Church leaders unite against proposed ‘conversion practices’ law

Over 1,000 church leaders across Great Britain have urged Westminster to ditch plans for a “full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices”.

In an open letter organised by The Christian Institute’s Let Us Pray campaign, the church workers told Equalities Minister Olivia Bailey MP that such a law could “criminalise mainstream, historic Christian teaching on marriage and sexual ethics, and make sharing the Gospel with some people illegal”. In addition, over 4,000 other Christians have co-signed the letter.

Co-sign the letter

The UK Government has promised to publish its draft ‘conversion practices’ Bill for England and Wales “very soon”.

‘State-mandated theology’

The signatories, which include church leaders such as Affinity Director Graham Nicholls, said it would “not be possible to draft legislation in this area that does not infringe on the ordinary work of churches and family life”.

They reported that “lead campaigners for a new law routinely conflate the ordinary work of churches with abuse. They imply that merely expressing Christian beliefs on sexuality and gender in prayer and pastoral conversations constitutes ‘conversion therapy’ and should be outlawed.”

The signatories highlighted that these are not “hypothetical” concerns, explaining that similar legislation in Australia “tells Christians how to pray and what they can and cannot teach – effectively imposing a new state-mandated theology”.

In addition, the letter raised concerns that a law could “prevent parents from guiding their children on matters of sexuality and gender, and from urging caution if their child says they want to undergo gender treatment”.

Public opposition

In Scotland, the SNP said it will continue to push for legislation banning ‘conversion practices’ despite public opposition.

Of 5,811 responses to The Scottish Government’s consultation on ‘ending conversion practices’, 54 per cent opposed a ban which focuses on “behaviour motivated by the intention to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity”. 45 per cent were in favour, with one per cent unsure. This balance of opinion was repeated across a number of the questions.

The Scottish Government will not introduce its own conversion therapy Bill ahead of next May’s Holyrood election. However, although a majority disagreed with its proposals to ban ‘conversion practices’, the SNP plans to publish legislation in year one of the new Parliament, should it be re-elected and a UK Government Bill not go far enough.