College junior Kathleen Sieffert, an officer of Penn's Campus Crusade for Christ, said she talked to two representatives from the World Mission Society for 10 minutes on Locust Walk, discussing their differing interpretations of certain Bible verses.
"It was a totally peaceful conversation and we ended it agreeing to disagree," Sieffert said.
Penn has no policy regarding such groups proselytizing on campus, as long as they do not pose any danger or impediment to the community, University spokesman Ron Ozio said.
Still, religious leaders on campus warn students to be wary of any deceptive information or messages such groups may offer.
Interim University Chaplain Charles Howard said that, while rare at Penn, visiting religious groups have been known to put pressure on vulnerable college students.
According to Dunning, proselytizing was more common in the early years of his career at Penn but has died down since the late 1990s. For example, he said, the Unification Church, whose members are sometimes called Moonies, has a building on 41st Street and used to have a more noticeable presence on campus.
Despite repeated attempts, members of the World Mission Society could not be found for comment on this article.
