Rules regarding out of character recruiting

[pcw27]

I have an idea for a pantheon which would function using five separate religions which all consider each other "variants". I've  started one of the five and it's pretty healthy so far but I've had no success finding anyone in character who is willing to start one of the remaining four. Is it permissible for me to just ask people out of character or possibly start a thread to see if they want to play the other "Avatars" of the other cults that make up the pantheon?

[MTYL]

Similar things been done before. I say go ahead.