Gay Christian activist calls for an end to ‘spiritual abuse’ and ‘conversion therapy’
by Ruth Gledhill, Christian Today:
A leading gay activist in the Church of England is calling for an end to what she describes as ‘spiritual abuse’.
Jayne Ozanne, a member of General Synod, says in a paper published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists that there is a need for government regulation to stamp out ‘group led spiritual abuse’.
‘This is often evident in, but not solely linked to, charismatic churches – and can be anything from a small prayer group to a ministry team to large network churches,’ she told Christian Today.
She said there is ‘growing concern’ that current safeguarding measures are inadequate to protect vulnerable adults and children.
‘This issue is particularly pertinent to those who struggle – due to their religious beliefs – with questions of sexual or gender identity. Sadly, these individuals are subjected to the worst forms of spiritual abuse by groups of individuals at the time that they require unconditional support and affirmation. This has the added complication that their once safe place of refuge, their church, becomes a place of turmoil and pain, where those they have trusted are the
source of their abuse,’ she writes in the paper. ‘The most damaging practice is often the misuse of scripture during times of prayer ministry, where passages are quoted that can make the individual receiving prayer feel that their failure to be healed is due to their sin.’
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