U.K. Evangelical Leader to Christians: Serve Until Gay Equality Laws Stop You
LONDON – Christian organizations across Britain have been urged not to withdraw their public services due to the perceived threat from the recent passing of gay equality laws.
The Evangelical Alliance UK has encouraged Christians to continue to serve until the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations are clarified, following their passing by Parliament on Wednesday. The regulations seek to prevent discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services.
The Evangelical Alliance said it has consistently welcomed the anti-discrimination principles behind them but noted that there are concerns that the regulations, which have undergone minimal scrutiny from MPs (Members of Parliament), do not give religion and belief as equal recognition as sexual orientation rights.
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"Following months of constructive engagement with the government in an endeavor to ensure a fair playing field for both sexual orientation rights and those of religion and belief, we believe a fair balance has not been met," stated the EA Director of Public Policy, Dr R David Muir.
"We agree with the Archbishop of Canterbury (head of the Church of England) that the rights of conscience cannot be made subject to legislation, however well meaning."
Muir meanwhile appealed to Christians not to stop offering public services until the legal implications of the regulations, which are still unclear, are settled, in the courts if necessary.
"The Evangelical Alliance encourages members – who in many cases have been delivering public services for centuries – not to close down these services because of a perceived threat, but to continue delivering them until the law stops them," he said.
"Unfortunately, the controversial nature of these regulations, and their lack of parliamentary scrutiny, means that inevitably they are likely to end up being argued through the courts."
The evangelical leader added that it is likely the issue of religious freedom will continue to be on the public agenda.
"We hope to persist in constructive dialogue with the government, urging application of the law in a way which treats all citizens fairly but which allows Christians to deliver services in a Christian way and exercise fundamental freedoms of conscience and religion and belief."
