British church leaders representing over 1300 churches have written a letter to the new prime minister Keir Starmer, expressing their concern about “the way people talk about a legislative ban on so-called ‘conversion therapy’.

“Campaigners often imply that expressing mainstream, traditional Christian beliefs on sexuality or gender identity in pastoral conversations is, inherently, a form of ‘conversion therapy’”, states the letter.

Furthermore, “some even want a ‘conversion therapy ban to cover gentle, non-coercive prayer. This raises the alarming prospect of police and prosecutors having to decide whether someone has prayed ‘the wrong kind of prayer’”.

That is why signatories are concerned about “the lack of religious literacy in British public life, and the unwarranted hostility this can breed towards those in bible-believing churches like ours”.

They also warn that the legislative ban “would not only affect those who are Christian”, but “conversations between parents and their children are also at risk from this broad definition of conversion therapy. This would affect gender-critical parents”.

Religious leaders ask Starmer to meet with them “to discuss our concerns and to explore how we can help fill the religious literacy gap and help the Government better understand Christians and their beliefs”.

“Open the door to spurious accusations”

According to Revd Matthew Roberts, of the Presbyterian Trinity church in York, “increasingly it seems as though some in Government are barely aware of the church’s existence and almost wholly ignorant of what Christians believe and why”.

“We very much hope that this new Government will recognise the vital contribution of Christians to Britain and will not (accidentally perhaps) legislate against them”, he added.

Co-signatory Revd Graham Nicholls, pastor of Christ Church Haywards Heath and director of Affinity Church Network warns that “new legislation will not make any difference to genuine abuse, but will open the door to spurious accusations against those who want the freedom to live out their Christian faith, and parents and pastors who uphold the Bible’s teaching on matters of sexuality and gender”.

Within the first 100 days

The new labour government is expected to move quickly on a new ‘conversion therapy’ law.

In its political program , it committed to introducing “a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, while protecting the freedom for people to explore their sexual orientation and gender identity”.

According to most of the media, the legislation could be approved within the first 100 days of the new government.

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