The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council on Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID) have released a statement on the ethics of Christian evangelism.

“Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct,” released June 28 at the WCC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, is the result of a five-year collaboration between the groups. The three participating religious bodies represent over 90 percent of the global Christian population.

WEA Secretary General Geoff Tunnicliffe said, “In some places dynamic public witness to Jesus Christ has been accompanied by misunderstanding and tension.” The “Recommendations for Conduct” attempts to resolve these misunderstandings, rejecting aggressive and unethical proselytizing methods in non-Christian societies. Instead, the statement sets forth a Church consensus on appropriate Christian evangelism in a pluralistic world.

The document’s first section, “The Basis for Christian Mission,” describes Jesus Christ as the supreme Witness and denounces “inappropriate methods” of evangelism. “Christian witness in a pluralistic world includes engaging in dialogue with people of different religions and cultures,” the document says. The second section, “Principles,” outlines 12 standards for Christian witnessing. These standards include: acting in God’s love, living with integrity, rejecting any form of violence, and offering respect to all people.

The text concludes with six recommendations to the Church. The recommendations are: study the document, build trust relationships with people of all religions, strengthen religious identity and faith, advocate justice and respect for the common good, call on governments to ensure religious freedom, and pray for the well-being of neighbors.

Tunicliffe noted that “Recommendations for Conduct” acts as a church resource for “reflection and practice” on how to best witness. He described the statement as “a code of ethics for all Christians, especially those living and serving in contexts of religious diversity.”

Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, provided perspective by noting that “Recommendations for Conduct” calls us to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit—”to be winsome, articulate, respectful and charitable towards others.”

He added: “The document is not a theological statement, but gives recommendations for how we ought to comport ourselves as Christians. It is too bad that we have to be reminded to exhibit the Christian virtues in our public and private witness, but prudence often requires us to be so reminded. And often.”

@Copyright 2011 World Magazine – used with permission