Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill
Key issues for consideration
The Second Stage debate on the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill is due to conclude in the Northern Ireland Assembly next week and there is currently a public consultation for the Bill,  the deadline for submissions is 1st October 2027.  To make a submission please go to: https://consult.nia-yourassembly.org.uk/communities/conversion-practices-criminalisation-bill/ 
PCI has set out its concerns about the Bill and does not support it in its current form. We recognise the importance of protecting people from genuine coercion and abuse and are supportive of the existing laws which already do this. However, we are concerned that the Bill as drafted is too broad and insufficiently clear, with potentially significant implications for religious freedom, families, children and individual freedom of conscience.
Those who wish to respond to the Bill may wish to consider the following issues and express their own views in their own words.
1. Is there sufficient clarity about what constitutes ‘conversion therapy’?
The Bill creates offences relating to providing ‘conversion therapy’ and engaging in ‘coercive conversion behaviour’. PCI is concerned that the definition of conversion therapy is too broad and lacks clarity, creating uncertainty about the range of activities that could fall within the scope of the offence. The definition includes counselling or any form of talking therapy, coaching or instruction — terms which could encompass a wide range of legitimate and non-coercive activities, including pastoral care, Bible studies, preaching and teaching.
Consider whether ordinary church activities such as pastoral care, Bible studies, preaching, teaching or prayer could potentially fall within such definitions.
2. What could the reference to ‘suppression’ mean for Christian teaching?
The Bill refers to an intention to ‘change or suppress’ a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
Christian teaching seeks to shape how believers understand and live their lives. This includes teaching that sexual activity belongs within marriage and teaching on celibacy and abstinence. Consider whether such teaching could potentially be characterised as an attempt to ‘suppress’ sexual orientation, and what this could mean for churches and individuals who voluntarily choose to live according to their Christian convictions.
3. What protections are there for families and parents?
PCI is concerned about the potential implications of the Bill for parents seeking to guide, protect and set boundaries for their children in relation to sex, relationships and gender.
The proposed threshold of ‘fear, alarm or distress’ is particularly significant. Children may experience these emotions during ordinary conversations with their parents, particularly where parents are setting boundaries or expressing views with which their child disagrees.
Consider whether the Bill provides sufficient protection for legitimate parental guidance, discipline and safeguarding.
4. Does the Bill adequately respect individual choice and conscience?
Individuals should be free to seek support to live in accordance with their sincerely held beliefs and conscience. This may include voluntarily seeking pastoral care, prayer, teaching or other support in relation to sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Bill provides that the consent of the person receiving the therapy is not a defence. It also provides a defence where the therapy was ‘reasonable in the particular circumstances’, but does not clearly define what would constitute reasonable therapy.
Consider whether these provisions provide sufficient protection for consensual and non-coercive support.


5. Is there a need for new legislation? 
PCI is firmly of the view that existing legislation is sufficient to deal with genuine cases of abuse and coercion and that new legislation is not required. Where abusive or coercive behaviour occurs, the appropriate response is to ensure that the protections and remedies already available in law are effectively applied.
Of further concern is that the Bill introduces broadly defined offences without clear and robust safeguards. The breadth and lack of clarity within the Bill risks bringing legitimate and non-coercive activity within the scope of the criminal law, with serious implications for religious freedom, freedom of conscience, parental responsibility and individual autonomy.
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If you haven't already filled in our survey and have a couple of minutes we would really appreciate you filling out this survey. We are looking to make some upgrades to our church halls and we would like to thank Jim Shannon MP office who has assisted and advised in the process of seeking funding for this application.
Thank you
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Coming up in January we will be working through Ezekiel again. In chapter 18 I will be referring to this video which is one that for many struck a chord when they watched it.

Good morning one an all, 
In preparation for preaching through the Westminster Larger Catechism (WLC) coming this September I have been gathering material, making notes and generally trying to get my head round how to preach using the framework of the WLC without simply doing an exegesis on the Catechism that will be of benefit to us all. One of those things that I came across was published in this years ‘Blue Book’.1 In the report of the General Council Section 2 under the Doctrine Committee there was a report on what are the fundamentals of the reformed faith.2 A large part of what follows is taken directly from that report. 

As the Presbyterian Church in Ireland The Westminster Confession of Faith and Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechism are accepted as subordinate standards, and they serve as a bond of union for members of the Church on certain important points of doctrine and worship. The statements of the Confession are not the last word on any of these important truths. The Word of God as set forth in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament is ‘our only infallible rule of faith and practice’.

To lay out the doctrines of the Christian faith, the Church universal has long used a threefold resource: the Apostles’ Creed; the Ten Commandments; and the Lord’s Prayer. For the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to set out its particular convictions about faith and order in the same way is especially appropriate, given how the Westminster Larger Catechism and Confession of Faith, among our subordinate standards, explain the fundamental doctrines. Beginning with the doctrine of Scripture, and some other important preliminaries, they go on to explore and expound key matters for Christian faith that emerge from the Apostles’ Creed, Ten Commandments and Lord’s Prayer, as the following Table shows in detail: columns four and five list relevant chapters of the Larger Catechism and Confession of Faith respectively. [This Table significantly reflects another demonstrating ‘[s]ubstantial agreement of Creed and Catechism’ found in John R. Bower (ed.), The Larger Catechism: A Critical Text and Introduction (Grand Rapids, 2010), 23.] 


1 If any of you are unaware of what the ‘Blue Book’ is, it is the Annual Reports of our church that are published before each General Assembly commonly referred to as the ‘Blue Book’ because it’s surprisingly enough a blue book
2 Doctrine Committees updated Statement of Faith and Order P26 Minutes 2023

Hi everyone, 

Many of you are aware that on Friday, 5th August 2022 we are having an evening of Praise from 7-8:30pm. Thank you for all of you who have made suggestions, in total we had 109 items suggested. Obviously we can't sing them all on one night. Therefore we have chosen for this time 6 from our regulars, 8 new items some of which we have sung before, and 8 oldies that we haven't sung in a while. 

There are two from the 'new items' list that I want to make you aware of, so that you have an idea of what they sound like and can join in. They are 'Saviour of Sinners' (Greg de Blieck) and Ancient of days (CityAlight). If you click on the names of the song you will be taken to a link where you can watch them. 

Hope to see you on Friday 5th!!

​Alan​