About the Equality Bill
The Equality Bill will place a duty on public bodies - like schools and the police - to promote homosexual and transsexual 'rights'.
Christians are concerned that the Bill also narrows the current exemption in employment law for "organised religion". The Bill is shrinking the exemption so that it will only apply to posts that wholly or mainly involve leading or assisting worship or promoting or explaining doctrine.
Yet church ministers have many pastoral and administrative tasks which do not directly involve leading worship or teaching doctrine, even more so in the case of pastoral or youth workers. So the law may require that these posts have to be open to adulterers or practising homosexuals.
The legal opinion by John Bowers QC and our briefing provide further information. For the wider problems being caused by the 'equality and diversity' agenda, see our report Marginalising Christians.
Latest news
Key resources
John Bowers QC legal opinion (PDF)
John Bowers QC legal opinion (RTF)- Equality Bill briefing - Jan 10 (PDF)
- Equality Bill briefing - Jan 10 (RTF)
- Marginalising Christians booklet
- Adoption agencies shut under 'equality' laws
- Care home suffers under 'equality' laws
- Equality Bill briefing - May 09 (PDF)
- Equality Bill briefing - May 09 (RTF)
