wfn.org | Poland: Current World Situation, Church-State Relations Discussed

[Christian B. Schäffler (APD Schweiz)]

May 15, 2005

Adventist Press Service (APD)

Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief APD

Fax +41-61-261 61 18

APD@stanet.ch

http://www.stanet.ch/APD

CH-4003 Basel, Schweiz

Poland: Current World Situation, Church-State Relations Discussed

Warsaw/Poland.	      Poland's new status as a member of the European

Union, and developments within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, were

main topics of discussion between Aleksander Kwasniewski, president of

the Republic of Poland, and Bert B. Beach, general secretary of the

Adventist World Church's Council on Inter-Church Relations. The two

met April 26.

"It was both an honour and pleasure to meet President Kwasniewski

again," said Beach. "He has always been open to and favourable to the

Seventh-day Adventist Church, even before becoming president."

Kwasniewski was also interested in discussing the current world

situation, and during the meeting expressed "the desire to be invited

to visit the local Adventist Church in the town of Wisla in Southern

Poland. The interest was spurred by the fact that he recently had

restored the old presidential palace in Wisla. Naturally, we were

pleased to hear [of] his initiative," Beach added.

Swiss-born Adventist Statesman Beach, whose visits to Poland span over

40 years, was involved with frequent contacts, both inter-church and

church-state, during the years when Poland was a member-country of the

Communist block. In appreciation for his contribution to freedom and

Interchurch understanding, Beach received 1998 the Knight?s Cross of

the Order of Merit of the Polish Republic.

During his visit to Poland, Beach, who until last year was

secretary-general of Christian World Communions (CWC)--a consultative

group that represents 2 billion Christians from a variety of
denominations

globally, had an opportunity to visit with representatives of Christian

denominations. Kwasniewski received the Adventist leader in the
president's

palace. Beach was accompanied by his wife, Eliane; Pawel Lazar,
president

of the Adventist Church in Poland; Roman Chalupka, secretary of the
church;

and Zachariasz Lyko, former church secretary.