--- title: "Church of England national assembly to go ahead with pro-conversion therapy fringe event" date: "2026-07-09T16:20:12+01:00" modified: "2026-07-09T16:20:15+01:00" url: "https://humanists.uk/2026/07/09/church-of-england-national-assembly-to-go-ahead-with-pro-conversion-therapy-fringe-event/" post_id: 194066 categories: ["LGBT Humanists", "News"] --- # Church of England national assembly to go ahead with pro-conversion therapy fringe event ![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Ban-Conversion-Therapy.jpg?resize=1200%2C661&ssl=1)Humanists UK has expressed disappointment in the Church of England’s decision to allow a General Synod fringe event promoting ‘sexual identity transformation’ to go ahead. This comes despite the [Synod’s 2017 vote in favour of a ban on conversion therapy](https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/general-synod-backs-ban-conversion-therapy), which Archbishop Sarah Mullally previously described as an ‘[overwhelming vote to reject coercive conversion therapies](https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/conversion-therapy-ban-comment-bishop-london)’. The event, titled *People Change: Sexual Identity Transformation*, is due to take place during the Church of England’s General Synod in York. It will feature speaker Matthew Grech, [billed as](https://x.com/charliebelllive/status/2070885669178597496/photo/1) ‘finding faith and leaving behind a homosexual lifestyle’. Rebecca Hunt, the General Synod member who is hosting the event, [said](https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/archbishops-backtrack-after-threatening-to-cancel-sexuality-event): ’The Church’s teaching… is that sexual intimacy is reserved for one man, one woman marriage alone’. She described the event speakers as having ‘experienced positive, beneficial change.’ The Church of England has confirmed the associated exhibition stand will not be permitted, but the fringe meeting itself will proceed. According to [the *Telegraph*](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/07/archbishops-threaten-cancel-disgusting-conversion-therapy/), the Archbishops of Canterbury and York threatened to cancel the event. The event comes just weeks after the UK Government published its [draft Conversion Practices Bill](https://humanists.uk/2026/06/25/at-last-conversion-practices-ban-draft-bill-published/), which would ban abusive attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Humanists UK has long campaigned for a comprehensive ban on conversion practices, including practices carried out in religious settings and without loopholes for supposed ‘consent’. Government analysis of the [National LGBT Survey](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b3b2d1eed915d33e245fbe3/LGBT-survey-research-report.pdf) shows that faith groups are the most common setting for conversion practices. More than half of LGBT people who were offered or received conversion therapy said it came from a faith organisation or group. LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop’s [report outlines 52 cases of religion-based conversion practices](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/67cee904ccdbce2dd00f65d0/6a297cfc55e73c0daf4a7885_Galop_A4_Report_2026_Digital_AWK_11May.pdf). #### **Laura Newlyn, Policy and Campaigns Manager at Humanists UK, said:** > ‘Conversion practices are not harmless conversations, pastoral care, or ordinary prayer. They are attempts to change, suppress, or deny who LGBT people are, and they have caused lasting harm to people who were often young, vulnerable, and under intense pressure from families or religious communities. > > ‘The evidence is clear that faith settings are one of the main places where conversion practices happen. That is why any ban must cover religious settings and must not contain loopholes that allow abuse to hide behind the language of “prayer”, “pastoral support”, or so-called consent. LGBT people deserve safety, dignity, and freedom from abuse.’ #### **Speaking to the widespread public support for banning conversion therapy, Ms Newlyn added:** > ‘[Most people](https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/42061-most-britons-want-conversion-therapy-banned-includ), including [most Christians](https://ozanne.foundation/british-public-agree-with-conversion-therapy-ban/), support a ban on conversion practices. The General Synod itself voted overwhelmingly for the UK Government to ban conversion practices back in 2017. It’s a shame to see these same practices now being promoted at Synod itself.’ Conversion practices, sometimes called ‘conversion therapy’, are [discredited and harmful practices](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/67cee904ccdbce2dd00f65d0/6a297cfc55e73c0daf4a7885_Galop_A4_Report_2026_Digital_AWK_11May.pdf) that seek to change, suppress, or ‘cure’ a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. They can include pseudo-psychological interventions, coercive counselling, forced or intensive prayer, exorcisms, and other forms of pressure or abuse. Humanists UK supports a ban on conversion practices that protects all LGBT people, including trans people, and covers both medical and non-medical settings, including religious settings. It has warned that exemptions for religious practices or supposed consent would leave many of the people most at risk without protection. #### Notes For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Head of Press and Campaign Communications Nathan Stilwell at or phone 0203 675 0959 (media only). Media [can use these photos](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KYJm2YNGS9BjRujHzQcxrlqkZvgleTAY?usp=drive_link), attributed to ‘Humanists UK’ Read more about [LGBT+ Humanists](https://humanists.uk/community/lgbt-humanists/). Read more about [our work to ban conversion practices](https://humanists.uk/campaigns/policy-unit/banning-conversion-practices/). Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.