UK Evangelicals Warn New Bill Could Criminalize Biblical Counseling
British evangelical leaders are raising concerns about a proposed UK government bill on conversion practices. They say the bill's broad language could make certain pastoral conversations about sexuality illegal. Church groups are calling for clearer definitions before the legislation moves forward.
Evangelical leaders in the United Kingdom are pushing back against a government bill targeting conversion practices, warning that its vague language could inadvertently criminalize ordinary pastoral conversations.
The bill, introduced in July 2026, is designed to ban coercive or harmful attempts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Supporters say it is needed to protect vulnerable people from abusive practices.
But UK evangelical groups argue the bill's definitions are too broad. They say it could apply to a pastor who counsels a church member about sexuality from a biblical perspective, even if that conversation is voluntary and non-coercive.
Christianity Today reported that church leaders are particularly concerned about provisions that could make it illegal to share a religious viewpoint on sexuality if the listener later claims it caused harm. Critics say this standard is nearly impossible to define clearly and could expose clergy to legal risk for routine ministry.
The Evangelical Alliance and other groups have called on Parliament to narrow the bill's scope and include explicit protections for religious speech and pastoral care. They want the legislation to focus on clearly abusive practices, such as physical restraint or psychological manipulation, rather than conversations rooted in sincere religious belief.
The debate reflects a wider tension in the UK between anti-discrimination protections and religious freedom. Similar legislation has passed in Scotland and Wales, and advocates on both sides are watching the England bill closely as a potential model for other countries.
