Have you, or anyone you know, been affected by faith based conversion therapy practices?

Need to talk to someone about historical abuse?

At the 2018 Synod the following motion was carried and turned into a Standing Resolution the following year:

That this Synod rejects the practice of "conversion therapy" for LGBTQIA people, and considers that the Anglican Church should not be carrying out or promoting any "ministry" or "therapy" that leads to the expectation that a person’s basic sexual orientation can or should be changed. Further, it urges Anglicans throughout this country to follow the lead of the UK Government and support a ban on its use in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

On February 15, 2022, the New Zealand Parliament passed the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill and since then the Human Rights Commission has set up a Conversion Practices Prohibition Response team. 

The Response team want to engage with conversion practices survivors as they set up the new conversion practices complaints service, as well as develop education and prevention resources. They are wondering if there might be survivors in the Diocese of Dunedin who would be willing to connect with them. You may have different experiences of this, from being part of a formal therapy programme to having more personal pastoral contact from someone - whatever it was, your story could be helpful for the team as they look at what a complaints service might look like. 

If this sounds like you, contact the following person in the Human Rights Commission:

Matt Langworthy​​
Pronouns: he/him | See: www.mypronouns.org
Lived Experience Contractor, Conversion Practices Response Team
New Zealand Human Rights Commission | Te Kāhui Tika Tangata
t: 04 390 0996|
m: 0277 027 377
e: mattl@hrc.co.nz|
w: www.hrc.co.nz
PO Box 10424, Wellington 6140

If this resonates with someone you know in your winder family or circle of friends, share this article with them in case they may want to engage in this way.  

For more information, see: https://www.hrc.co.nz/our-work/conversion-practices/

If you need to talk to someone about historical abuse within the Diocese of Dunedin, visit our webpage for information about who you can talk to.