Discrimination Law Review
The Public Affairs Department is currently lobbying the Government on the Discrimination Law Review. (DLR.)
The DLR extends equality law provisions to cover anything that could be described as "goods or services".
Therefore unless conscience safeguards are included, churches and religious groups may fall foul of the law if they sought to place restrictions (based on religious conscience) on the use of their facilities or services they may offer to the community.
The Evangelical Alliance believes that in a government document that proposes exemptions to the regulations for several different groups, relevant exceptions for religious groups are entirely appropriate to enable them to continue to function in accordance with their ethos.
The deadline for the Government's consultation on the first part of the DLR, 'Getting Equal: Provisions to Outlaw Sexual Orientation Discrimination in the Provision of Goods and Services', was 6 June 2006.
For the preamble and first chapter of the Evangelical Alliance's consultation response to this vitally important piece of legislation go to 'Getting Equal'.
Evangelical Alliance members and member churches are also invited to contact us at pub-aff@eauk.org for more information and/or to receive a confidential copy of our full submission.
Take action
Though the formal deadline for the consultation closed on the 6 June 2006, its not too late to take action:
- Individuals, churches and charities can make use of the preamble and first chapter of the Evangelical Alliance's response as a basis to write or talk to their MP.
- Emphasise the potentially negative consequences for Christian community and charity projects and request a meeting with your MP to share your concerns in person.
- If you are successful in obtaining a meeting with your MP, the Evangelical Alliance public affairs team will be happy to help and advise you.
