The Archbishops of Canterbury and York threatened to cancel a planned Church of England debate on conversion therapy after critics called it “disgusting”. The Telegraph has the story.
The event, due to take place next week during the annual convention of the General Synod – the Church’s legislative body – in York, aims to discuss the implications of the Government’s proposed conversion ban for “the Christian gospel”.
Ministers are pushing forward with a proposed ban on the practice to protect LGBT people from abuse, with some victims claiming it caused them severe physical, psychological, sexual and economic harm.
A letter sent last week by Dame Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, raised concerns about the event, warning it was contrary to the ethos of the Church and may contravene its safeguarding guidance.
They added that the General Synod voted in 2017 in favour of a ban on conversion practices and therefore a public display would “act as a public statement contrary to that stated position”.
But the comments prompted supporters of the “People Change: Sexual Identity Transformation” presentation to accuse the Archbishops of “censorship”, as they warned that “loosely drafted laws could criminalise consensual conversations, prayer, pastoral support and Christian testimony”.
The event is set to feature Matthew Grech, Dr Mike Davidson, Chairman of the International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice, both of whom are synod members, and Andrea Williams, the Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre.
It will examine “neglected stories of the power of God to transform sexual identity” and will debate the “profound implications for the Christian gospel” that the Government’s proposed legislation could have.
Grech was recently found not guilty of promoting so-called “conversion practices” in Malta after sharing his Christian testimony on the radio.
The intervention from the Archbishops came after the Revd Charlie Baczyk-Bell, a married gay priest and Associate Vicar at St John the Divine Kennington, wrote on X: “I find it both genuinely disgusting and astonishing that this trash is being given a space in the fringe space of General Synod.”
But responding to the letter, Williams said: “This is an extraordinary and deeply concerning move by the Archbishops.
“A General Synod fringe event where Christians share testimony, discuss the gospel and consider the implications of proposed legislation should not be treated as a safeguarding threat.
“The gospel is about transformation. It is about lives changed by Jesus Christ. That includes men and women who testify that God has changed their identity, desires, behaviour and way of life.
“To threaten cancellation of this event after a social media post branding it ‘trash’ gives the clear impression that intimidation and activist pressure are being allowed to dictate what Christians may hear, say and discuss at General Synod. This amounts to censorship of one of the key gospel issues of our times.”
She added: “The Archbishops must not allow safeguarding language to be weaponised to shut down orthodox Christian teaching, pastoral care, testimony and debate. Their actions demonstrate how dangerous the Government’s proposed ‘conversion therapy’ ban will be for the Church.
“The Church of England’s own doctrine has not changed. Those who hold to that doctrine must not be treated as reputational risks or safeguarding threats.”
Worth reading in full.
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The Church of England has fallen, so has its Muslim Monarch
I despise the leadership of the Church of England. They have destroyed the Church and then wonder why people don’t go. As a Christian I will not go to be lectured every week by people supporting unlimited migration and a gay lifestyle.
Yes the church has a duty of pastoral care and compassion, but it was created as a means of getting the Gospel out to the whole world. I can’t remember the last time I heard a sermon about evangelism. Sermons these days are either theology for believers or woke-ridden advice on everything from the conflict in Gaza to environmentalism.
I, too, despise the leadership of the Church of England, and have done for some time. I wonder how many confirmed members of this church other than me, no longer attend. No wonder congregations are declining in numbers.
Most mental illnesses can be treated or at least treatment can be offered. Should be the same for the trans mental illness that is going around.
They soon wheel out the mental illness label when a muslim goes on a white killing rampage.
But a teen lad who decides he wants to chop off his bits, nothing to see here. And don’t even think about trying to talk him out of it!
Looks like the style sheet problem with the comments section has returned…
I’ve emailed DS about the weird comments format with a screen shot
Well done tof.
It’s bloody awful.
FFS DS can you stop calling it “conversion therapy”. It is the language of the enemy, who are the ones trying to “convert” people.
Quite right. “Conversion therapy” is a madleft lie designed to deny distressed people access to the spiritual and psychological support that THEY decide to choose but which our evil rulers are trying to them.
That should be: trying to deny them