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Theology in the Ghetto: the Life, Work, and Theology of Nikolajs Plāte (1915–1983), Pastor and Theologian of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Latvian SSR

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Theology in the Ghetto: the Life, Work, and Theology of Nikolajs Plāte (1915–1983), Pastor and Theologian of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Latvian SSR Uģis Sildegs Theology in the Ghetto: The Life, Work, and Theology of Nikolajs Plāte (1915–1983), Pastor and Theologian of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Latvian SSR Academic dissertation to be publicly discussed, by due permission of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Helsinki in auditorium XII, on the 20th of May, 2017 at 10:15 Abstract Nikolajs Plāte (1915–1983) was one of the most prominent and prolific Latvian Lu- theran pastors and theologians to carry the mission of the Church through the com- plicated Soviet period. The aim of this study is to extend a critical understanding of the Church’s Soviet totalitarian history through the experience of one man and his “silent heroics” of Christian resilience and steadfastness in a hostile environment. The narrow focus of the study is on Plāte’s life, work, and theology. The broader fo- cus, however, is on church life in general, challenging struggles for survival, and the various means of coping with the emerging realities. As one of the pastoral genera- tion serving the Church during these grueling times, the so-called “old guard,” Plāte provides a good case study to illustrate the troubled road of a Lutheran clergyman adjusting to a new ghetto-like environment. His intellectual exertions to respond to these challenges are here referred to as “theology in the ghetto,” where his theolog- ical thinking is better viewed in terms of an existential reaction than an academic discipline. In the first part of this work (I–III), I offer a step-by-step historical narrative of Plāte’s life and work. After his early education in the hopeful years of the first independence, the disastrous impact of the Soviet occupation and World War II transformed the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church and pastoral service into something unrecognizable. The primary focus of the study is on Plāte’s ministry, first in the Pope, Rinda, and Selga congregations (1945–1953) and, second, in the parish of Rucava (1953–1983). Living under constant Soviet pressure, some painful adjustments had to be made. The work of the Church was increasingly isolated, degraded, and marginalized. Membership declined. The permanent condition of crisis drove people to live in survival mode, and the stagnation of the Church was difficult to reverse. While suffering abuse from the atheistic authorities, Plāte tried to stay active and faithful, to keep working where possible. However, his approach and mentality changed visibly. During this time, his ministry was increasingly dominated by defensive thinking and reactions. Even some antisocial traits became manifest. Thus, in this study I describe and analyze Plāte’s inward-looking, conser- vative mindset, which resulted from the outer totalitarian environment. Only at the 3 end of his life in the beginning of the 1980s was Plāte able to observe some hopeful signs of life for the depressed Church and start looking forward to a better future. In the later part of the work (IV–V), Plāte’s activities at the seminary and his theological production are analyzed. I describe the body of his writings in chrono- logical sequence. Plāte’s texts reveal him as a prolific writer who produced several thousand pages of theological material. I identify and examine his direct and indi- rect remarks and references concerning the Soviet conditions. At that time, when the Bible, faith, and the Church had come under furious attack by anti-religious propaganda, Plāte’s chief concern with his theology was to serve the loyal remnant of the Church and to respond to these clear challenges by addressing the growing gap between Christianity and society, trying to heal the degraded life of the Church, and restoring compromised biblical authority. Plāte believed that the constraints of So- viet totalitarianism could be overcome only by trusting in the power of God’s Word, by means of which the Lord could help, intervene in, and overcome the temporal bonds of history. His stress on God’s Word thus becomes the key for understanding the underlying feature of his theology. 4 Acknowledgments I want to thank all those who have helped to develop this monograph. As with any book, there are many who have contributed in one way or another: family, friends, teachers, and colleagues. Above all, I am grateful to God, the provider of every good and perfect gift from above. Furthermore, I owe a huge debt to my mentor and su- pervisor Prof. Jouko Talonen for his unceasing encouragement. He has inspired me with his diligent research and expertise in Latvian church history. It was thanks to him that I chose to follow in his footsteps and gained the courage to offer my own contribution. With his gracious and friendly disposition, he has assisted and motivated me the entire way to keep digging and writing until it was done. I would like to thank Professor Kari Alenius (University of Oulu) and Professor Emeritus Jouko Martikainen (Georg-August Universität Göttingen), the preliminary exam- iners of my dissertation, who have given me valuable reviews and helped to improve the manuscript. I am thankful to Prof. Gvido Straube (University of Latvia) for his helpful suggestions. I wish to express my gratitude to my dear friend Dr. Michael K. Smith (USA) for his valuable assistance and advice with the English language of this monograph. The support of Michael and his wife Anita has been a source of constant joy and reassurance, as they have always read my research with a keen interest and given positive feedback. Thank you, Mrs. Maija Jurkāne, for revising the language. And also thank you, Albion M. Butters, for the latest revision of the language. Similarly, I am grateful to my colleague Rev. Ilārs Plūme for his wisdom and friendship, devoting his time, energy, and advice to improve my work. I wish to thank Dr. Voldemārs Lauciņš, Rev. Didzis Meļķis, Rev. Ilmārs Rubenis, Rev. Atis Vaickovskis, and Artis Celmiņš for their friendly and stimulating conversations, which helped me gain a deeper grasp of the historical realities. I am grateful to the University of Helsinki for the stipend at the last stage of this research and also to Academic Affairs Officer Jutta Kajander for the assistance with practical matters. In the same way, my appreciation should be extended to the librarian of LELBA, Iveta Kalme, for her assistance with archive material, and Rev. Juris Uļģis for his help with the layout of the monograph. Rīga, 12 April 2017 Uģis Sildegs 5 Abbreviations CA Confessio Augustana, The Augsburg Confession CARC Council of Affairs of Religious Cults KGB Komitet gosudarstvennyi bezopasnosti (Committee of State Security) Latvian SSR The Soviet Socialist Republic of Latvia LELC Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Lithuanian SSR The Soviet Socialist Republic of Lithuania LUTF The Theological Faculty, University of Latvia LUTFB The Library of the Theological Faculty, University of Latvia LWF Lutheran World Federation M. A. Master of Arts NT The New Testament OT The Old Testament RCC The Roman Catholic Church UN United Nations USSR The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 7 Contents Abstract . .3 Acknowledgments . .5 Abbreviations . .7 I Introduction � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 1.1 Subject of research and sources . 11 1.2 Background: early years . 15 1.2.1 Origins and childhood. 15 1.2.2 Attending the Gymnasium of the Lutheran Church . 17 1.2.3 Theological studies at the University of Latvia �����������������������������������������21 1.2.4 Plāte’s theological influences . 25 1.2.5 Beginnings of ministry and ordination ���������������������������������������������������� 28 1.3 Plāte’s ministry during World War II. 31 1.3.1 The winds of change . 31 1.3.2 The LELC during the Soviet and German occupations . 34 1.3.3 Plāte’s ministry in Zalve and Ērberģe ���������������������������������������������������������37 1.3.4 Wartime publications . 42 1.3.5 Leaving for Courland along with refugees ������������������������������������������������ 44 II A pastor in the shadow of Stalinism (1945–1954) � � � � � � � � � � 47 2.1 The socio-political situation in the Stalinist era �������������������������������47 2.1.1 Complicated work in the Pope, Rinda, and Selga congregations . 52 2.1.2 Confrontation with the local authorities . 54 2.1.3 Anti-religious propaganda in the press . 57 2.1.4 Attacks and financial troubles ���������������������������������������������������������������������61 III Service in Rucava (1953–1983)� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 65 3.1 Socio-political situation during the Khrushchev era (1953–1964). 65 3.1.1 Rucava – a serious parish. 68 3.1.2 A more personal look: Zuļģe’s story . 76 3.1.3 Archbishop Tūrs and the recognition of Plāte’s ministry . 80 3.1.4 Work and struggle against all odds ������������������������������������������������������������ 83 3.2 The socio-political situation during the “silent period” (1965–1979). 90 3.2.1 Archbishop Matulis and a new era in the LELC . 93 3.2.2 Even more intensive church work . 95 3.2.3 “God speaks through sufferings” . 100 3.2.4 The tragedy of losing a son . 105 3.2.5 Welcome to the women clergy ������������������������������������������������������������������ 108 9 3.3 Emergence of a new movement in the late 1970s and the early 1980s ��������������������������������������������������������111 3.3.1 Support for the young generation of pastors �������������������������������������������117 3.3.2 Plāte’s health struggles and the end of his life . 122 IV Academic theological activities � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �126 4.1 Defense of theology in the context of “scientific atheism” . 126 4.1.1 Bridging the gap between the Church and society . 132 4.1.2 Expectations versus reality . 136 4.2 From monologue to dialogue: a controversy. 139 4.2.1 Plāte’s contribution to the controversy . 144 4.2.2 Ideological use of biblical criticism �����������������������������������������������������������147 4.2.3 Internal reactions to external criticism. 151 4.2.4 Plāte’s approach to the Bible ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 157 4.3 Academic Theological Courses.
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