Seminary to Launch Interfaith Ethics Code

By December 9, 2003

USA (MNN)–A peace initiative may well stir up quite a bit of excitement among Christians.

According to reports from the Associated Press, Fuller Theological Seminary launched a controversial initiative aimed at practical peacemaking practices for Christians and Muslims.

Fuller provost Sherwood Lingenfelter promises that the code, which will go before the full faculty for a vote, “will not compromise Christian beliefs.”

The program, characterized by the Department of Justice as “a conflict resolution program”, is intended largely “to lead a large portion of evangelical Christians into a better understanding of Islam,” he said. Lingenfelter went on to say, “After 9/11 there was a great deal of hostility in the Christian community toward Muslims. It is important for Christians to gain a respect for them and treat them with dignity and not assume they’re all terrorists.”

The school is using a one million dollar Justice Department grant to launch the program. Through an interfaith code of ethics, members of both faiths are asked to refrain from making offensive statements about the other, affirm a mutual belief in one God and refrain from proselytizing over the two-year span of the project.

Fuller said its project is intended to develop practical peacemaking practices for Christians and Muslims, leading to a book and training for local religious communities. The seminary has more than 4,000 students from more than 60 countries and 110 evangelical denominations.

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