Poland

Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland

Who is the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland and what are its ministries?  

The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland (ECACP), a member of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), is the largest Protestant body in Poland and is firmly rooted in the Reformation.  The church's six dioceses form a wide swath from north to south down the middle of Poland -- from the Masurain Lakes and Gdansk region in the north, near the Baltic, to the region west and southwest of Krakøw in the south, toward the Czech border.

The ECACP is made up of 75,000 members gathering in 120 congregations and over 200 preaching places. The ECACP is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the World Council of Churches, the Conference of European Churches, the Polish Ecumenical Council, and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe.

The ECACP emphasizes diaconal ministry, women’s ministry, youth ministry, and evangelism.

The ECACP together with other global church partners support the mission of Warsaw International Church. This congregation brings together Christians of diverse backgrounds to express and nurture their faith through English-language worship, fellowship, education, and community outreach. Many members are in Warsaw temporarily as business people, embassy staff, or students; others have made their permanent home in Warsaw.

The first worship service of Warsaw International Church was held in 1984. The new church received support from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Reformed Church in America, and the United Church of Christ. Originally, the congregation worshiped in rooms at the U.S. or British Embassies. After outgrowing those facilities, the group moved to its present building in 1991.

How do the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America accompany one another in ministry?

Through the churchwide ELCA Global Mission unit, the ELCA relates to and is in bilateral relationship with over 80 companion churches and institutions. The ELCA Global Mission unit stewards a church-to-church relationship with the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland.

This relationship is deepened and extended by the ECACP's relationship, through the ELCA Companion Synods program, with the Oregon Synod.

Poland: the context in which the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland serves

The country is officially known as the Republic of Poland. Poland’s golden age was in the 16th century. Since then it has had periods of independence between being partitioned by Russia, Prussia and Austria and overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union. Its current constitution was passed by national referendum on May 23, 1997. The country is a democratic state. Although its population is declining, still more than 38.5 million people now live in Poland. Polish is the official language. The major religion is Roman Catholic (90% with 75% practicing), along with Eastern Orthodox and Protestants and other (2%). About 8% of the population did not specify a religion.

As the largest economy in ex-Soviet eastern Europe, the fate of Poland was and is central to that of the whole region. The economic contribution of the agricultural sector accounts for less than 3% of GDP; however agriculture remains an important employer with 27% of the workforce. Livestock and meat are major export earners. The main industries are shipbuilding, textiles, steel, cement, chemicals and food processing. Severe air and water pollution, acid rain, and disposal of hazardous wastes are the nation's primary environmental concerns. The agricultural sector remains plagued by structural problems, surplus labor, inefficiency.