Evangelicals and Catholics Together

"Evangelicals and Catholics Together" is a document written by leaders of Evangelical Protestant and Roman Catholic churches, notably Chuck Colson of Prison Ministries and Father Juan Diaz-Vilar of Catholic Hispanic Ministries, first published in 1994. It is a document that describes hopes for Evangelical and Catholic Christians to increase cooperation in the third millennium, and to establish common ground upon which both Evangelicals and Catholics stand and set theological differences aside.

The document is split into five parts. It begins with an introduction, stating the need for Christians, both Evangelicals and Catholics, to be united in Christ and in the truth of the word of God, not divided, and to pursue the mission of the Church together. The first section begins "We affirm together," establishing the doctrine that all Christians, whether Catholics or Evangelicals, agree upon. The first and most important doctrine affirmed is that Jesus Christ is Lord. The document asserts the Apostle's Creed as the basis of the Christian faith that all Christians can agree upon.

The second section begins "We hope together," emphasizing the Church's hope that all will come to Christ, and states that the Church should cooperate in missions work, and that by being united, Evangelicals and Catholics will be able to be a greater witness to the world. The third section begins "We Search Together," and recognizes that there are doctrinal differences between Evangelicals and Catholics. Instead of letting them divide the Church, the document states the hope that Christians will seek to understand God's word together.

The fourth section, and by far the longest, is "We Contend Together," stating a long list of things that both churches stand for and stand against. Mainly, this involves the issues of morality and freedom in American society. Rather than taking a political standpoint, the document asserts what Christians should stand for in terms of social issues.

The fifth section, "We Witness Together," emphasizes that as Christians, our mission is to bring people to Christ, not to advance our own denomination. Thus, Christians should not proselytize people from other denominations, in other words, attempt to convert Catholics to Evangelicalism or vice versa, and instead focus our efforts to bringing those who are not of God to God. Finally, the document ends with a conclusion stating the premise that in the third millennium, all Christians, whether Catholic or Protestant, should be as one in Christ.

Copy of the Original Document: http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9405/articles/mission.html

This movement is met with mixed reactions. Among many Evangelical Fundamentalists, there is much opposition to the movement. This is mainly due to a prejudiced misunderstanding of Catholicism, and a claim that Catholicism is not Gospel-based Christianity.

Links to Related To the Document:
Critique: http://vintage.aomin.org/Evangelicals_and_Catholics_Together.html
Christianity Today's Response: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1997/december8/7te034.html?start=1
History of the Movement: http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_caev1.htm