Christian leaders in the United Kingdom are sounding alarms over a proposed law that would criminalize attempts to persuade a person to change their sexual orientation or identity.
The Labour government’s Conversion Practices Draft Bill, which claims to target only “abusive” conversion practices, puts parents and pastors in the crosshairs and threatens Gospel ministry, several Christian critics said in response to the proposal. The latest such bill follows several previous attempts in recent years to pass a conversion therapy ban.
The examples in the draft bill would criminalize certain conversations, counsel, therapy, or forms of pressure or perceived pressure, and provide a way for LGBTQ-identifying people to seek protection orders.
Paul Huxley, communications manager at U.K.-based Christian Concern, says that the law claims to allow certain “conversion” practices but actually jeopardizes the rights of parents and pastors to function in their God-given roles.
“The language here is very long-winded but amounts to any attempt of a person to direct a person’s sexuality or gender identity, or to make them believe that this has happened,” Huxley wrote.
The draft language defines abuse as sexual behavior, sexual or violent language, violent behavior; or controlling, coercive, economic, psychological or emotional pressure.
“A rebellious teenager who starts to identify in a different gender,” Huxley wrote, “could very easily accuse their parents of abusive conversion practices. Any rules laid down about what goes on in the house, rules about how the teen dresses, even refusing to use a chosen name could be called controlling or coercive words and behaviors.”
“Economic pressure,” he added, could be restricting a child’s spending money.
Moreover, wrote Andrea Williams, founder and chief executive of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre, the transformative work of the Gospel requires counseling, preaching and actions that would likely run afoul of the law if passed.
“At its core, the bill defines a ‘conversion practice’ as conduct intended to change someone’s beliefs about their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Williams wrote at Evangelicals Now.
“But here lies the deeper issue: the Gospel is about change. The Gospel is about conversion.
“The whole call of Christ is one of transformation—not condemnation, but renewal. Christians believe that God speaks into every part of our lives, reshaping our identity, our desires, and our direction. When we fall in love with Jesus, we fall in love with His words and the moral code He sets for our life. His blood was shed for our sins.
“Under this bill, ordinary Christian life could be recast as something dangerous.”
But as Huxley wrote, the bill is getting more initial resistance than in years past. He believes changing attitudes about the transgender movement and especially reports of documented medical and psychological outcomes that are negative—especially for gender-confused teens—is driving it.
“The draft bill will not protect anyone,” Huxley wrote. “It will only be weaponized against people who offer the kind of support that LGBTQ+-captured institutions do not offer—particularly pastors and parents.
“The wonderful news is that over the years, many politicians and public figures are ready to vocally and energetically oppose this harmful bill.”
Bible passages to ponder amid confusion over Biblical sexuality: Romans 12:1-2, Genesis 1:27, Ephesians 2:10
