27 September 2025 | Podkowa Leśna, Poland [Daniel Kluska with tedNEWS]
Two major church gatherings in September placed the issue of violence at the centre of discussion, as elders and pastors from across Poland explored how to make the Seventh-day Adventist Church a safe space for all members.
The Elders Conference, held 13–14 September, and the Pastors Conference, held 14–16 September, in Podkowa Leśna, Poland, shared the theme “A Church Free from Violence” and examined practical ways congregations can respond to abuse.
Opening the meetings, Pastor Jarosław Dzięgielewski, Polish Union Conference (PUC) president, said the topic could not be ignored. “Violence takes physical, psychological, economic, sexual and spiritual forms, and many cases are never reported. There are people here among us today who have also experienced violence among Adventists. We are not immune to this,” he said.
Practical insights and church life
The conferences featured input from Dr Helgi Jónsson, a psychiatrist from Reykjavík, Iceland, who also works in Denmark, and Iza and Marek Lewosiński, therapists specialising in couples therapy and addiction treatment at the INTEGRUM Mental Health Centre in Rybnik, Poland. Their combined medical and pastoral expertise helped participants translate psychological diagnoses into language that church leaders could apply in their ministry.
The sessions explored family systems and the mechanisms of violence, character styles and vulnerabilities, the signs of spiritual abuse, and specific pathways to support victims. Participants were guided from first conversations and ensuring immediate safety, through to long-term care and the role of specialised institutions. The closing reflections highlighted the question: how can we respond in today’s context?
Worship and the Gospel response
Worship was central to the programme. Songs of hope and healing, testimonies, and intercessory prayer for those affected by violence created moments of spiritual renewal. These times reminded participants that the Church’s strength lies in closeness to Jesus. For many, the opportunity to sing, pray, and share testimonies provided courage and inspiration to continue serving in difficult contexts.
Speakers also pointed to the Gospel as the measure of safety in the Church. Jesus himself experienced violence from birth to Golgotha, and his example can teach much. When Mary was criticised in Bethany, Jesus defended her with the words, “Leave her alone.” This example of siding with the vulnerable was presented as the standard for the Church: to save, strengthen, lift up, and bring peace where there is hurt.
What’s next?
The strongest message of the conferences was that the Church’s standard of safety must be rooted in the Gospel. Jesus’ care of the vulnerable offers an example for the Church to defend, support and bring peace to victims. Leaders agreed that the conversation would continue through safety protocols, trained leadership and a culture of response where victims are heard and perpetrators held accountable.
Both conferences concluded with a shared commitment: a violence-free church is not simply a theme, but a promise to be realised step by step in every congregation.
[Photos: Jonatan Kasperczak].
