UK Christian groups challenge minister over draft Conversion Practices Bill as Parliament committee seeks evidence

Three UK Christian organisations, The Christian Institute, the Greater Love Declaration and Affinity, have written jointly to Bridget Phillipson, the Minister for Women and Equalities, challenging the government's draft Conversion Practices Bill, Premier Christian News reported on Oct. 22. They argue that the bill's definitions of "conversion practice" and "abusive" are vague enough to cover ordinary Christian ministry, pastoral care, prayer and conversations between parents and children. They say there is "nothing on the face of the Bill" guaranteeing that church teaching could not be prosecuted.

The letter, signed by Tom Brand of the Greater Love Declaration, Graham Nicholls of Affinity and Simon Calvert of The Christian Institute, also asks the government to drop the word "conversion," which it says distorts "a core Christian concept," Christian Today reported. The groups have requested a meeting with the minister. Calvert called the draft "one of the most troubling attempts at censorship we've seen."

In an article for The Independent earlier in October, Phillipson said the bill "will not impinge" on freedom of expression, religious practice or parenting decisions, Premier reported. The government published the draft on June 25. It defines a conversion practice as an act carried out with the intention of changing a person's sexual orientation or transgender identity. The draft proposes a criminal offence of carrying out such practices, an offence of encouraging or assisting them against a UK national or resident abroad, and civil "conversion practice protection orders," according to GOV.UK.

A joint committee of both Houses of Parliament is examining the draft before it is formally introduced. On Oct. 26 it published a call for written evidence, due by Nov. 16. Committee chair Alex Barros-Curtis, a Labour MP, said the committee wants to make sure the bill "strikes the right balance between stopping abuse while protecting other rights." The committee is due to report in January 2027.