Union of Catholic Asian News （http://www.ucanews.com）
Federation warns against conversions
Recruiting from each other 'undermines gospel of Jesus', says umbrella organization , 30 November 2011
by ucanews.com reporter, Penang
The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) has warned all Christian denominations and churches in the country not to convert members of each other’s community.
“We do not condone the practice of actively proselytizing and recruiting members from another Christian community ‘for purposes of institutional or denominational aggrandizement’,” the CFM says in its Christmas message issued yesterday.
“We recognize that any attempts to actively win converts from one another’s fold would undermine [our joint commitment] to the mission and gospel of Jesus Christ,” continues the message signed by Anglican Bishop Ng Moon Hing, the CFM chairman.
The CFM is an ecumenical umbrella organization comprising the Council of Churches of Malaysia, the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship and the Catholic bishops’ conference.
The message, however, clarifies that “our position does not detract from our recognition of the right and freedom of individuals to choose the community in which they wish to belong to.”
Bishop Ng said the message is meant “to affirm that we Christians are on the same page, even in the midst of different Christian expressions and theological differences.”
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