Evangelicals Join Interfaith Effort to Write Rules for Conversions

August 16, 2007

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The New York Times

Wire Service: AP

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/16/world/europe/16convert.html

GENEVA, Aug. 15 — Evangelical Protestant churches have joined an effort by Roman Catholic, Orthodox and other Protestant churches to create a common code of conduct for religious conversions to preserve the right of Christians to spread their religion while avoiding conflict among faiths.

The World Council of Churches, which with the Vatican started talks last year on a code, said Wednesday that the process was formally joined by the World Evangelical Alliance at a meeting this month in Toulouse, France.

The aim is to ease tensions with Muslims, Hindus and other religions that fear losing adherents. In some instances, converts and foreign missionaries have been punished with imprisonment or death.