Christian Lobbyist Groups and the Negotiation of Sexual Rights in the UK

ABSTRACT

Although sexual minority rights have not necessarily generated polarised views within Christian churches and organisations, the subject has tended to forge an arena of contestation between liberal and conservative constituencies. Theological differences have frequently been manifested through the mobilisation of ‘cause’ groups lobbying the political realm and public opinion in order to advance their contrasting standpoints. Based on a survey of documentation and supplementary materials produced for public consumption, this article considers responses of the conflicting rights petitions of Christian cadres either endorsing or opposing minority sexual rights and the relevant legislative enactments in the UK. The article seeks to illuminate how these competing constituencies further their causes while at the same time devaluing the rights claims of their adversaries.

Notes

1. “Human Sexuality, Methodist Church of Great Britain’s Annual Conference 1993” (see http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=1547, access date: 17 May 2010).

2. “Issues Raised by the Equality Act, Baptist Union of Great Britain” (see http://www.baptist.org.uk/resources/social_political_resources.asp?section=77, access date: 3 June 2010).

3. “Churches and Equality Act 2010”, Joint Public Issues Team (see http://www.methodist.org.uk/static/jpit/jpit_equality_act_2010_0711.pdf, access date: 4 May 2012).

4. UFMCC homepage (see http://ufmcc.com/category/events-news/, access date: 9 November 2010). The UFMCC has 250 member congregations in 23 countries, including 10 churches in the UK.

5. “Do we need a UK Bill of Rights? The LGCM says NO!”, LGCM (see http://www.lgcm.org.uk/2011/11/do-we-need-a-uk-bill-of-rights-lgcm-says-no/, access date: 13 April 2012).

6. “Faith, Homophobia and Human Rights Conference of 2008 Statement”, LGCM (see http://www.lgcm.org.uk/fhconference/Conference_Statement.html, access date: 29 March 2008).

7. “LGCM Welcomes the United Nations Resolution on the Rights of LGBT People”, 22 June 2011, LGCM (see http://www.lgcm.org.uk/2011/06/lgcm-welcomes-the-united-nations-resolution-on-the-rights-of-lgbt-people/, access date: 20 June 2012).

8. “Christianity & Homosexuality”, LGCM (see http://www.lgcm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/LGCM-homosexualitychristianity.pdf.pdf, access date: 3 October 2012).

9. “Joel Edwards and the Evangelical Alliance: Opponents of Human Rights for Lesbian and Gay People”, LGCM (see http://www.lgcm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/EADossier.pdf, access date: 12 June 2012).

10. Christian Homophobia: The Churches Persecution of Gay and Lesbian People with Recommendation of Good Practice, 1999, LGCM (see http://www.lgcm.org.uk/fhconference/Conference_Statement.html, access date: 6 July 2008).

11. “LGCM urges the Equality and Human Rights Commission to think carefully about changes in its approach to the protection of religious belief” (see http://www.lgcm.org.uk/category/press-releases/page/2/, access date: 23 February 2012).

12. “LGCM Urges Participation in EHRC Religious Freedom Consultation, 22 August 2011 (see http://www.lgcm.org.uk/2011/08/lgcm-urges-participation-in-ehrc-religious-freedom-consultation/, access date: 22 July 2012).

13. “Welcome to the Lesbian and Gay Christian movement”, LGBT (see http://www.lgcm.org.uk/, access date: 15 May 2012).

14. “About [LGBT]” (see http://www.lgcm.org.uk/about-us/, access date: 23 July 2012).

15. This article is limited to analysing Protestant evangelical groupings. There are similar Roman Catholic campaigning organisations such as Quest.

16. Home page of the Evangelical Alliance (see http://www.eauk.org/about/, access date: 10 November 2010).

17. Home page of the Christian Institute (see http://www.christian.org.uk/whoweare/index.htm, access date: 9 November 2008).

18. “Cops Arrest Preacher over Christian Beliefs”, Christian Institute (see http://www.christian.org.uk/news/cops-arrest-preacher-over-christian-beliefs/, access date: 23 November 2011).

19. “About Us”, CARE (see http://www.care.org.uk/Group/Group.aspx?id=10604, access date: 3 April 2010).

20. “CARE’s Vision”, CARE (see http://www.care.org.uk/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=109696, access date: 7 July 2008).

21. “Equality”, CARE (see http://www.care.org.uk/Groups/30233/CARE/Campaigns/Equality/Equality.aspx, access date: 21 July 2008).

22. “Equality and Religious Liberty”, CARE (see http://www.care.org.uk/advocacy/equality, access date: 2 May 2008).

23. “Homepage”, Evangelical Alliance, 24 March 2008 (see http://www.eauk.org/about/, access date: 10 November 2010).

24. “Discrimination Law Review”, Evangelical Alliance (see http://www.eauk.org/public-affairs/humanrights, access date: 30 June 2008).

25. See Note 24.

26. “A Little Bit of Discrimination. Reflection on the Opportunities Presented by the Equality Bill 2009–2010, Daniel Boucher, 2010: 11, 12” (see CARE, http://www.care.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/CARE_AgainstDiscrimination_Layout-1.pdf, access date: 17 November 2011).

27. “Faith, Hope and Homosexuality”, The Evangelical Alliance (see http://www.eauk.org/church/resources/theological-articles/faith-hope-and-homosexuality.cfm, access date: 4 October 2012).

28. “LGCM Briefing on Homosexuality and Christianity”, LGBT pamphlet, 2001.

29. A useful report on the complexities of rights pertaining to religion and belief is to be found in Alice Donald’s Religion or Belief: Equality and Human Rights in England and Wales.

30. “Religious Freedom Must be Preserved”, Christian Institute (see http://www.christian.org.uk/who-we-are/what-we-believe/, access date: 9 July 2010).

31. See the Christian Institute, Annual Report, 1997/8.

32. “Official Poll Reveals Gay Numbers Hype”, The Christian Institute (see http://www.christian.org.uk/issues/2008/family/gaystats_28jan08.htm, access date: 20 March 2008).

33. Evangelical Alliance, Getting Equal Consultation, 2006 (see www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/gettingequal.pdf, access date: 28 November 2013).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stephen Hunt

Stephen Hunt is Associate Professor in the Department of Health & Applied Social Sciences at the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK. Among his recent publications is the edited collection (with Andrew Yip) of The Ashgate Research Companion to Contemporary Religion and Sexuality.