--- title: Conversion practices date: 2021-03-16T08:25:00+00:00 author: Jo Frost canonical_url: "https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/conversion-practices" section: Pages --- #### 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 which the advocacy team will now engage parliamentarians over the summer recess and look to host an online briefing in the Autumn for members. Peter Lynas, UK director of the Evangelical Alliance comment to Christian and mainstream media said: ​“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 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.” **To be the first to know when our online briefing will be please sign up to our** [**Everything Advocacy newsletter**](https://www.eauk.org/stay-in-the-loop)**.** ### 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 ban on conversion practices [ ![How should the church respond to the proposed conversion practices ban?](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/conversion-practices-web-header-1245x1368.png) ![Conversion practices web header 1245x1368](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/conversion-practices-web-header-1245x1368.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/how-should-the-church-respond-to-the-proposed-conversion-practices-ban) [#### How should the church respond to the proposed conversion practices ban? ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/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 [ ![Peter Lynas](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/peter-lynas) [ Peter Lynas ](/author/peter-lynas) 25 June 2026 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/how-should-the-church-respond-to-the-proposed-conversion-practices-ban) [ ![Making sense of the King's speech](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![House of Lords King's Speech](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/53865681972_b73ed9fb33_o.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/making-sense-of-the-kings-speech) [#### Making sense of the King's speech ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/making-sense-of-the-kings-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 [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 24 July 2024 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/making-sense-of-the-kings-speech) [ ![Conversion therapy vote could criminalise church teaching and discipleship](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Parliament silhouette](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/abdullah-ali-Fd-ioQay1vM-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/conversion-therapy-vote-could-criminalise-church-teaching-and-discipleship) [#### Conversion therapy vote could criminalise church teaching and discipleship ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/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 [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 28 February 2024 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/conversion-therapy-vote-could-criminalise-church-teaching-and-discipleship) [ ![Scottish Government announces plans to ‘end conversion practices’](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber 2](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Scottish_Parliament_Debating_Chamber_2.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/scottish-government-announces-plans-to-end-conversion-practices) [#### Scottish Government announces plans to ‘end conversion practices’ ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/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”. [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 10 January 2024 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/scottish-government-announces-plans-to-end-conversion-practices) [ ![Letter to the Prime Minister on the confusion regarding conversion therapy plans](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Scott graham - letter](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/scott-graham-OQMZwNd3ThU-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/conversion-practices/letter-to-the-prime-minister-on-the-confusion-regarding-conversion-therapy-plans) [#### Letter to the Prime Minister on the confusion regarding conversion therapy plans ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/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 [ Read more ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/conversion-practices/letter-to-the-prime-minister-on-the-confusion-regarding-conversion-therapy-plans) [](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/conversion-practices/letter-to-the-prime-minister-on-the-confusion-regarding-conversion-therapy-plans) [ ![What’s happening with the government’s conversion therapy plans?](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Praying Clasped Hands](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Praying-Clasped-Hands.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/whats-happening-with-the-governments-conversion-therapy-plans) [#### What’s happening with the government’s conversion therapy plans? ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/whats-happening-with-the-governments-conversion-therapy-plans) Confusion and uncertainty about whether government plans to introduce new laws are being pushed forward or into the long grass. [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 25 October 2023 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/whats-happening-with-the-governments-conversion-therapy-plans) [ ![The challenges around conversion therapy](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Group of women praying](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/rosie-fraser-rTwhmFSoXC8-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/the-challenges-around-conversion-therapy) [#### The challenges around conversion therapy ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/the-challenges-around-conversion-therapy) Why the Evangelical Alliance is standing against abusive practices and defending religious freedom [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 16 March 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/the-challenges-around-conversion-therapy) [ ![Q&A on conversion therapy](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Conversion therapy QA](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Conversion-therapy-QA.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/conversion-practices/q-a-on-conversion-therapy) [#### Q&A on conversion therapy ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/conversion-practices/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. [ Watch now ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/conversion-practices/q-a-on-conversion-therapy) [](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/conversion-practices/q-a-on-conversion-therapy) ### Relationships Matter ##### Biblical and pastoral resources on sex, sexuality and gender [ ![Transformed](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Clean Shot 2025 01 22 at 23 03 50](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Transformed-card-image.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/reports/transformed-understanding-transgender-in-a-changing-culture) [#### Transformed ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/reports/transformed-understanding-transgender-in-a-changing-culture) Understanding transgender in a changing culture [ Find out more ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/reports/transformed-understanding-transgender-in-a-changing-culture) [](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/reports/transformed-understanding-transgender-in-a-changing-culture) [ ![Relationships Matter: Affirmations commentary](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![I Stock 1458722752](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/iStock-1458722752.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/sex-sexuality-and-gender/relationships-matter-affirmations-and-resources/relationships-matter-commentary) [#### Relationships Matter: Affirmations commentary ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/sex-sexuality-and-gender/relationships-matter-affirmations-and-resources/relationships-matter-commentary) Read our theological commentary on the evangelical affirmations on the Bible, sexuality and same-sex attraction [ Read now ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/sex-sexuality-and-gender/relationships-matter-affirmations-and-resources/relationships-matter-commentary) [](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/sex-sexuality-and-gender/relationships-matter-affirmations-and-resources/relationships-matter-commentary) [ ![Relationships Matter: Course](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Relationships Matter card images](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Relationships-Matter-card-images.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/sex-sexuality-and-gender/relationships-matter-course) [#### Relationships Matter: Course ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/sex-sexuality-and-gender/relationships-matter-course) Check out our seven-part course on the Bible, sexuality and same-sex relationships. Ideal for small groups and churches. [ Find out more ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/sex-sexuality-and-gender/relationships-matter-course) [](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/sex-sexuality-and-gender/relationships-matter-course)