Church leaders urge Scottish Government to rethink ‘conversion therapy’ plans which could “criminalise innocent Christians”

Church leaders including many Affinity members have written to express their grave concern about the Scottish Government’s plans to ban so-called ‘conversion practices’.

The Scottish Government wants to ban ‘practices’ that seek to change, suppress or inhibit someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. ‘Conversion therapy/practices’ is a deliberately broad term chosen by LGBT activists. It covers grotesque illegal assaults such as ‘corrective rape’ and abusive quack medical practices like electric shock ‘therapy’, which are illegal already.

But church leaders – who strongly oppose any attempt to abuse or coerce – warn that the Scottish Government’s proposals risk criminalising ‘innocent Christians for teaching what Christians have always taught’.

The letter, signed by 20 church leaders, is clear that by using the ‘Christian language of “conversion”… it will be very hard to avoid criminalising the ordinary work and witness of churches’.

In October last year, the Scottish Government’s ‘Expert Advisory Group on Ending Conversion Practices’ published a report demanding a law which could lead to innocent Christians and parents being criminalised for conversations about marriage, sex and gender that do not conform to a narrow brand of LGBT politics. Prayer, preaching, pastoral care and parenting are all at stake.

Graham Nicholls, Director of Affinity Gospel Churches in Partnership, offered his support for the letter saying:

As Affinity, we share their concern that the proposed legislation would criminalise ordinary Christians and church leaders for expressing mainstream, orthodox beliefs.

We agree with them that it is profoundly mistaken to conflate the Christian teaching on sexuality and gender with abuse. Moreover, outlawing parents and pastors from explaining the Bible’s teaching about God’s good design for proper and healthy human flourishing would be deeply repressive, and a violation of religious freedom.

Please pray for the Scottish government to listen to wise counsel and abandon or substantially modify this law to protect everyday Christian freedoms.

The letter is in full below.

Co-signatory, Reverend Dr William Philip commented:

The recommendations of the ‘Expert Advisory Group’ are alarming. The presentation – as a law to protect LGBT people from abuse – is disingenuous; all such abuse and coercion is already, quite rightly, illegal. It is these proposals which are abusive towards ordinary people, including loving parents protective of their children – by criminalising simply speaking with them, praying for them, or daring to disagree with LGBT ideology.

Threatening to punish church leaders and churches for upholding Christian teaching; terrorising mothers and fathers with the spectre of removing their parental rights for simply trying to help their children navigate normal adolescence – are these really the marks of a free and tolerant society?

Co-signatory, Professor David Galloway commented:

As church leaders, we want to be free to share the good news of the gospel with all people, including LGBT people. We could never support abuse or coercion, which are completely at odds with the Bible’s teaching. But we have a duty to lead our congregations in living for Christ, in the way He has taught us. And that means teaching what the Bible says about all areas of life – including sexuality and gender.

An evidence-based case for a new law has not been made and no gaps in existing law have been identified. Yet the Scottish Government is continuing to press ahead with a law that could see ordinary Christians criminalised for merely expressing their beliefs.

The letter written by church leaders

31 March 2023

Dear Ms Roddick,

We write as Christian ministers and leaders from churches across Scotland to express our very serious concerns about the Government’s plans to ban so-called ‘conversion practices’. 

As Christians, we strongly oppose any attempt to abuse or coerce. The Bible is clear that all people are made in God’s image and that, as such, everyone deserves to be protected from abusive and coercive practices. We are therefore grateful that such practices are – rightly – already illegal in our nation.

However, a ‘conversion therapy’ ban would go far beyond outlawing abuse and coercion; instead it would criminalise ordinary Christians and church leaders for expressing mainstream, orthodox belief. A basic tenet of the Christian faith is that all are sinful and in need of forgiveness. But God himself has provided the way of salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ; this is the good news of the Gospel. The process of becoming a Christian – through repentance, that is, turning from sin and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord – is usually described as ‘conversion’. By using this Christian language of ‘conversion’, therefore, the proposed legislation strikes at a central tenet of Christianity itself. This means it will be very hard to avoid criminalising the ordinary work and witness of churches. Indeed, for some of those calling for a ban, this would seem to be the express purpose.

The Bible also clearly teaches the only place for sexual activity is within a lifelong marriage of one man and one woman, and that God has created each one of us male or female, according to His perfect will. This has been the teaching of the universal Church for 2000 years. Yet the ‘Expert Advisory Group on Ending Conversion Practices Report and Recommendations’ says that teaching the “importance of marriage” is conversion therapy. They also say that church leaders who do not affirm LGBT ideology need to be re-educated or should be barred from the ministry. The Report also calls on the Government to follow the extreme example of Victoria, Australia, where merely “not affirming someone’s gender identity” is in itself considered unlawful conversion therapy, as is encouraging someone to remain celibate.

It is profoundly mistaken to conflate orthodox Christian teaching on sexuality and gender with abuse. Moreover, outlawing Christians from explaining the Bible’s teaching about God’s good design for true and healthy human flourishing would be deeply repressive, and a violation of religious freedom.

We do not believe it is the intention of the Scottish Government to criminalise innocent Christians for teaching what Christians have always taught, but we fear it is at grave risk of doing so if it continues on its current trajectory.

We urge you to reconsider the current plans to bring forward a ban on ‘conversion practices’.

Yours sincerely,

Reverend Dr William Philip 

The Tron Church, Glasgow

Chairman of Cornhill Scotland

Reverend Paul L. Rees 

Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh (Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches)

Professor David Galloway

Lennox Evangelical Church, Dumbarton

Chairman of Logos Scotland and former President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Reverend David Scott

Inshes East Church of Scotland, Inverness (Church of Scotland)

Reverend Brian More

Newton Mearns Baptist Church, Newton Mearns (Baptist Union of Scotland)

Reverend Dean Norby

All Souls Fife Churches (Scottish Episcopal Church)

Reverend Kenny Gillies

Oasis Christian Centre, Livingston (Elim Pentecostal Church)

Pastor Dr Jeremy McQuoid 

Deeside Christian Fellowship Church, Aberdeen

Chairman of Keswick Ministries

Pastor David Dickson

Lochee Baptist Chapel, Dundee

Reverend Stephen Allison

Kiltarlity Free Church, Beauly (Free Church of Scotland)

Public Engagement Coordinator for the Free Church of Scotland 

Reverend Nathan Owens

Maxwell Church, Kilmaurs (United Free Church of Scotland)

Convener of Christian Life and Mission Committee, United Free Church of Scotland

Pastor Michael Rollo

Found Church, Larbert (Assemblies of God)

Reverend Andrew Randall

Grace Church Larbert, Larbert (International Presbyterian Church)

Reverend Dr Nathan McConnell

Downfield Mains Church, Dundee (Church of Scotland)

Reverend Joe Barnard

Holyrood Evangelical Church, Edinburgh

Executive Director of Cross Training Ministries 

Reverend John C. A. Ferguson

Kingsview Christian Centre, Inverness (Associated Presbyterian Churches)

Reverend Malcolm Macleod

Shawbost Free Church, Isle of Lewis (Free Church of Scotland)

Principal Clerk to the Free Church of Scotland

Pastor Mark Smith

River of Life Church, Dumfries

Reverend Greg MacDonald

Cross (Ness) Free Church (Continuing), Isle of Lewis (Free Church of Scotland (Continuing))

Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)

Pastor David Mitchell

Connect Church, Kirkcaldy (Apostolic Church)