Association of Baptist Churches

The following information regarding the Equality Bill going through UK Parliament at Westminster has been received. Please read it and take the necessary action.

"I wish to alert you to amendments to the Equality Bill which are to be voted on in the House of Lords on 14^thJanuary.  These amendments have the potential to remove the right of every citizen to live according to her or his conscience and faith tradition, especially with regard to employment and the operation and ethos of their places of worship. The Equality Bill will strike out all exemptions on the basis of religion (with two modest exceptions) which will mean that all will be forced to conform to secularist values and ideology even in their churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and gurdwaras.   

Please sign the on- line petition to the Prime Minister asking for the removal of The current employment provisions set out in Schedule 9, Paragraph 2, subsection 8 of the Equality Bill (the occupational requirements relating to sex, marriage and sexual orientation for the purposes of organised religion). These restrict the rights of religious bodies to employ personnel who conform to their teachings only if their duties are confined to worship activities or the explanation of doctrine.

The petition can be found at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/harryhammond/

This petition is relevant not only to Christians, who will be deeply affected by this legislation, but also to people of all faith traditions and to those of none.  In fact, any who value the freedom to live according to conscience --- historic freedom which has cost the lives of countless thousands over the centuries --- are encouraged to sign. We are looking for many signatures by the 14^th of January, the date of the House of Lords vote,  but the petition will remain open until the election in the spring, in order to send a strong message to all political parties that people care about this issue enough for it to be a factor in their voting.

Unless we take action by signing this petition, we are looking at a future stripped of the freedom and religious liberties we take for granted now.  

The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 have provided exceptions relating to sexual orientation where the employment is for the purposes of organized religion. Essentially, these have allowed religious groups to manage their affairs in accordance with their beliefs.

As the Church of England and the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales have pointed out, if enacted the current bill will restrict the 2003 exemptions substantially so that they only apply to employment that is concerned with formal worship activities (liturgy) or the promotion or explanation of doctrine.

The employment provisions of this present Equality Bill reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of faith and religious life. To commit oneself to a faith or follow a religion is much more than to give intellectual assent to a particular set of doctrinal propositions or express a desire to worship in particular ways. In its truest form the life of faith, the religious life, is just that - a mode of living in which people manifest their values and beliefs about God and humankind. These values and beliefs are incorporated into the lifestyle of persons following a religion; they are not an 'optional extra' to formal worship and/or doctrinal instruction. So to attempt to separate behaviour, ethics and way of life from 'doctrine' or 'formal worship' is to strike at the heart of what constitutes faith. To insist on such a distinction in law, as embodied in the Equality Bill's current proposals, is actually to deny to people the fundamental right to freedom of worship and religion.

There is a range of posts, paid or voluntary, where it is essential that a religious organisation should have the right to prefer a candidate whose lifestyle  is in accordance with its beliefs and ethos (with particular reference to its requirements for sexual conduct). For example, it is specifically stated in the guidance notes of the Equality Bill that the post  of youth worker is not covered by the narrowed exemptions, since less than 50% of the role is taken up by worship services and doctrinal matters. However, the role of a youth worker normally includes both leading worship and teaching doctrine. Thus, the proposed legislation could leave organizations in the unacceptable position of having a youth worker who does not comply with the sexual ethics she or he is required to teach lead worship among or teach doctrine to young people.  

The Equality Bill could result in the legal obligation to employ individuals whose sexual practice or beliefs are directly opposed to the teaching which the organization professes, follows and promotes. The Bill as drafted would deny to religious organizations the freedoms afforded to others, for example political parties, to employ only those who comply with their beliefs and values.

We therefore invite you to sign the enclosed petition --- see below ---  and encourage others so to do.

As people from all walks of life, political parties, professions and religious faiths, we the undersigned have joined together to commit ourselves to reaffirm the value and necessity of religious and civil liberty and the rights of conscience across the UK today.

We believe that religion and civil liberty must include the right to live and speak according to one's conscience privately and in the public sphere, both individually and collectively, without harassment or the fear of civil or criminal penalty.

In particular, we ask that the current employment provisions set out in Schedule 9, Paragraph 2, subsection 8 of the Equality Bill (the occupational requirements relating to sex, marriage and sexual orientation for the purposes of organised religion) be removed. These restrict the rights of religious bodies to employ personnel who conform to their teachings only if their duties are confined to worship activities or the explanation of doctrine.

The proposed subsection mistakenly set out in Schedule 9, Paragraph 2, subsection 8 of the Equality Bill seeks to deny integrity and authentic practical religion by separating religious belief and observance from behaviour and denies to religious groups rights that are extended to all other organisations, to employ only those who conform to their beliefs, practices and ethos."

The Christian Institute also has information regarding this issue on its site. Click HERE the access that information.