Evangelical Christian leaders reach out to Muslims
WASHINGTON -- Nearly a year ago, evangelical Christian leaders gathered in Washington to try to moderate their rhetoric toward Islam and begin a more respectful, positive dialogue with Muslims around the world.
A handful of evangelical ministers has announced the first fruit of that effort, a plan to put on a Christian music festival, establish humanitarian relief projects and hold a theological conference in Morocco.
The goal, they said, is not to proselytize but to break down hostile images. "We have stereotypes of Muslims, and they certainly do of conservative Christians. They're both caricatures we need to dispense with," said the Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president for government affairs at the Washington-based National Association of Evangelicals.
The meeting of about 40 evangelical leaders last May followed highly publicized statements by the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist...