Jewish group opposes evangelical statement

NEW YORK – The Anti-Defamation League has called an evangelical move to promote evangelizing Jews in Europe an “affront to the Jewish people.”

The Jewish civil rights group urged the World Evangelical Alliance to withdraw the statement issued last month. The ADL wants the alliance to talk with Jewish groups about the issue.

The document, called “The Berlin Declaration on the Uniqueness of Christ and Jewish Evangelism in Europe Today,” urged “renewed commitment to the task of Jewish evangelism” and recognition that only Christ “can save from death and bring eternal life.”

The statement, released last month by a theology task force of the World Evangelical Alliance, also condemns anti-Semitism and all religious discrimination.

The Anti-Defamation League said issuing the statement from Berlin was especially insensitive.

“Promoting a campaign to convert Jews away from their faith is a serious affront to the Jewish people and disrespectful to Judaism’s own teachings,” the New York-based group said in a statement last Friday. “As long as the WEA teaches that Judaism is incomplete or misguided, anti-Semitism will continue.”

The World Evangelical Alliance is a network of churches in 128 nations representing millions of Christians.