A motion in support of a conversion ban bill for WA was passed by the Perth Anglican Synod on the weekend.

The motion:
• Affirms that all people are created in the image of God and that LGBTQIA+ people in our community belong in the Body of Christ as equal friends and fellow disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ;•
Recognises that so-called “conversion therapy”, including practices and interventions that seek to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, has been shown on the basis of clear evidence to be ineffective and harmful;
• Expresses its support for the Western Australian Government for legislative efforts that prohibit conversion and suppression practices and will provide robust protections for minors and other persons at risk of being subjected to these practices; and
• Acknowledges the freedom of religious bodies to provide prayer and spiritual support that does not constitute conversion therapy and/or conversion or suppression practices.

The Mover, Associate Professor Dr Mark Jennings, Academic Dean of Wollaston Theological College, described conversion practices as formal or informal activities or treatment that seek to suppress, eliminate or change someone’s sexual or romantic orientation, gender identity or gender expression. He said the definition had been composed by people with firsthand experience: SOGICE survivors.

He said these practices are grounded in “conversion ideology”: the belief that people are naturally expected to be heterosexual and have a gender identity that matches the sex assigned to them at birth. In his account, that belief leads to LGBTQIA+ people being viewed as damaged or in need of fixing. He argued that conversion practices cannot work because LGBTQIA+ people are not broken and do not need to be healed or fixed.

Dr Jennings cited statements from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the Australian Psychological Society that conversion practices are ineffective and can cause harm. He cited 1 Corinthians 12 and the equal dignity of the members of Christ’s Body.

Seconding the motion, Jack Lambert, Commissioner of the diocesan Social Responsibilities Commission, said every person is made in the image of God and deserves dignity, respect and compassionate care, including LGBTQIA+ people. Lambert distinguished praying with someone from attempting to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity. He said the motion did not require Synod to resolve every question about sexuality and gender, but asked it to affirm dignity, recognise evidence of harm and support protections.

Mark Grobicki, Minister of St Marks Bassendean, an evangelical parish, opposed the motion. He began by affirming the dignity of every person as made in the image of God. He condemned coercion, abuse, humiliation and manipulation directed at people because of their sexual orientation or experience of gender incongruence. He said churches or individuals responsible for such conduct should acknowledge the harm, repent where necessary, apologise and ensure their ministry is marked by gentleness, patience and love.

He referred to the Christian call to repentance, faith and a transformed life, and argued that the motion could support legislation that prevented the Church from carrying out that ministry.

Meg Warner, Principal of Wollaston Theological College, spoke for the motion, citing Church of England debates and saying the motion would place the Church in good company and help limit future suffering in Western Australia.

Peter Brain, the retired Bishop of Armidale and locum at St Luke’s Maddington, spoke against, and said being created in the image of God is a basis for respecting and honouring people, but argued that becoming a member of the Body of Christ involves faith in Jesus and the baptismal commitments to turn to Christ and reject evil. He was concerned the wording might leave out the need for forgiveness, repentance and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Jan Joustra, the Rector of South Perth, described a young man who had come to him when he was vicar of St Andrew’s in Brighton. The young man had told him about the conversion practices he had experienced from his Pentecostal parents. Joustra said the young man wanted to love God and be loved by God, and that his sexuality was not a choice.

He said he had tried to reassure the young man that he was loved and accepted by God. A few weeks later, he learned that the young man had died by suicide. Joustra said this was not what the Church should be about, and spoke of the Church’s calling to proclaim God’s love and welcome people.

Tom Allen, a delegate from Christ the King Willetton, urged Synod to vote against the motion. He asked whether the Church’s moral understanding was being formed by government or by God’s word. He said the motion did not appear to him to proclaim Christ or reflect the heart of God, and referred to Jesus Christ’s ministry of reconciliation.

A delegate (name withheld) spoke in favour, describing their personal experience. Growing up in an evangelical charismatic setting, they had been told both implicitly and explicitly that praying hard enough, trusting God enough and surrendering enough could make them straight.

They described years of pleading with God to change them, believing they were broken, hating themselves and self-harming. They said conversion practices take something that is not wrong with a person and teach them to see it as a flaw, failure or sin. In their experience, faith, which should offer love, hope and belonging, became associated with shame, fear and self-hatred.

A delegate, Janice, asked whether the definition of conversion practice would cover schools telling pre-primary children that they could change their gender, drag queens in libraries and schools, or books saying that gender is not fixed. Janice also asked whether it was premature for Synod to support legislation it had not yet seen.

Justine Coverdale, Archdeacon of Perth and Archbishop’s Registrar, responded to Rev Brain’s concern about the first clause. Archdeacon Coverdale read the wording as affirming that LGBTQIA+ people belong in the Body of Christ as equal friends and fellow disciples, not as removing the importance of faith in Jesus. Coverdale said she knew LGBTQIA+ people who were committed Christians.

In response to Janice’s questions, Associate Professor Jennings, responding as the mover, said the legislation did not address gender-affirming care. He said the motion concerned evidence of harm from conversion and suppression practices, rather than hypotheticals. He anticipated a similar model to the Victorian legislation.

The motion passed in all three houses:

• House of Bishops: in favour; no tally was stated in the transcript.
• House of Clergy: 61 in favour, 32 against.
• House of Laity: 151 in favour, 48 against.

Shane St Reynolds ‘ full report: https://streetangel.com.au/2026/10/anglican-perth-synod-passes-conversion-therapy-ban-motion-across-all-three-houses.html