A letter from Doug and Liz Searles in Poland
June 15, 2009
W Co Wierzymy? - What do we Believe?
Friends,
Sometimes it’s easier to talk about what we don’t believe than about what we do. The Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland, for example, often is defined, to a great extent, by the “nots” of the Protestant Reformation.
This means that Reformed believers in Poland:
- Do not display or pray before images, icons or statues in the church.
- Do not venerate the Virgin Mary.
- Do not recognize or venerate saints.
- Are not subject to the Pope or the Vatican.
- Do not celebrate Corpus Christi Day or the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (national holidays in Poland — all businesses are closed).
- Do not go on pilgrimages to holy sites or relics.
- Do not venerate one of the primary and patriotic images of Poland, the Black Madonna.
- Do not allow their children to attend the catechism classes that are part of the normal public school day.
And the list goes on. You get the picture.
Learning to make positive statements about Reformed beliefs is a continuing journey. One milestone is work on a new translation of foundational texts of the church. In English, the compendium will be called: “What Do We Believe?”
The Rev. Semko Koroza of the Lodz congregation is working with youth to produce translations of texts — many of them from the 16th century and from other languages.
The purpose of circulating these foundational texts in contemporary Polish is so they can be more easily understood. They include theological treatises, catechisms and confessions that have shaped the faith of Protestant believers everywhere. These works by Calvin, Hus and others will be published in a hardcover volume, with commentary.
Circulation of the volume will radiate beyond Poland. Czechs can read Polish, and it is likely that the compendium will serve Czech Brethren and other congregations in the Czech Republic as well as believers in other neighbors of Poland.
This year is the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, a significant, recognized and celebrated date for the churches of Europe. Publication of “What Do we Believe?” is scheduled to coincide with this year-long celebration.
Even a small run of 1,000 copies — enough to serve needs for a couple of years — is likely to cost over $5,000 to print. All the work of translation and commentary — everything it takes to produce the compendium — is being gived. The printer, however, must be paid in cash by a denomination whose pastors are paid a half-time salary.
The Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland continues to struggle to forge a positive identity that is both Reformed and Polish. “What Do we Believe?” will go a long way toward helping believers define their faith — and their denomination — in positive, contemporary, and Polish terms.
And it may help congregations to live out their motto: “Reformed and ever reforming.”
Thank God that this is so!
Liz and Doug Searles
