Evangelical groups are lending their support to an interdenominational code of conduct for religious conversions:

The code aims to ease tensions with Muslims, Hindus and other religious groups that fear losing adherents and resort to punishments as extreme as imprisonment and even death for converts from their faith and foreign missionaries. [...]

[The World Council of Churches] said the code of conduct should serve as an “advocacy tool in discussions with governments considering anti-conversion laws (and) help to advance the cause of religious freedom.” The rules should also address concerns in other religions about Christians seeking converts, and inspire those faiths to “consider their own codes of conduct,” it added.

Without seeing the actual code of conduct (it’s due to be drafted up next year), it’s hard to form much of an opinion about this, but from the article we can glean a few bits of information about it: following it would be voluntary; the code would outline what sorts of behaviors and tactics are inappropriate for missionaries in different parts of the world; and it would also touch on challenging topics related to conversion, such as interreligious marriage.

Do you think this will help reduce the fear and violence that often accompany Christian conversions in countries that are culturally hostile to Christianity? Are there specific styles of evangelism that are making the situation worse and should be curtailed?

(Via Christdot.)