For the past three years the World Evangelical Alliance has been working with the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches on a draft Code of Conduct to be followed by Christians working amongst Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and those of other faiths. The catalyst for this was allegations by Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists that Christians were seeking to evangelise by deceitful methods, such as inducement and bribery in the form of medical and educational work, social work, helping the poor, promises of jobs, etc.

All three bodies, that is the RCC/WCC/WEA, are united that the work of conversion is that of the Holy Spirit, but that we as Christians are commanded by Jesus Christ to spread the good news of the Gospel to all people all over the world and we are also commanded by the Lord to go about doing good, as His disciples.

Two draft documents have been produced.

1. http://www.worldevangelicals.org/WCC_WEA_Vat_Code_Draft.pdf

The first is the result of two conferences held between the RCC/WCC/WEA. This document has been submitted to the constituencies of all three bodies for their comment in time for a further conference to be held some time this year. What all three bodies want is a code containing principles to which at least a majority of their constituents will adhere, a code which can demonstrate that Christians of all persuasions around the world adhere to the Biblical principles set out in the code. We cannot expect all the constituents of all three bodies to agree on everything to do with the breadth of the subjects covered. However, we would like to see a set of fundamental principles which all Christians (in the broadest sense of the word) will seek to follow. As such, the document will very much follow a "Lowest Common Factor" approach.

2. http://www.worldevangelicals.org/WEA_Ethics_Code_draft_2010.pdf

Based on these principles, we in the WEA want to have our own document which we as the evangelical family worldwide can seek to follow. The second document is a draft of this our own evangelical code. While still based on the principles listed in the "Global Christianity Code" it will be amplified to reflect our own evangelical distinctives and convictions.

I would ask you not confuse the two documents.

Please disseminate these two documents to as many groups as you are in contact with in the worldwide evangelical community. We want this exercise to involve all those who seek to be witnesses to Christ in the world.

Our evangelical code will not be limited to those who seek to evangelise Muslims, Hindus and others. In the West we are facing the challenges of religions such as atheism and secularism, which seek to silence our witness to Christ. We need to bear this in mind as we consider the wording.

After you review these documents, I would ask you send any comments to:

Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

2 Comments

1. Gazza makes this comment

   Monday 24 May, 2010

   I really do find this a whole lot confusing. Can someone explain to me how helping people and sharing the gospel is unethical. The practice of many religious groups, when a member converts to christianity, is that the converts become outcasts from their communties, rejected by their families and usual their safety and life are in danger. Surely these threats are an unethical enducement to remain in their previous belief system. Any means to help people out of such repressive belief systems has to be a good thing. Really Jesus words "I am the way the truth and the life" ring in my ears. When two opposing views with regards to salvation are put forward, either one is wrong and the other is right, or both are wrong. But both cannot logically be right.

2. Catherine Gillies makes this comment

   Monday 17 May, 2010

   Vatican Council II Decree on Ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio, 7-8, - Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana “So that they may all be one” There can be no ecumenism worthy of the name without a change of heart. For it is from renewal of the inner life of our minds (Ep 4:23), from self-denial and an unstinted love that desires of unity take their rise and develop in a mature way... All the faithful should remember that the more effort they make to live holier lives according to the Gospel, the better will they further Christian unity and put it into practice. For the closer their union with the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, the more deeply and easily will they be able to grow in mutual brotherly love. This change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement, and merits the name, "spiritual ecumenism."