JOURNAL of GEOGRAPHY, POLITICS AND SOCIETY

ISSN 2084-0497
[email protected]
RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN POMERANIAN VOIVODSHIP
B ogusław GOSZ
U niversity of G d an sk , In stitu te of G eography,
4 B ażyńskiego s tr., 8 0-952 G d an sk , Poland
E-m ail: b.gosz@ univ.gda.pl
Summary: The p a p e r aim s to show th e diversity of
religious in P o m eran ian V oivodship, in d icatin g th e p re sen c e of
v a rio u s c h u rc h e s a n d religious a sso c iatio n s in q u a n tita tiv e
a n d s p a tia l reso lu tio n , if possible. The la te st s ta te m e n t of
religious s ta tistic s , p u b lish e d by th e C en tral S ta tistic a l Office
in th e second h a lf of 2 010, p re s e n ts a p ic tu re of religious
diversity in Poland in th e y e a rs 2 0 0 6 -2 0 0 8 . The y e a r 2008
provides th e b a sis for show ing religious diversity in th e region
d isc u sse d in th is article.
Key words:
geography
of religion,
P om erania,
religious
diversity.
Jc Jc Jc
In trod u ction
E xam ining religious is s u e s is n o t only challenging due
to th e com plexity of th e problem , b u t it fits well w ith in th e
k in d of civilizational challenge im p o sed on scientific
com m unity. At th e tu r n of th e tw en tieth a n d tw en ty -first
c e n tu ry all over th e w orld except E u ro p e (eurosecularism ) “a n
explosion” of religion is o b serv ed 1. The p h e n o m en o n of th e
1 J. Beckford, 2003, Social Theory and Religion, Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, p. 68 [fol:] E. Hałas, 2007, Konwersja. Perspektywa socjologiczna,
Scholar, Warszawa, p. 10, 11.
56
m a tte r lies in th e fact th a t social tie s b a se d on religion seem to
be th e m o st d u ra b le am ong o th e rs in h isto rio so p h ic term s,
b u ild in g on th e te am of im ages a n d m ed ia c u ltu re . The a u th o r
is willing to p u t forw ard a th e sis, a ssu m in g a sociological
c o n cep t of a n a tio n , th a t a n a tio n is a h isto ric a l co n cep t (as a
few c e n tu rie s ago, th e re w ere no n a tio n s in th e c u rre n t
m eaning, therefore, p erio d s in w hich th e role of n a tio n s '
fu n ctio n in g w ith in societies will ch an g e c an be ex p ected 2), it
m ay be well th a t religious, a s well a s lan g u ag e a n d fam ily
(ancestral) tie s re su ltin g from regional identity, will be one of
th e m a in d e te rm in a n ts of social relatio n s.
The s tru c tu re of religion is one of th e m o st p ro b lem atic
is s u e s of dem ography. T he a u th o rs of religious s ta tis tic s in
P oland ind icate th a t s u c h sta tistic a l te s ts c a n be c o n d u cte d
u s in g c e n su se s, sam ple su rv ey s a n d th e m a s s sta tistic a l
reporting. T his la s t m e th o d - v o lu n ta ry q u e stio n n a ire s filled
o u t by c h u rc h e s , is th e fo u n d atio n of s ta tistic a l know ledge in
re la tio n to religious o rg anizatio n s, o p eratin g on Polish
territo ry 3. The R om an C atholic C h u rc h p o s se ss e s its own
s ta tistic a l services a n d th e re s u lts of th e ir s tu d y differ
significantly from th e re s u lts o b tain ed by e x tern al e n tities, so
for th e sak e of a c c u ra cy of th e sta tistic , th e m eth o d of
averaging is em ployed.
In th e c e n su s, w hich b eg an in April 2011 th e q u estio n
of religion h a s b een ra ise d for th e first tim e since 1931.
Q u e stio n po sed in th e c e n s u s survey ap p lies to a form al
d e n o m in a tio n al affiliation: “to w h ich confession (ch u rch or
religious association) do you belong?” T he seven la rg e st
religious a sso c ia tio n s or c h u rc h e s in Poland are m en tio n ed by
n a m e in c e n s u s sectio n s, th e 8 th category is th e "other", w hich
em erges after th e developm ent of a list of 165 o th e r religious
organizations. A different one m ay be ad d ed , if it is n o t
m en tio n ed in th e form or its in stru c tio n s. A following a n sw er
m ay also be given: "I do n o t belong to an y confession", a s well
a s a re fu sa l to a n sw e r th is q u e stio n is accep tab le.
Religious D iversity of P o m e ra n ia n V oivodship is d ictated
by dem ographic c h a n g e s in th e a re a s covered by th e
2 Z. Rykiel, 2006, Podstawy geografii politycznej, PWE, Warszawa, p. 153.
3 Wyznania Religijne, Stowarzyszenia Narodowościowe i Etniczne w Polsce 2003­
2005, 2007, GUS, Warszawa, p. 9, 10.
57
a d m in istra tiv e u n it since W orld W ar II. It is e stim ate d th a t u p
to 70% of th e p o p u latio n of P o m eran ia before 1939 were
P ro te s ta n ts (m ostly followers of th e E vangelical C h u rc h of oldP ru ss ia n U nion, E vangelical U nited C h u rch , b u t also of th e
Evangelical C h u rc h of th e A ugsb u rg Confession). After th is
tim e c a e s u ra , ex p an sio n a n d stab ilizatio n of th e s tru c tu re s of
th e R om an C atholic C h u rc h is observed w h ich becam e a n
extrem ely d o m in a n t confession in th e d en o m in atio n al
s tru c tu re of th e region. T he so-called s h a re of family
reu n ificatio n in th e m id 5 0 s a n d th e seco n d h a lf of th e 6 0 s
a lm o st com pletely elim inated o th e r co n fessio n s th a n R om an
C atholic from th e religious la n d sc a p e of th e region. Owing to
political c h a n g e s in 1989, th e em ergence of th e new religious
m ovem ents or reinforced s tru c tu re s of lo n g -estab lish ed
c h u rc h e s, w hich w ere previously a n u n n o tic e d m arg in , h a s
b e en observed.
C h ristia n ity - C a th o licism
In 2 008, th e m o st freq u en tly re p re se n te d religion in
P o m eran ian Voivodship w as th e R om an C atholic C h u rch . The
region is covered by fo u r dioceses th a t belong to th re e
ecclesiastical provinces: T he M etropolis of G d a n sk (the
dioceses of G d an sk , Pelplin), The M etropolis of SzczecinK am ień Pom orski (Diocese of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg) a n d The
M etropolis of E rm la n d (Diocese of Elbląg). The s h a re of
followers, b a se d on b a p tism s, acco rd in g to th e C h u rc h is close
to th e n a tio n a l average, a m o u n tin g in 2 0 0 6 to 93.8% of th e
to ta l p o p u latio n of P oland4. In th e D iocese of G d a n sk it is
93.9% , K oszalin-K ołobrzeg 93.0% , Pelplin - 93.0% , w hile th e
h ig h e st p ercen tag e is n o ted in th e D iocese of Elbląg - 95.7%
(2008). T hese figures do n o t in clu d e a th e ists , a g n o stics an d
co n v erts w ho have n o t com m itted th e a c t of ap o stasy . O n th e
o th e r h a n d , th e R om an C atholic C h u rc h gives low er th a n th e
accep ted n u m b e r of th e p o p u la tio n in h a b itin g th e region, a n d
th is being th e reference p oint, e stim a te s u su a lly give th e
n u m b e r by a b o u t 5-6 p e rc e n t p o in ts lower. T w o-point su rg e in
th e n u m b e r of followers on th e n a tio n a l scale in 2007,
4 Since 2007, the statistical services of the Church (Institute of the Catholic Church
Statistics) report a value of 95.8% (a sharp rise of 2 percentage points), further calls
into question the reliability of these data.
58
co m p ared w ith 2006 a s p re se n te d by th e In stitu te of S ta tistic s
of th e C atholic C h u rch , calls th e official figures re la tin g to th e
p ercen tag e of believers in to qu estio n . D ecrease in th e n u m b e r
of believers is reco rd ed in th e D iocese of K oszalin-K ołobrzeg
a n d Pelplin, w hile grow th is observed in th e D iocese of
G dansk.
Am ong th e m a in p laces of w orship in th e province th e re
are following:
- m in o r b asilicas: The B asilica of St. T rinity in G d a n sk
Oliwa (the a rc h ca th e d ra l), The B asilica of St. M ary in
G d a n sk (the co-cathedral), The B asilica of St. J o h n
E vangelist in Kwidzyn (the co -cath ed ral), The B asilica of
St. B ridget of Sw eden in G d an sk , The B asilica of St.
N icholas in G d an sk , The C ath ed ral B asilica of St. M ary
of th e A ssu m p tio n in Pelplin;
- collegiate c h u rc h e s in G d a n sk W rzeszcz, G dynia an d
W ejherowo;
- s a n c tu a rie s in a stric t sense: The C alvary of W ejherowo,
The C alvary of Wiele, T he S h rin e of The Divine M ercy
(The C h u rc h of The R esu rrectio n in G d a n sk W rzeszcz),
s h rin e s to th e Virgin M ary in Sw arzew o, M atem blew o,
T rąb k i W ielkie, G d a n sk (m entioned a s a m in o r basilica),
W ejherowo,
Sianow o,
K ościerzyna,
Lubiszew o,
Piaseczno, W arlubie, C hojnice, s h rin e s of St. A dalbert c h u rc h a s well a s n a tio n a l sa n c tu a rie s.
The second m o s t p o p u lo u s C atholic confession in
P o m eran ian V oivodship is th e G reek C atholic C h u rch
(B yzantine-U krainian rite). In th e w est of th e region th e re is
o v e rre p re se n ta tio n of th is religion co m p ared to th e re s t of th e
co u n try , w hich is a re s u lt of e x p u lsio n s of m in o rity g ro u p s
from c e n tra l L esser Poland (Lemkos, U krainians) in th e y e ars
1944-1947 to th e a re a s a tta c h e d to th e re m a in s of th e Polish
s ta te after 1945. 12 p a ris h e s in th e province are covered by
th e D eanery of S łu p sk , w hich belongs to th e E p arch y of
W rocław -G dansk (Fig. 1.). The m o st im p o rta n t tem ple, a co­
c a th e d ra l is lo cated in G dansk. M ost of th e G reek C atholic
C h u rc h c eleb ratio n s are h eld in R om an C atholic c h u rc h e s.
P a rish e s are located in B arcin, B arkow o, Bytów, Człuchów ,
D ębnica K aszu b sk a, G d an sk , Lębork, M iastko, M iedzybórz,
S łu p ia, S lu p sk a n d Sm ołdzino. The a re a to th e e a s t of th e
59
V istu la is nom inally s u b o rd in a te d to th e A rch ep arch y of
Przem yśl-W arsaw , to w hich two p a ris h e s belong: in Dzierzgoń
a n d Żelichowo (D eanery of Elblag). The c e n s u s of 2002
reco rd ed 2,831 people of U k ra in ia n n atio n a lity living in th e
voivodship. T his n u m b e r c an roughly d eterm in e th e n u m b e r of
followers of th e G reek C atholic C h u rc h in th e region.
Legend
Fig. 1. The s tru c tu re s of th e G reek C atholic C h u rc h (B izantineU k rain ian rite) in P o m e ra n ia n V oivodship in 2008.
Source:
developed by
th e
a u th o r
on
th e
b a s is
of
h ttp ://w e b m g r.c e rk ie w .n e t/p a g e .p h p ? 4 ;
h ttp ://w w w .c e rk ie w .
n e t.p l/in d e x .p h p ? g lo w n a= d e k a n aty [access 11.04.2011].
213 followers in P o m eran ia (1.1% of all c h u rc h
m em bers) h a d th e Polish C atholic C h u rc h in Poland in 2008.
T em ples of th e C h u rc h are located in G d a n sk a n d G dynia.
E sta b lish e d a s a re s u lt of p e rso n a l d isp u te s, Polish N ational
C atholic C h u rc h in Poland, h a d 100 followers in th e
60
P om erania, n o tw ith sta n d in g th a t it w as n o t in a p o sse ssio n of
a c h u rc h bu ild in g or a p rie st, a n d w as th e only u n it of th e
C h u rch . T his d a ta how ever, is d isp u ta b le. The rem ain in g
C atholic d e n o m in a tio n s have no place of w o rsh ip in th e
P o m eran ian V oivodship. Only th e Old C atholic C h u rc h in
Poland, still h a d one p rie st in 2005. As m a n y a s 10.1% of th e
followers of th is c h u rc h are th o u g h t to have lived in th e
region in 2 0 0 5 - 40 in total. D ata sp ecificatio n s for 2 0 0 8 no
longer provide a n u m b e r of believers. T he clo sest Old C atholic
c h u rc h is s itu a te d in D ragacz, th e village n e a r G rudziądz
(K uyavian-Pom eranian Voivodship). 6 5 people a d m itte d to th e
M ariavite C h u rc h confession. In th e Tri-City a rea, th e
co m m u n ity of th e A rm enian C atholic C h u rc h is located, w ith
one of th e two p e rso n al p a ris h e s in Poland. Fr. A. A w dalian is
th e delegated p rie st for A rm enian D iasp o ra in N orth Poland.
Fr. C. A nnusew icz is th e d irect vicar. In th e R om an C atholic
p a ris h C h u rc h of St. P eter a n d St. P au l in G d a n sk (Żabi Kruk)
th e re is a S h rin e of St. M ary th e G racio u s w ith th e ‘m ira c u lo u s
ic o n ’ of th e A rm enian St. M ary th e G racious, m oved o u t from
Stanislaviv. The p a ris h a tte n d s em in en tly to th e d e sc e n d a n ts
of people disp laced from E a s te rn p a rt of L esser Poland an d
im m ig ran ts from A rm enia, resid in g m ainly in G d a n sk an d
R um ia. The n u m b e r of A rm enian D iasp o ra is estim ate d a t
a b o u t 30 fam ilies.
O rthodoxy
It a p p e a rs to be u n a b le to d eterm in e th e n u m b e r of
O rthodox believers in th e region. A ccording to Fr. A.
Z ielep u ch a th e re are a b o u t 2 th o u s a n d , b u t som e e stim a te s
in d icate a b o u t 16 th o u s a n d 5. However, em pirical facts are n o t
in favour of th e la tte r n u m b e r. P a rish e s of th e Polish
A u to cep h alo u s
O rthodox
C h u rch ,
th e
seco n d
m ostre p re se n te d confession in th e co u n try , are located in G d a n sk
W rzeszcz (B ialystok-G dansk diocese), a n d S łu p s k (Diocese of
W roclaw-Szczecin) - a ro u n d 60 believers. In 1995 in G d a n sk a
m ilitary p a ris h of The G reat M artyr St. George th e V ictorious
5 According to an electronic mail message from Fr. A. Zielepucha, dated 1st
December 2008.
61
w as erected. In th e vicinity of S zem ud, th e R om an C atholic
‘B etleh em ites’ n u n s cultivate th e E a s te rn liturgy6.
P r o te sta n tism
and
tren d s
derived
from
P r o te sta n tism
P ro te s ta n t
religions
and
co n fessio n s
derived
from
P ro te sta n tism show th e g re a te st diversity. A ccording to
in te rn a l c h u rc h e stim ate s, a b o u t 8 60 followers of th e
Evangelical C h u rc h of th e A ugsburg C onfession in P oland live
in P o m eran ian V oivodship, from a b o u t 3 ,5 0 0 resid in g w ithin
th e ju risd ic tio n of th e D iocese of P o m eran ia-G reater Poland.
The a u th o r of th is s ta te m e n t w ould a s s e s s it for 6 7 0 -7 1 0
people. T his C h u rc h , th a t m a rk s th e pow erful influence of its
c u ltu ra l h eritag e in P om erania, now h a s only two p a rish es: in
S lu p sk , having affiliates in Lębork, Główczyce a n d G a rd n a
W ielka (the la s t two G erm an-speak in g ) a n d Sopot (seat of th e
diocese) w ith affiliate in Tczew (Fig. 2.). G erm an -sp eak in g
hom e devotions are h eld in W ierzchucino (more specifically, in
th e village of Brzyno). An affiliate of th e p a ris h of Elbląg is
s itu a te d in M ikołajki Pom orskie, w here th e p a ris h h o u s e w as
b le sse d in 2008. The g e rm a n -sp ea k in g ’p re a ch in g s ta tio n ’ in
W ołcza W ielka (near M iastko) is th e affiliate of th e p a ris h of
Koszalin.
A m ilitary m in istry , re p re se n te d by th e D ean of th e Navy
a n d L and F orces C om m and C h ap lain , fu n c tio n s in th e
voivodship. T his fellow ship is m a rk e d by a large s h a re of
converts, of u p to 25% of th e m e m b e rs of th e com m unity.
S ignificant activity of Sw edish (until 2 0 0 0 th e N ational),
Evangelical L u th e ra n C h u rc h m ay also be observed. Only 38
followers are m e m b e rs of T he E vangelical-R eform ed C h u rc h in
Poland. T he congregation h a d its ow n p a ris h a n d p rie st in
G d a n sk after W orld W ar II. N ow adays, devotions by
a p p o in tm e n t (approxim ately every 3 -4 m o n th s) are h eld in th e
E vangelical-A ugsburg
C h u rc h
in
Sopot.
N um erously
re p re se n te d j u s t after W orld W ar II a n d reviled by th e Polish
p a rty -s ta te a u th o ritie s th e U nited M ethodist C h u rc h h a d 109
followers in 2 008, a one p rie st (in 2 0 0 5 two) a n d two te m p les in G d a n sk a n d S łu p sk .
6 See more: G. Pac, 2006, Prawosławny katolik [in:] Tygodnik Powszechny, Internet
Edition (tygodnik2003-2007.onet.pl/1546,1306842,1,dzial.html)
62
Fig. 2. The s tru c tu re s of th e E vangelical C h u rc h of th e
A ugsburg C onfession in Poland in P o m eran ian V oivodship in
2008.
Source: b a s e d on M. Ż e rań sk a , M. Ż erański, 2004, Kościół
E w angelicko-A ugsburski w R zeczypospolitej Polskiej w 2 0 0 4 roku.
M apa, s k a la 1: 1 4 5 0 000, C e n tru m Misji i Ew angelizacji Kościoła
E w angelicko-A ugsburskiego w Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, Dzięgielów.
The evangelical c h u rc h e s are re p re se n te d by The B a p tist
U nion of P oland - 428 a d h e re n ts (8.9% of to ta l n u m b e r in
Poland), w ith 6 p a ris h e s - congreg atio n s (2 in G d an sk , 1 in
G dynia, M albork, S opot a n d Chojnice) a n d 2 affiliate c e n te rs
(Tczew W ejherowo) a n d The S e v e n th -d a y A dventist C h u rc h 466 a d h e re n ts (4.8% of total), w ith 4 c h u rc h es: C hojnice,
G d a n sk W rzeszcz, G dynia, S lu p s k a n d g ro u p s in P ruszcz
G dański, U stk a a n d K artuzy. It also r u n s a lounge
e n v iro n m en t "Service to a C hild” in G d an sk . O riginating from
th e A dventist C h u rc h th e C h ristia n C h u rc h of a S a tu rd a y h a s
a one congregation in Sopot, c o n sistin g of 6 followers in 2008.
63
O
50 km
______________ I
Fig. 3. C ongregations of th e P en teco stal C h u rc h of Poland in
P o m eran ian Voivodship in 2008.
Source: h ttp ://k z .p l/z b o r y / [access: 11.04.2011]
The C h u rc h of God in C h rist b o a s ts 79 followers. In
fact, it is a P en teco stal fellow ship, w hich o p e ra tes a C h ristian
C en ter called "Rivers of Living W ater" along w ith a cafeteria
a n d bookshop in S łu p sk , a s well a s a c h u rc h u n it in M albork,
36 of th e faithful have two congreg atio n s of Evangelical F aith
C h ristia n C h u rc h (in G dynia), a n d 60 - c o m m u n ity of
C h u rc h e s of C hrist. 2 ,1 6 7 followers (10.1% of to ta l n u m b e r of
a d h e re n ts in c o u n try to ta l region 's p o pulation), 32 clerics, 9
c h u rc h e s a n d 19 p a ris h e s (Broczyna, M iastko Bytów,
C hojnice, Człuchów , two c h u rc h e s in G d a n sk a n d G dynia,
K ościerzyna, Kwidzyn, Lębork, M albork, Nowy Dwór G dański,
P ruszcz G dański, S łu p sk , Tczew, U stk a, W ejherowo) h a s th e
P en teco stal C h u rc h of Poland (Fig. 3.). In B roczyna ru n s
P en teco stal C h ristia n Social M ission "Teen C halange"
(reclam ation center).
64
The P en teco stal C h ristia n Fellow ship is a n o th e r
re p re se n ta tiv e of th e P en teco stal m ovem ents. M eetings of th is
co m m u n ity m e ets th re e tim es a w eek in G d a n sk Brzeźno.
B a p tist’s E vangelical B ro th erh o o d C h u rc h h a d 140 followers.
It w as c h aracterized by a p ro m in e n t sp a tia l c o n ce n tra tio n s
(borderland of P o m eran ian , W est P o m eran ian a n d K uyavianP o m eran ian voivodships only).
P ro te sta n t S c rip tu re s c h o la rs ’ m ovem ents, so-called
Bible S tu d e n ts , derived from th e S ev en th -d ay A dventist
d o ctrine of "pastor" Ch. T. R ussell in th e region are
re p re se n te d by th e Bible S tu d e n ts A ssociation in P oland: 27
a d h e re n ts (9.7% of total) w ith one congregation, 20 m em b ers
of th e Free Bible S tu d e n ts A ssociation (0.01%) w ith one
congregation a n d th re e ‘se n io rs ’, 24 m em b ers of th e L aym en’s
Home M issionary M ovem ent w ith co n g reg atio n s in G d a n sk
a n d P rzezm ark. In P o m e ra n ia n Voivodship th e re are 120
congregations (6.65% of th e to ta l n u m b e r in Poland) of
"W atchtower" - Bible a n d T ract Society, R egistered A ssociation
of J e h o v a h 's W itn esses C onfession in P oland7.
T here w as no
p u b lish e d d a ta of th e n u m b e r of
p re a c h e rs in relatio n to th e province. The a u th o r of th is
p u b lic a tio n e stim a te s th is n u m b e r for 8 ,4 0 0 - 9 ,0 0 0 p e rso n s
(0.4% of P o m eran ian population). O ne sh o u ld n o t overlook th e
fact th a t th is is th e confession th a t h a s th e m a in stre n g th of
th e legacy of th e R eform ation to th e p re s e n t a n d th e seco n d
m ostly re p re se n te d confession in th e region. The m ajo r activity
c e n te rs in relatio n to th e n u m b e r of in h a b ita n ts are located in
G d a n sk a n d C hojnice, a lth o u g h th e o ld est c e n te r of its
activities in P o m eran ia u s e d to be G dynia. Several h u n d re d
re s id e n ts of S lu p s k a n d W ejherow o are also m em b ers of
Je h o v a 's W itn esses confession. In M albork is s itu a te d one of
7 Although Jehovah's Witnesses disassociate themselves from Protestantism and it’s
legacy, as well as the authors of religious statistics, since 2000 had ceased to assign
a qualifier, attributed to the Protestant movement for this religious association, in
contrast to other strands of Bible Students, originating with the doctrine of Ch. T.
Russel, the author of this publication following J. W. Kowalski, who indicates the
genetic-doctrinal connections of restorationism movements with Protestantism,
account Jehovah’s Witnesses to this category within the Christian religious
community. (See: J.W. Kowalski, 1988, Protestantyzm [in:] J. Keller (red.), Zarys
Dziejów Religii, Iskry, Warszawa, p. 745).
65
th e seven assem b ly hall in Poland (arc h ite ctu ral com plex, w ith
1,100 s e a ts h all).
Am ong o th e r a n titrin ita ria n faith s, in P o m eran ia a
p re sen c e of th e U nity of Polish B re th re n is n o ted - 18 believers
in 2002 (8.1% of all believers in th e country), w ho are affiliated
to one fellow ship (no c u rre n t d a ta available) a n d th e U n itarian
C h u rc h - one congregation.
D ue to h aving its h e a d office in G dynia, to ra n k of th e
m o st im p o rta n t c h u rc h e s in th e province sh o u ld be reg ard ed
proselytizing New A postolic C h u rch , h av in g 761 followers in
P o m eran ia (15.6% of to ta l n u m b e r of believers), a s well a s two
te m p les a n d four c h u rc h e s. New A postolic C h u rc h is one of th e
old est c h u rc h e s enjoying s ta te recognition of th e a ttrib u te s on
Polish territory. The C h u rc h of C h rist, w hich is of a u n iq u ely
regional n a tu re th a t h a s th e Polish h e a d office in Sopot. There
w ere a b o u t 1400 believers in th e region (57.7% of th e to tal
n u m b e r of th e believers in th e co u n try ; d a ta for 2006),
c o n c e n tra te d in th re e c h u rc h e s , served by 10 p rie s ts (in a
tem ple in Sopot).
The C h u rc h of Free C h ristia n s in P oland (58 followers),
re la tin g to th e P lym outh b re th re n , a lth o u g h in Poland h aving
R om an C atholic roots, h a s a c h u rc h in G d a n sk a n d a n affiliate
in S łu p sk . W ith th e P ro te sta n t c h u rc h e s th re n o d y in
P o m eran ian V oivodship also o p e ra tes th e M ission of G race
C h u rc h , located in G d a n sk W rzeszcz, E vangelical Reform ed
C h u rc h in
G d a n sk (which belongs to a n inform al
C onfederation of E vangelical-R eform ed C h u rch es), led by wellknow n in th e conservative-liberal e n v iro n m en t p a s to r P.
B artosik, P en teco stal C h u rc h in Poland - 17 m e m b e rs (former
m e m b e rs of th e C ongregation “J o r d a n ” in G dynia), The Local
C h u rc h in Kwidzyn (15 m em bers) a n d The C h ristia n C h u rc h
"Word of Faith" w ith th e c e n tra l office in G dynia (approx. 120
m em bers). In 2 0 0 5 in P om erania lived two m e m b e rs of th e
C om m unity of th e A ssem blies of God S ev en th -d ay C h ristian s.
The C h ristia n C en ter "New Wave" located in G dynia in M irecki
S tre e t c o n sists of 80 m em bers.
O ther C hristian m o v e m e n ts
A ccording to official s ta tistic s , 2 50 people in P o m eran ia
are th e followers of T he C h ristia n C h u rc h of th e th e Good
News P reach ers. The origins of th is c h u rc h are quite
66
controversial. It is believed th a t it is one of th e c h u rc h e s,
w hich w as th e re s u lt of legal p reference for religious
o rganizations,
w hose
activities
w ere
co n n ected
w ith
en d o w m en t sy stem or foreign tra d e , w hile th e d o ctrin e w as
b a se d on th e d octrine of Bible S tu d e n ts . It n ev er ra n a p a sto ra l
activity, a n d its v e n tu re s w ere a cover for th e o p e ra tio n s of th e
“Pruszków ” m afia8.
As for th e
b o rderline
C h ristian
d e n o m in atio n s, The C h u rc h of J e s u s C h rist of L atter-d ay
S a in ts is a n exam ple. In 2 008, th e re w ere 51 M orm ons in th e
province, w ho u s e d to m eet in a conference room of Hotel
"Hevelius” in G d an sk , even th o u g h th ey are reg istered in
Sopot. The region w as in h a b ite d by 12 m e m b e rs of The
A nglican C h u rc h in Poland (data for 2002). They enjoyed th e
p a sto ra l m in istry of th e E vangelical C h u rc h of th e A ugsburg
C onfession, b e c a u se of th e la c k of C h u rc h s tru c tu re s in th e
region.
A large n u m b e r of co m m u n ities, o riginating w ith th e
P en teco stal C h arism atic c u rre n ts , w hich are n o t officially
reg istered , a s well a s do n o t belong to an y c h u rc h e s is
observed in th e region. The ‘B ra n h a m ite s ’ (co m m u n ity -b ased
on th e M arrion B ra n h a m revelations) is a n exam ple of su c h
m ovem ents. Its full n u m b e r a s well a s th e n u m b e r of people,
co n n ected w ith is difficult to e s tim ate.
O ther relig io n s - Islam
O ne of th e th re e m o sq u es in co n tem p o rary Poland is
located in G d a n sk - th e only one in th e c o u n try b u ilt after
W orld W ar II. C u sto d y over th e tem ple is exercised by th e
M uslim Religious U nion in Poland, to w hich officially belong 10
a d h e re n ts , b u t th e co m m u n ity is s u c h bigger (more th a n 100
followers). The U nion also su p erv ise s te ac h in g of th e religious
stu d ie s. 5 p e rso n s in P o m eran ia are m e m b e rs of th e
A ssociation of Islam ic U nity. The Islam ic A ssem bly of A hl-ulB ayt oversees th e S h ia m inority in th e region. In a n a tte m p t to
m eet th e n e e d s of th e ever-grow ing M uslim co m m u n ity in
8 See also: W. Czuchnowski, 2004, Kościół Głosicieli, Wyznawcy „Pruszkowa”,
Gazeta Wyborcza,
24th May 2004, p. 5;
http://wiadomosci.wpr24.pl/nowe_samochody_dla_falszywego_biskupa;
http://polska lokalna.pl/news/kosciol-gangsterow,533872.
67
Poland, th e M uslim League in Poland w as e sta b lish e d in 2004.
G d a n sk b ra n c h is u n d e r co n stru ctio n .
J u d aism
U ntil 1999, in G d a n sk th e re w as one of th e m o st
im p o rta n t Je w ish c o m m u n ity in Poland, belonging to th e
U nion of Je w ish C ongregations in Poland (ZGWŻ). As a re s u lt
of th e conflict betw een U nion a n d th e p re sid e n t of religious
C om m unity in G d an sk , Je w ish In d e p e n d en t C ongregation in
G d a n sk w as form ed, w hich c o n siste d of 190 m e m b e rs in 2004,
a n d h a s a n affiliate in S lu p sk . As of 2 0 0 8 , th e re w ere 200
m em b ers. In G d an sk , th e re is now a n affiliate of ZGWŻ,
m an ag in g th e New Synagogue in W rzeszcz.
B udd hism and o rien ta l r elig io n s
A lm ost all o rien tal religious d e n o m in a tio n s have
a d h e re n ts , a n d th e ir c e n te rs located in P o m eran ian Voivodship
- Kwan Um School of Zen in Poland (20 m em bers), K annon
Zen B u d d h ist C om m unity (31 m em bers), th e B u d d h ist
A ssociation K andzeon S a n g h a (12 m em bers), th e In te rn a tio n a l
Society for K rish n a C o n scio u sn ess, w ith Tem ple in G dynia,
w here five m o n k s live, th e K arm a K am tsan g B u d d h ist
A ssociation in Poland w ith c e n te r in G d a n sk (90 m em bers), th e
B u d d h ist M ission "Three Refuges" in P oland (30 m em bers), th e
Science of Identity F o u n d a tio n “C h a ita n y a M ission” (132
m em bers), B ra h m a K um aris W orld S p iritu a l U niversity, w ith
th e second la rg e st c e n te r in Poland, b a se d in G d a n sk (30
m em bers), A paja Yoga A ssociation (1 m em ber), a n d very
expansive in te rm s of n u m b e r of a tte n d in g people th e K arm a
Kagyu B u d d h ist A ssociation, s itu a te d in P o m o rsk a S tre e t in
G dansk.
F ollow ers o f r elig io n s n o t a ffilia ted to
lea d in g
d e n o m in a tio n s
In 2 0 0 8 25 people of th e P o m eran ian p o p u latio n
d eclared th em selv es a s K araites, w ho are called "the sm allest
m inority"9, in te rm s of b o th - n a tio n a l a n d a religious m inority.
In P o m eran ian V oivodship live 21,7% of th e to ta l n u m b e r of
K araites in Poland. Am ong o th e r religious asso ciatio n s,
9 http://archiwum.rp.pl/artykul/627810_Karaimi_najmniejsza_mniejszosc.html
68
in d e p e n d e n t from an y leading d e n o m in atio n s, a m ovem ent
a sso c iate d w ith th e “New Age”, called W estern Sufi O rd er (the
h e a d office u s e d to be in Sopot in th e past) h a d 8 5 m em b ers.
135 followers (of 2 2 5 in Poland) h a d a n e o -p a g an Native F aith.
Sopot is th e Polish h e a d q u a rte r of th e U nification C h u rc h
(Moon). The Local S p iritu a l A ssem bly of th e B ah a^ F a ith w as
e sta b lish e d in G d a n sk in 1991. T here are no c o n ta c t d etails of
th e local s tru c tu re on th e official w ebsite of th is religious
asso ciatio n . However, th e R eport of th e N ational A ssem bly
elections in April 2009 recognized th e p re sen c e of som e B ahai
followers in G d a n sk 10.
C on clu sion
W ith 163 reg istered religious c o m m u n ities in P oland in
2 008, th e a u th o r fo u n d 59 of th e m being active in th e
P o m eran ian V oivodship, of w hich 29 derive th e ir origins in
different c u rre n ts of th e R eform ation, w hile som e of th e
co m m u n ities are local in n a tu re . 7 of reg istered religious
o rg an izatio n s have th e ir h e a d offices in th e province. At le ast
2 2 .5 th o u s a n d people (1.01% of reg io n ’s population) ad m it to
n o n -R o m an C atholic d e n o m in atio n s, of w hich two th ird s are
followers of reform ist c u rre n ts (Fig. 4.)
It is difficult to re s is t th e co n clu sio n , th a t in relatio n to
th e
num ber
of
th e
region's
p o p u latio n ,
a
little
o v e rre p re se n ta tio n of P ro te sta n ts, seco n d a n d th ird wave of
th e R eform ation, Jew s, M uslim s, K araites, an d , in th e w e ste rn
p a rt of a d m in istra tiv e u n it - th e B yzantine-R ite C atholics can
be stated .
10 http://www.bahai.org.pl/?p=2664, see also: B. Zając, 1998, Wiara Baha^ w
Polsce [in:] Nierzymskokatolickie kościoły i grupy wyznaniowe w Gdańsku w latach
1945-1995 oraz ich wkład w rozwój regionu gdańskiego, UM Gdańsk, BWSH,
Gdańsk-Koszalin p. 52-63.
69
B u d d h is t s
O t h e rs
Fig. 4. Religious diversity of th e
P opulation.
P o m eran ian V oivodship
Source: developed by th e a u th o r.
D efinitely below average are s itu a te d co m m u n ities
w hich are re p re se n te d in n u m b e rs on a n a tio n a l scale b u t of a
highly regional n a tu re in Poland (L u th e ra n s, O rth o d o x , Polish
C atholics). M ost of th e tem p les of w orship are located in m ajo r
cities: G d a n sk (in p a rtic u la r in d istric t of W rzeszcz), S łu p sk ,
Sopot, G dynia, W ejherowo a n d C hojnice. E a s te rn C h u rc h e s
have g a th ered m o st of th e ir followers in th e te rrito rie s
in c o rp o ra te d to Poland after W orld W ar II, w hile Je h o v a h 's
W itn esses are ch arac te riz ed by th e g re a te s t un ifo rm ity of th e
sp a tia l d istrib u tio n , except R om an C atholics.
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