Convert also respected statement of belief (8,5)
I believe the answer is:
apostles creed
'statement of belief' is the definition.
'apostles creed' can be an answer for 'statement' (I have seen 'statement of beliefs' mean 'apostles creed' so perhaps 'statement' could also mean 'apostles creed'). I'm not certain of the 'of belief' bit.
'convert also respected' is the wordplay.
'convert' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'also'+'respected'='alsorespected'
'alsorespected' with letters rearranged gives 'APOSTLES' CREED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for apostles creed that I've seen before include "statement of beliefs" , "Faithful formula" , "defines religious beliefs" , "Concise statement of Christian belief" .)