Church leaders speak out against proposed ‘conversion therapy’ law

New UK Equalities Minister Olivia Bailey told a Stonewall fringe event at the Labour conference that she’s hard at work to bring forward a draft Bill to ban ‘conversion therapy’. According to ITV News, a draft Bill was already on the PM’s desk in July awaiting sign-off, but progress stalled over concerns around religious and parental freedoms.

In response to these reports, 24 church leaders from across Great Britain have written an open letter to the UK Government warning that a conversion therapy law could criminalise the ordinary work and witness of churches, and punish parents for refusing to affirm LGBTQ+ ideology.

Over 5,500 Christians have already added their name to the letter supported by Let Us Pray, including over 1,200 church leaders and pastoral workers. The letter has been covered by The Daily Telegraph and The Scottish Daily Express, as well as Premier Christian News and Christian Today.

You can sign the letter here.

Threat to family life and gospel freedom

The church leaders warn that a Bill “could criminalise mainstream, historic Christian teaching on marriage and sexual ethics, and make sharing the Gospel with some people illegal”. They say that activists already wrongly accuse them of carrying out ‘conversion therapy’ “for merely expressing Christian beliefs on sexuality and gender in prayer and pastoral conversations”.

The church leaders also warn about the impact this law could have on parents, regardless of whether they are Christian: “We are also concerned it 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.”

Abuse already illegal

The Government has promised to bring forward a draft ‘conversion therapy’ Bill for England and Wales soon. The Scottish Government has also asked for the legislation to apply north of the border, after its own draft Bill was torn to shreds by lawyers.

Gay and trans people are rightly already protected from verbal and physical abuse by existing law. Legal advice from multiple KCs is clear that any extension of the current law would likely encompass innocent actions like prayer, pastoral conversations and parental advice. It is also clear that criminalising the expression of Christian beliefs and gender-critical views could put the Government in breach of no fewer than four European Convention rights. 

Lead signatories

Explaining why he co-signed the letter, Revd Dr Matthew Roberts said: "Conversion is central to Christian teaching: putting ourselves and our own desires to one side, and putting others, and God most of all, first instead. That applies to all of life, including our sexual behaviour; and it is by that teaching that Jesus Christ and his church have changed the world immeasurably for better. A law banning 'conversion practices' would be highly likely to make the core teachings of Christianity itself illegal."

Co-signatory Revd Stephen Allison also commented: “Christians are not seeking to coerce or control anyone. Our calling is to walk alongside people, to listen, to pray with them, and to help them as they wrestle with difficult questions of life, identity and faith. A broad ban on so-called conversion practices risks criminalising these ordinary, compassionate conversations and even prayer itself. That would be a serious infringement of both religious freedom and the basic human need for support when facing life’s challenges.”