us through the turmoil of the present time and bring us to that place of flourishing where our unity can be restored, the common good served and all shall be made well. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Tomorrow - Beyond the Ghetto
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