The Church of England has allowed a controversial fringe event featuring so-called "ex-gay" Christians to go ahead during this week's General Synod, despite calls from LGBTQ+ campaigners and progressive clergy for it to be cancelled.
The event, titled "People Change: Sexual Identity Transformation", is due to take place alongside Synod proceedings in York and will feature speakers who claim to have changed or overcome same-sex attraction.
Among them is Matthew Grech, a Maltese Christian who was recently acquitted after facing legal action over comments he made about his experiences of leaving homosexuality behind. Also speaking is Mike Davidson, chair of the International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC), an organisation that supports people seeking help for unwanted same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria.
The event sparked a backlash from LGBTQ+-affirming members of the Church. Rev Dr Charlie Bączyk-Bell, an openly gay priest and General Synod member, criticised the decision to host the meeting, while dozens of clergy and lay members wrote to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York urging them to intervene.
The group questioned how the event complied with Church guidelines, which allow fringe meetings to be blocked if they conflict with the Church's ethos, damage its reputation or raise safeguarding concerns.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of the Church of England's support for a ban on conversion practices. In 2017, General Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of outlawing conversion therapy, which many LGBTQ+ organisations describe as harmful and discredited.
Organisers of the fringe event rejected suggestions that it promoted abusive conversion practices. Rebecca Hunt, the Synod member hosting the event, said it was intended to explore personal testimonies and pastoral support for Christians seeking to live in accordance with traditional Church teaching on sexuality.
A Church of England spokesperson said the decision reflected the Church's established position on conversion practices. "Following careful consideration, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York have informed the Synod member that their fringe meeting, as a private discussion for Synod members and invited guests, may go ahead as planned but has declined permission for the associated stand and public display," the spokesperson said.
They added that allowing a public exhibition would conflict with the Church's support for a ban on conversion practices.
The row comes as the UK Government continues work on legislation to prohibit conversion practices. While the Church supports a ban, senior bishops have previously expressed concerns that any law must clearly distinguish between harmful conversion therapy and legitimate pastoral care or prayer.
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