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Two new showrooms/office spaces, double height (135 sq m each with bath) for lease in upscale Campal/Miramar beach area, Panaji, Goa. Contact: goaengineer...@aol.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2009091060570400.htm&date=2009/09/10/&prd=th& Churches in Karnataka form forum Staff Reporter The objective is to promote unity among them and protect human rights Photo: K. Gopinathan For a cause: Members of the Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights at a meeting in Bangalore on Wednesday. The forum will be headed by Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras (second from left). BANGALORE: Churches across Karnataka have come together to form the Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights with the objective of promoting unity among churches, protecting human rights and promoting peace in the community. This formation gains significance in the light of a series of attacks on churches in Karnataka in 2008, allegedly abetted by the Sangh Parivar. The forum has put forward a common minimum faith understanding, ethics and action programme for the churches that have come forward to be part of the forum, which will be headed by the Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras. Code of conduct “We felt the need to come together as we needed to know ourselves. A code of conduct is being put in place for all churches. In this way, we are trying to help ourselves and prevent attacks and accusations against churches,” Rev. Moras told presspersons here on Wednesday. The forum brings together The Roman Catholic Church, The CSI Church, The Methodist Church, The Mar Thoma Church, The Jacobite Church, The Believers Church, The Karnataka Baptist Church, The Assemblies of God, The Federation of Christian Churches Organisation, and small historical churches like Lutheran, Seventh Day Adventist, Salvation Army and others. All these churches will be entering into a memorandum of association, and adhere to the code of conduct, Rev. Moras pointed out. “So far, nobody (churches) has openly said that they would not join the forum. We are trying to educate all of them. Though resistance may come from individuals, churches have not resisted the move,” he said. Rev. Moras, later, addressing a gathering of leaders representing various churches, said: “There have been accusations of forced conversion and enticement. Most of them are not true at all. None has been able to prove the forced conversion charges at any time.” The forum has put forward a common minimum ethic (CME) to be followed while preaching and propagating the religion. It has suggested that churches should avoid aggressiveness in the matter of sharing the faith and follow only those methods that are appropriate to the present time. In particular, churches should refrain from offering material or other allurements to draw away members from other Christian or other religious communities are faith, the CME said. Besides, the CME resolves not to condemn or denigrate gods and deities of other religions, or elements of tradition held sacred by other communities, both in preaching and publications. “The beauty of our faith is tarnished and not enhanced when we denigrate someone else’s faith,” it said, and added that churches should respect their beliefs and practices, and work together for the common cause of salvation and integrity of human community. The forum has also proposed a common mini mum action to build harmonious relationship with people of all religions and cultures. © Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu