The Evangelical Alliance has consistently pressed the UK and Scottish government to honour its twin commitments to ban abusive and coercive practices and to ensure people can receive the spiritual support they choose.
Since 2018, we have appeared on mainstream and Christian media to set out our concerns to both the Scottish Government and UK Government on the harms a badly focused and poorly worded policy could have on personal choice and religious freedoms.
In all of our discussions and meetings with ministers and government officials, we have been reassured that any proposals to legislate in this area will protect churches’ freedom to teach and disciple according to the Bible’s teaching on sexual ethics and have been assured that protecting religious freedom and practice is a priority for government, but we remain concerned that proposals could lack clarity.
The UK Government publish its Draft Conversion Practices Bill
On Thursday, 25 June 2026 the government published its Draft Conversion Practice Bill for England and Wales. This bill has not officially begun it’s parliamentary process but instead provides an opportunity for pre-legislative scrutiny by a joint committee of MPs and peers to consider the details of the bill and report back to Government its findings.
The proposed conversion practice legislation is deeply concerning and is underpinned by the threat of up to five years in prison. The proposals fundamentally undermine the role of parents and carers while also ignoring freedom of religion and belief. The advocacy team have spent the summer engaging parliamentarians and advisers from different political parties on how this bill will impact parents and pastoral ministry in churches.
From Monday, 26 October the joint committee considering the Draft Conversion Practices Bill has issued a call for evidence and are accepting responses until 5pm on Monday 16 November.
The definition of abusive practices is entirely subjective and could leave a wide range of people at risk of prosecution even years later. We are disappointed that the concerns we have consistently raised have been ignored and we will work with others to challenge these proposals.
Representing evangelical concerns UK-wide
We have engaged with ministers, government officials and politicians in each of the four parliaments on proposals to introduce a law to ban on conversion practices
The Evangelical Alliance opposes the UK Government’s Draft Conversion Practices Bill and here’s why
A joint committee on the bill began taking oral evidence from external witnesses last week.
What’s the story with the Conversion Practices Bill?
Evangelical Alliance NI's response to the ‘Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill’ Call for Evidence
How should the church respond to the proposed conversion practices ban?
An initial response to the government’s proposed conversion practices ban and its implications for parents and churches
A law that traps teens
I don’t want the government to criminalise the support I received from my church when I came out as gay – this is my story
Making sense of the King's speech
Danny Webster, our director of advocacy, helps us make sense of the King’s speech and it’s implications for evangelicals under a new Labour government
Conversion therapy vote could criminalise church teaching and discipleship
Danny Webster, director of advocacy at the Evangelical Alliance, urges prayer for parliament ahead of votes which could criminalise ordinary, everyday activity of churches
Scottish Government announces plans to ‘end conversion practices’
The Scottish Government has set out proposals for new legislation which it says would “ban conversion practices”.
Letter to the Prime Minister on the confusion regarding conversion therapy plans
The Evangelical Alliance has written to the Prime Minister following a double U-turn and subsequent uncertainty
What’s happening with the government’s conversion therapy plans?
Confusion and uncertainty about whether government plans to introduce new laws are being pushed forward or into the long grass.
The challenges around conversion therapy
Why the Evangelical Alliance is standing against abusive practices and defending religious freedom
Q&A on conversion therapy
Why is the Evangelical Alliance commenting on conversion therapy? Watch our interview with Jo Frost and Peter Lynas to find out.Relationships Matter
Biblical and pastoral resources on sex, sexuality and gender
Transformed
Understanding transgender in a changing culture
Relationships Matter: Affirmations commentary
Read our theological commentary on the evangelical affirmations on the Bible, sexuality and same-sex attraction
