Church leaders urge PM to denounce ‘conversion practices’ plans that criminalise Christians

Church leaders from a range of Christian denominations have urged the Prime Minister to oppose attempts to outlaw so-called conversion practices.

In a letter to Rishi Sunak, nine church leaders including the Free Church of Scotland’s Moderator Revd Prof Robert Akroyd warned that “teaching ordinary Christian virtues, would inevitably fall foul of a law against ‘changing’, ‘negating’ or ‘suppressing’ the identities of the ‘LGBTQ+’ movement”.

Conservative MP Alicia Kearns’ amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill could criminalise both Christians who pray about repentance with an LGBT friend, and parents who dissuade their child from taking puberty blockers. The Report Stage of this flagship Government Bill begins on Wednesday, 15 May.

Gospel

The churchmen told the Prime Minister: “Far from targeting abusive practices – which are thankfully already illegal – many of those calling for a new law have expressed a desire to curtail the practice of normal Christians such as ourselves.”

It seems unavoidable that legislating with this language will capture ordinary Christian ministry in its scope.

“Conversion means turning from serving oneself to serving God. It could be said that as ministers of the Christian gospel our entire work consists of ‘conversion practices’. It seems unavoidable that legislating with this language will capture ordinary Christian ministry in its scope.

“Indeed, for some people at least, this appears to be the intended outcome.”

They urged Mr Sunak to “oppose both the amendments and private members’ bills being brought to Parliament and plans to legislate in the devolved administrations, and withdraw your government’s commitment to bring its own legislation”.

‘Draconian’

Speaking on behalf of the Greater Love Declaration, Revd Dr Matthew Roberts of the International Presbyterian Church said: “The Christian view of marriage, sex and identity is profoundly good for all of society, yet within days we could see MPs consider criminalising people for upholding it.

“The Cass Report has shown that it is all too easy for society to get these things wrong, pushing children and vulnerable adults towards harm and hardship. Now is the time to allow space for all voices to be heard – including those of ordinary Christians and concerned parents.”

Director of Affinity Graham Nicholls, who also signed the letter, warned that attempts to hijack the Criminal Justice Bill to ban ‘conversion practices’ would “create unnecessary and draconian laws which would inhibit parental rights, free speech and normal religious practice and should be rejected”.

The Christian view of marriage, sex and identity is profoundly good for all of society, yet within days we could see MPs consider criminalising people for upholding it.

Prayer

Last week, it was revealed that an LGBT lobby group was promised almost £1 million in taxpayer funds by the Foreign Office.

The Ozanne Foundation has already received sums of £137,500 and £50,000 for two conferences titled the Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives. These sought to promote LGBT ideology in faith settings and advocate for a new law against so-called conversion therapy. The larger conference was attended in person by just 80 activists.

The Foundation claims the Foreign Office “agreed in principle” to provide a further £805,000 to fund a future project to launch a course to teach religious leaders acceptance of LGBT issues. That sum is understood to be currently under review.

The Foundation’s Director, former Church of England General Synod member Jayne Ozanne, is an advocate of banning “gentle, non-coercive prayer” that does not affirm a person’s LGBT sexual orientation or gender identity.